With a new year comes many hopes, dreams, and goals for the upcoming year. Many focus on getting better fit, losing weight, becoming more financially responsible, being more accountable with managing time and resources, reading the latest books, and the list goes on. While I have been hesitant to set New Year's Resolutions due to my inability to maintain them, I do see the new year as another opportunity for new . beginnings and a fresh start. Perhaps even new opportunities. Three particular areas that I would like to resolve to do in the coming year with God's help of course; the first comes easy while the other two I will need accountability:
- Resolve to enjoy God's creation
- Resolve to focus on Jesus first!
- Resolve to 'delight' in the Bible
I invite you to share in my enjoyment of God's special creation as I continue to point students to our great God and creator here in Nassau! I also ask you to pray for me that my focus would be on Jesus first and that I would do this as a result of time in God's word and intentionally being in the presence of the Lord.
Speaking of new opportunities...... I spent the early morning hours of 2015 ringing in the new year by attending a Bahamian traditional parade called "Junkanoo". Though there is much to tell about the history of this event I will summarize it by sharing the most popular belief. Junkanoo developed from the days of slavery. The influx of loyalists in the late 18th century brought many enslaved people who were given three days off at Christmas, which they celebrated by singing and dancing in colorful masks, traveling from house to house often on stilts. Junkanoo nearly vanished after slavery was abolished but the revival of the festival in the Bahamas now provides entertainment for many thousands.
This is one example of the many large pieces that led each group of dancers and musicians for each group that was represented in the parade.
As you can see, the picture above was taken at night while this one was taken during the day! That's right. Junkanoo traditionally started at midnight and would last for nearly 12 hours. Just this year the parade was shortened, but nevertheless still lasted all night and into the morning.
A big part of the sound is the ringing of the cow bells......
and the brass band.....
and the home made drums made out of metal barrels.
Just a little taste of what I got to see for 6 hours!
My friend and co-worker at the ALC, Tika was able to spend Christmas in Colorado. Though we did NOT go skiing, there here is a brief picture update of some of the adventures we did have.
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First evening in Denver spent the evening with good friends.......
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at the Denver Zoo lights.
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I used to teach Pre-school with Amy and Tera.
We decorated Christmas cookies.
Ate some good Italian at Maggianos.....
before enjoying "The Nutcracker" with my parents.
Spent some time with Jordan and her family.
Went to the mountains with Lindsay.
Christmas day was with family in Brighton.
And played an after dinner game of Rook by a roaring toasty fire!
Enjoyed a foot scrub and pedicure from my neice Gabrielle.....
......and smiles from Ashton.
And Tika got to go sledding for the very first time!
It was a very good two weeks! I am blessed to have such special friends and family that care for and love me. Though I struggled with intense emotion from memories that come flooding my mind when I am reunited with friends and family, I can look back upon the year with much thanksgiving for the way that God has provided, restored, been faithful. I thank God for all of it and I look ahead for what he has in store for me in the coming year.
Blessings to all
Jen
