So far, so good. After today, I will be caught up with my reading (3 chapters behind). I have never personally read on this passage and book track before (beginning in Genesis, Ezra, Matthew, and Acts), but am excited about reading and sticking to the schedule. There are so many challenges posed, and the threads between the books and chapters have been very interesting (especially with being in Genesis in Sunday School and Acts in the worship services). At the end of Matthew 11 last night, verses 28-30 came to the forefront: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  Though it would be a joy to put the burdens/cares/issues of 2008 totally in the past with a new year, that is not fully a reality for us. Case in point: Tirin's broken leg. While we would love to leave that one behind us, a little more than two weeks remain with the walking boot, and the weeks to follow of her learning to use the leg with freedom again will be fun.  We can, however, follow the advice found at the beginning of that passage: "Come to me". He does lighten our load. His burden is light. God is good. He does care for us, even numbering each hair on our head. He is for us. If 2009 would be year where I would truly go to Him first, with all of my cares, burdens, labor, etc., what more could, should, would I ask for? Continually striving for total dependence-what a great place to be, live, and go. On the journey with together with you-2009, here we come!