HELLO 2023
The year 2023 is on the horizon as we say goodbye to all that 2022 held for us! There is often a tension in the life of faith that we live in – the mystery of the unknown and the great excitement of what is to come. This past year, great inspiration and great struggle met us at our doorstep as we navigated the passing of our matriarch, Beni Johnson, while simultaneously welcoming a season of decade-long dreams fulfilled. And while personally Kathy and our family walked through marking family moments and challenging personal circumstances. But as the year concluded I felt a prompting in my heart to reflect on a few moments in our life from this last year. That is why I have asked my beautiful wife Kathy Vallotton to write a guest post on a few highlights and testimonies from this past year.
FINDING THANKFULNESS
You probably know how this time of year goes…everyone starts to reflect on their top moments while the highlight reel of 2022 flashes before our eyes as if time just slipped away from us. It can be so tricky to accomplish everything we intended, even when you have the best intention, and almost even harder to remember every moment that felt so impactful in the year. But, over the years if there is one thing I have learned it is that a grateful heart changes everything - when laced with thankfulness it can make the most dire of situations suddenly beam with hope, and your disappointments not seem so daunting anymore. I am reminded of the truth that God has given us the ability to choose which thoughts we are going to dwell on. In fact, the Bible tells us what to meditate on! In Philippians 4:8, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”
So, I wanted to share a few of the things that I am so thankful for in the past year to encourage our faith and excitement for 2023!
1. Our 11th grandchild, Liam, was born!
2. I shot a 400lb bear with a crossbow.
3. We remodeled our kitchen into my dream kitchen in our Redding home.
4. My Parkinson's symptoms seem to be improving.
I encourage you to find gratitude in your heart as you reflect on the past year! Write yourself a list so you can build your faith as you see all He has done for you and turn to when you feel discouragement or dissapointment try to creep in. 2023 is going to be an incredible year!
Kris and I are praying you and your family have a happy New Year!
