Happy New Year!

Yes, it’s January 2024, the tree should come down soon, and I’ll put away the Christmas cookie cutter. Where on earth has 2023 gone to?

It really came home to me when the archdeacon notified all of us that it was time to draft our annual letters updating the diocese on our year in ministry, then I got an interesting Christmas present from the bishop’s office.

I’d been concerned for some time now that the minister in charge of the congregation where I attend services was reaching out to me more and more to serve as though I was an assistant minister at the congregation, when that’s way beyond what I should be doing as a member of the congregation who happens to be a clergywoman.

Out of nowhere, I got a call from the bishop’s executive assistant that they wanted me to move out of that parish and do ministry district-wide.

Once I’ve been on the road for several weeks and can catch a break, I might go back to my current parish, but not as a minister. I imagine my situation will be like a missionary who has been out in the field for weeks at a time. Returning to my home parish will be like much needed rest and recuperation.

I might make a batch of cookies, the last batch I might make for a while.

Here are some batches I’ve made recently:

How has the writing been? It’s been well, we’ve had long breaks in between critique meetings because of the holidays, and I’ve taken breaks as well.

I felt guilty, though. But I reminded myself that everyone is taking breaks, so there’s nothing to worry about.

I had a remarkable rabbit hole moment. I’d been wondering for the longest while what our old house looked like ever since we moved about fifteen months ago. We knew the buyers were developers who planned on tearing it down and merging the lot with two others next to it.

This is what it looks like, an empty space with a construction fence in front.

How do I feel? Fine, the house needed a lot of work, we couldn’t do it. If the buyers can put the place to good use putting in an apartment, so be it.

What else have I been up to?

Movies I’ve watched: