Happy Holidays!

Time marches on and stops for no one.  Yes, both Thanksgiving and Christmas have come and gone.  Now I'm celebrating my 48th birthday.  Wow, how did I get this old?  Ha ha!  On Christmas Eve, I left Fort Worth to travel to Yoakum in order to visit family.  Not sure if I was more excited about getting to leave town for a few days or to see my mother, step-father, and brother.  Either way, I was doubly blessed with time away with those I love.  They aren't required to love or tolerate me just because we are related.  With the passage of time, the family dynamic changes as does yours truly.  Unfortunately, I was done by Sunday afternoon.  As a result, I headed back to the city of my exile.  There's something to be said about sleeping in one's own bed and apartment.  Today I was determined to not let the time pass by wastefully.  After running a few errands and meeting a friend for coffee, I headed out to Marion Sansom Park for some limited hiking and to smoke a celebratory cigar.  Then I met up with a few more friends whom I haven't seen in a few months.  Now I'm calling it a night as I spend the remainder of the day unwinding over some hot tea.  (The loose-leaf tea is compliments of my mother as a Christmas gift.)  Growing older has mellowed me out somewhat.  I still can't seem to sit still for very long always needing something to do to entertain my attention span; however, I take more pleasure and achieve better contentment in the smaller things in life.  I have so much to be grateful about: a place to live, a vehicle, family, friends, and so much more.  It's easy to see what I don't have and still want in life, but I can't focus on those material items because I'll miss the bigger picture.  God is good as He has richly blessed me.  I simply need to allow Him to work in my life instead of living out of bitterness and resentment.  Eternity is where I need to place my focus and vision in life.  What are you grateful for?

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