Beginnings




	Write 2 The Heart January 4, 2005 Welcome to your latest issue of Write 2 the Heart. Take a moment to browse our new bookstore at: http://www.write2theheart.com/html/book_store.html You will find wonderful books written, or include stories by many of our talented writers. You will also find books that aide the budding writer. I highly recommend “Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Guide,” and “2005 Writer’s Market.” Both are must haves for all serious writers. They are great tools to find that perfect market for your writing. Each New Year, we stop to remember the past and think about our hopes for the coming year. Kathy is no exception and shares not only her memories, but her resolutions. New Beginnings By: Kathy Whirity For as long as I've known my husband, I have heard the exact same greeting, at the stroke of midnight, on the eve of the new year. Traveling back through an avalanche of memories, I remember our very first New Year's together as if it were yesterday. I was in my final year of being a carefree teen-ager; he was barely older than a teen-ager himself. Eight months of dating found us a couple that long ago New Year's Eve, and as we watched the big silver ball make its slow descent, we excitedly counted down the seconds to a brand new year. 5-4-3-2-1 - Happy New Year! Then my future husband bellowed, GOOD BYE 1975 - HELLO 1976! This December 31st I expect the tradition to continue, just as it has for all these many years. I guess you can probably tell that I'm sitting here, among the memories of yesterday, in an Auld Lang Syne state of mind. GOOD BYE 1980 - HELLO 1981! With a wealth of joy and anticipation we welcomed in 1981 with a wealth of joy and anticipation, for a precious bundle of God's love was born to us later that year. GOOD BYE 1884 - HELLO 1985! We both wrapped our arms tightly around the prospects of new beginnings after an unexpected job lay-off and financial worries piled high for this young family with 2 tiny mouths to feed. GOOD BYE 1993 - HELLO 1994! With that bittersweet farewell a sad and tearful good bye was said to my dear Mother. As we laid her to rest that year I knew that ringing in the new beginnings of my life would never again be the same without her. GOOD BYE 1999 - HELLO 2000! A new millennium. The world survived the fear of computer glitches and millennium mania. The world as we knew it stayed the same, without so much as a Y2K calamity. GOOD BYE 2003 - HELLO 2004! Hand in hand we stepped across the threshold of our brand new home and once again new beginnings were celebrated. This time we were a gray haired couple who dared to take a chance and dream. To some this house may be just bricks, mortar, concrete, and steel, but to us it has been a miracle in the making; built with the love of friendship that no amount of time will diminish. And here we are on the cusp of witnessing yet another year's passing. It seemed like only yesterday a young man held me in his arms - a man I knew, even back then, would be my life's mate. How then can it be that this year will mark the 29th time I will hear my husband utter the familiar words of the season's finale? And for the first time in my married life I will purposefully not be obsessive over resolutions that will be broken long before spring's first thaw. I will refuse to let fruitless thoughts or needless worries get in the way of what really matters. For when the clock strikes 12 on this coming New Year's eve, I will cuddle close to the love of my life and I will remember that, through the good times and through the tough times, it has been our love that has always gotten us through. Our faith has always been enough. On this special night of new beginnings I will thank God for blessing us all these years, and for giving me yet another reason to be grateful for the greatest gift of all - to hear my sweetheart of a husband say, loud and clear- GOOD BYE 2004 - HELLO 2005! HAPPY NEW YEAR! May you all be blessed with the happiest of new beginnings and may the memories you make be kept forever close to your heart the whole year through. Kathy Whirity kathywhirity @ yahoo.com Kathy Whirity is a newspaper columnist who lives in Chicago with her husband, Bill, their 2 daughters, Jaime and Katie, and 2 rambunctious retrievers, Holly and Hannah. The love of writing is what motivates Kathy to share her joy with others. You may visit Kathy at her new web page 'Kathy Whirity’s Musings From the Heart”: http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members?kathyw You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator @ write2theheart.com Write 2 the Heart now has an affiliate program with Cognigen. They have several long distance plans to chose from. I personally use the PowerNet Global 4.5¢ Per Minute Plan. I love having my own toll free number without the monthly fee; I only pay for actual calls. My family can call home whenever they are out of town. I have used it more times than I care to remember over the last three years in emergency situations. Cognigen has more than just great long distance rates; they have calling cards, internet access, web hosting services and much more. You can check out all of their telecommunication products and services at http://ld.net/?cbspeir. Looking for an affiliate program? You will be surprised at all the products and services you will have access to. Military Prayer Reminder As you read over this list of names, please take a moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ryan Larry Miele Daniel Amy John Joanne Gary Boardwine Josh Hadassah Chanz Wackerly Robert Henderson David Habighurst Tonia Melissa Bair Matthew Nutter Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. Cheryl’s Corner So much has happened, and not happened, since I last wrote you! I had the nearest thing to a white Christmas that I have ever had in my life. It sleeted hard and heavy on Christmas day and we saw a few flakes of snow. Christmas was a wonderful time of family gathering at my house. David’s sisters were able to drive down from Tennessee so we could join us in spending time with Tim and our nephew Todd before they leave for Kuwait then Iraq. When I woke up the day after Christmas, my floors were wall to wall with adults and children. I had to watch where I was stepping so as not to accidentally step on a person. As for what didn’t happen: Jeremy and Heather called off the wedding. They are still engaged, just realized they need to wait and not rush. On the whole, it was a very wise and mature decision. Besides, it was beginning to look like the bride might not get make it home for her own wedding! When the Air Force tells you your leave may be cancelled, you had better believe it. Monday we said goodbye to our third son, Tim, knowing it may be eighteen months before we hug him again. He will be in our heart and prayers until that day. I pray that each of you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year, full of loving and warm memories! God bless, Cheryl Copyright © 2005, Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.