"And That's A Wrap"

"And that's a wrap, folks". A phrase used in the movie or television industry when one of it's scenes is finished. We watched alot of old movies with my movie-loving side of the family who were here for Christmas vacation this year! Christmas, and indeed, 2018 are "a wrap". Another year "in the can" and behind us. That went quickly! All the family gatherings, trips, births, deaths, guests, activities, gardening, cooking, hospitality, joys and sorrows, of the past 365 days are over and we are marching inexorably forward into another year. It always happens! "Ready or not" as the kids say when playing hid and seek. It's already January 11th! At least I have the Christmas trees down at the two houses and the decorations safely sorted and stored in bins in the basement. Small steps in our forward direction. But, I'm reminded, once again, that time is a precious commodity. And should be valued. So, I have my 2019 calendar out. Dates, trips, appointments, lunches, dinners, call schedule, Israel trip, Hilton Head trip, museums we want to visit, books to read, gardening catalogs to peruse and place orders.... have already filled the square of the first several months. (Oh yes, and mundane things that I don't need on my calendar....laundry, cleaning, phone calls to friends, food shopping and prep) But we will hold these plans lightly as we progress into 2019 knowing that He might whisper a different plan, a different direction, and we want to have "ears to hear" and a heart to obey.