As this year of 2001 draws to a close, I am sure many of you are reflecting on the events of this year. What did you accomplish, what did you learn, how did you change? Anything significant that you want to talk about...Just put it down. As we look forward it is also good to look back.

I did most of the noraml things I do every year. But the most significant day for me was on September 11. I truly do not think I will ever forget the shock as I was watching the news that morning. The total unnecessary horror of it all, changed me in an indescribable way. It has made me love my family, my children and my husband with more strength and passion than I believed possible. While it was awful, it also brought out the basic, inherent goodness of people around the world who rushed to give whatever help they could. That day has made me focus on what is truly important. As I move into a new year, I hope to take the valuable lessons I have learned, and become a better person.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), December 29, 2001

Answers

I am just looking forward to a more peaceful year next year, after the hectic pace of the past twelve months. I started to give you all a breakdown of the past year, but I had to delete it because it seemed too surreal to be true. We have had some bad luck, and we will just look forward and pray for health and love.

-- Christine in OK (cljford@aol.com), December 29, 2001.

I am thankful for all the things the Lord has provided for us and the wonderful plans we made last year, I was able to do them. Every year I get stronger after my sickness in Dec of 1993. Some times I didn't have the strenght or I was right in the middle of getting new nerves and couldn't walk very good. This year we were able to take our trips and ron was able to go back to see relatives and leave me for 8 days. Of course my kids are near by, but I didn't have to call them. We had two deaths this year, a brother-in-law and a son-in-law,this was a real shock. We will still be going through the affects of this,this year. One of my true joys is getting our new puppy and the Lord providing the strenght to get up and down even at the 2:30 morning nature call.I really prayed before I got this puppy,I couldn't start and not finish. When the Lord said this was the right pup for us, she is so smart and loves to be with us. We have even taken her camping. The other joy has been Ron and I have done the serving and dishes for the Alpha Group program. That is a 8 week program. We did it twice last year. I'm so thankful the Foot and Mouth Disease didnot make it's way into the US. Our garden was great and some of it is in the freezer now. Our beef is grass fed so it is good for us. God is so Good, I don't see how people make it with out him.

-- Jo (farmerjo@kvalley.com), December 30, 2001.

This is without a doubt the hardest!! year I've had in the last several, especially since June. And at the same time, there's been some wonderful blessings: moving, falling on the chainsaw-the chiroractor was able to take care of another problem because of it, meeting homestead friends, a very black cloud was lifted off me, Melinda being on this forum has been a blessing too, and a couple other things.

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), December 30, 2001.

I took for granted the freedoms I have. I never questioned going to the church of my choice, talking to the people I want to, loving my faimily, were I live, the freedom to choice my life. After September 11 I have come to charish and realize what I have here. I can no longer pass by older gentlemen without the wonder that goes through my mind-"did they fight for me in Korea, Vietman, WWII, did they serve their country and it's people. Have we forgotten what they have done? I can no longer think war is something somewhere else. It is here, it is mine, and I pray daily for all who are over there so I can stay here. I pray that I never forget the suffering, the lives lost, the loneliness felt by those who have fought for me and my children. I charish my family and I tell them daily how much I care. Before it was a given, not now. Nothing is given. It is all bought and paid for-whether it is our country or our salvation. I want to be light in the darkness this year and the next, until I die. I want to pass to my family, friends and those I meet the feeling of humbleness and gratitude for what is ours.That is what I want to remember,that is what I want to pass on-God Bless

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), December 30, 2001.