Shall I say, “Life has been busy”?  In my last post I was seeking a vanishing 2015, and now we’re into 2018.

The major development of 2016:  In March, I turned 60 (imagine the “OH my GOSH” emoji here).  A month later, I bought a motorcycle!  A few weeks after that, I learned how to ride it, and 14,000 kilometers (about 8,600 miles) later, I can’t believe I ever lived without one!

Turning 60 on two wheels:  A Honda CB500X named Sheila

I had a complete left hip replacement in February 2016 before the bike (Sheila) came on the scene, and the right hip replacement in November of the same year.  They were just worn out, and how wonderful that I can walk and ride without pain!

I’m now trying to recap 2017…  Stay tuned!

My favorite rosebush in my garden

…Or has 2015 nearly vanished?  It’s going on eight months since I wrote my New Year’s post and I remember typing it up like it was last week.  It is August, and the major retailers in Guatemala City are setting up their Christmas decoration aisles; and I’m trying to remember what I’ve accomplished this year.

Looking at my list of “hopes” I posted on Jan. 1st, I am glad that they were realistic accomplishments!  I can honestly say that I am much more at peace with myself and my life than I was eight months ago, and I am conscious of those self-sins that I constantly work to conquer.  I have spent more time on family, but feel I have fallen a little bit short on building friendships.

I have worked diligently to keep my morning “God Time” sacred, and am actually on schedule with my ‘read the Bible in a year’ plan… whew!  I am still working on memorizing 24 verses of scripture–I have 16 of them written in my little book so far, and maybe have half of them really memorized.  As I look through them, I recognize a persistent theme running through the verses I’ve chosen and think that perhaps they have fueled my incentive and success in achieving those hopes I set as goals last January.  I just wanted to share a few of them with you:

Romans 15:13   Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (NASB)

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  (NIV)

Psalm 19:14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.  (NASB)

Psalm 120:1  In my trouble I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.  (NASB)

Blessings to all of you.

New Year’s glory in Guatemala, two very happy bougainvillaea on my terrace!

Last night a good friend phoned to wish me Happy New Year, and asked if I had any resolutions.  I replied that I don’t make them; seems to me the very word “resolution” is a jinx.  And generally, if I decide I need to do something new / better, I prefer to start immediately, no matter the date.  But her question got me thinking and I believe I do have some resolutions, but prefer to call them “Hopes” for the new year, as I believe hope is not so easily broken:

1) That the year is full of hope, peace and tranquility
2) To spend more time in prayer, meditation, and just talking to God
3) To banish the self-sins: self-love, self-pity, self-trust, self-admiration, self-content, etc.
4) To be better family to my family, and a better friend to my friends
5) To discover that all of the above can really bring me that peace, hope and tranquility that I desire!

Happy New Year from the Guate Denhams, beneath the Florifundia (Dad’s pride and joy)

Having recovered from my post-Israel trip (2013) letdown, followed by hand surgery and seems like hundreds more interruptions and distractions, I am booting up my blog again.  At present, my only travel is towards Heaven, but my intention here is simply to share occasional insights and inspirations.  You are welcome to subscribe / unsubscribe as you wish; and I always look forward to your comments to help us keep in touch.  Blessings to all.