It’s that time of year again. We goal-setting people love it because the year ahead presents a fresh start, a clean slate, new possibilities.

At the end of last year, I committed to reading the Old Testament in 2012. I had no idea then what a blessing it would be throughout the past year. But God knew, and He had put the plan on my heart. Verses like,

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

brought such timely truth and comfort!

1. I wanted to read through the gospels in 2013 and become reacquainted with Jesus; to read His words spoken while living as a human being on the earth. Once again, this Bible plan website came through for me. They had precisely what I was looking for in the ‘words of Jesus’ reading plan.

2. I’ve kept a prayer journal for the past few years, and have found it to be a good tool for staying focused while talking with God, as well as something to look back on and be reminded of the ways God answered those prayers. Thus, I plan to continue in 2013.

3. Why this picture, you ask, of an adorable girl and dog? Well, partly because it’s a cute pic, but also because it illustrates another 2013 goal of mine. I plan to keep a ‘love list’–it’s a way for me to be intentional in encouraging and serving others (such as dogsitting :)) One of my biggest weaknesses is lack of initiative. I often sense God nudging me to do one of these, but I don’t do it because _______ (fill in the blank), so I’m hoping that this will light a fire in me to pick up the phone, write an encouraging email, bring a meal.

Those are the biggies for this year. Simple structure. For my sake, but also for the sake of others, so that as God continues to shape me and refine me, I would behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18) in a way that would draw others to Him.

I love this blog entry from Desiring God. Sadly, it’s the sensational, violent, tragic events that make the news day in and day out. The following article is a good reminder of all the good that God allowed this year.

Where Was God in All the Goodness of 2012?

By John Piper | Dec 27, 2012 01:24 pm

As this year ends, the question I am asking is: Where was God when so many good things happened this past year?

How can God be a God of justice, yet allow so much good to happen to people who dishonor him by disbelieving in him, or giving lip service to his existence, or paying no more attention to him than the carpet in their den, or rejecting the kingship of his Son, or scorning his word, or preferring a hundred pleasures before him?

How can God be righteous and do so much good to us who are so unrighteous?

Where was God in 2012?

Where was God when nine million planes landed safely in the United States?
Where was God when the world revolved around the sun so accurately that it achieved the Winter solstice perfectly at 5:12 AM December 21 and headed back toward Spring?
Where was God when the President was not shot at a thousand public appearances?
Where was God when American farms produced ten million bushels of corn, and 2.8 million bushels of soybeans — enough food to sell $100 billions worth to other nations?
Where was God when no terrorist plot brought down a single American building or plane or industry?
Where was God when the sun maintained its heat and its gravitational pull precisely enough that we were not incinerated or frozen?
Where was God when three hundred million Americans drank water in homes and restaurants without getting sick?
Where was God when no new plague swept away a third of our race?
Where was God when Americans drove three trillion accident free miles?
Where was God when over three million healthy babies were born in America?
Here are a few of the answers given by God himself in his word.

1. God was reigning from his throne to do his sovereign will.

“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” (Psalm 115:3)
“He works all things according to the counsel of his will.” (Ephesians 1:11)

2. God was reigning from his throne to prevent much sin and harm in the world.

“God said to [Abimelech, the king of Gerar], it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.” (Genesis 20:6)
“You know what is restraining [the man of lawlessness] now.” (2 Thessalonians 2:6)

3. God was reigning from his throne to give a witness to his goodness and his patience.

“God did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:17)

4. God was reigning from his throne to summon the world to repentance.

“Do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

So as the year ends, I bow my head as an undeserving sinner, amazed that I have not been swept away. And even more, that because of Jesus, I am forgiven, adopted into God’s family, and destined for eternal life.

God has been good to us. And his best gift is the one that will be there when all the others fail. Jesus, crucified, risen, reigning.

Here’s what we did as a family tonight! Enjoy.

Trick 1: Birthday magic

Step1: Add 18 to your birth month.
Step2: Multiply by 25.
Step3: Subtract 333.
Step4: Multiply by 8.
step5: Subtract 554.
step6: Divide by 2.
step7: Add your birth date.
step8: Multiply by 5.
step9: Add 692.
step10: Multiply by 20.
step11: Add only the last two digits of your birth year.
step12: Subtract 32940 to get your birthday!.

After enjoying weeks of mild, 50 degree weather, I think it is safe to say that 23 degrees is unbearably cold. But we don’t consider things in the conventional way here…for while the fire blazes in the fireplace, here is what’s going on outside:

Breakfast. Outside. In the frigid 23 degree air. They loved it.

The dogs (we are dogsitting this week) and I watched from the heated indoors.

As far as time goes, our mornings are like gold. Everyone’s brains and bodies are fresh in the morning, so we aim to accomplish as many chores and as much schoolwork as possible before noon.

Every so often, however, we make an exception. The other day was one such time. At 7:30, the boys were gathered around the table, setting up their Settlers of Catan game.

I figured I’d let them play for an hour, and then we would dig in to academics. The problem was, they were getting along marvelously…and character-building trumps academics in situations like this.

So five hours later, after playing straight through with no breaks, they completed their game. And they were better friends afterward than when they began. Their schoolwork wasn’t going anywhere, so we didn’t fret. It was accomplished eventually!

Ruthie is learning important life lessons at the tender age of three. Lessons like: if you go shopping with Daddy, you will come home with something pink.

Even at Christmas time, life can be risky.

Jeremy was discussing the topic of gift-wrapping and said, “One of the risks of life is not knowing what’s inside the wrapping! You don’t know if you’re going to get the thing you asked for!”

On any given day at our house, you will likely find Derek gathering paper, tape, markers and scissors to make a board game during his free time.

The board games he creates are always historical and geographical in nature.

I think it’s his way of processing and internalizing what we are currently learning in history.

We are a year and a half into American history, so his games are full of American exploration and settlement themes.

This boy thrives on facts and details, which manifests in how he creates these historical games, with historically accurate rules and objectives.

Move over Mattell, there’s a new game-creator in town!

The kids watched Chariots of Fire for the first time last weekend. They were inspired.

This week they’ve been running time trials in the hallway. Not only was Jeremy inspired to run fast, but also has adopted a new running form, a la Eric Liddell…

Jeremy Liddell from James on Vimeo.

Here’s what you get when your 14 year-old photographer/scientist decides to chronicle the annual Christmas tree rising. Notice the flurry of activity from a certain 3 and 6 year-old! What fun!

Watch it in HD here

Look at what the baker in the family has moved onto…

Cinnamon swirl bread, made from scratch.  It fed our family for breakfast this morning, and it was delicious.

Because he is gaining more and more confidence in the kitchen, he is planning to give gifts from the oven to the kids in his GCK and BSF classes.

He made a list of options this morning for the kids to choose:

After reading in our history curriculum about the origins of the Fannie Farmer cookbook (first written in the 1800s), Peter has been reading our copy during his free time to learn more about cooking.

According to this Genius, in order to fix a computer, one must

“spin around like this and put your bib on like this. Then turn this like this.” Simple enough.