What a difference a year makes.
Well I think the actual words to the song are "What a difference a day makes, twenty-four little hours, brought the sun and the flowers, where there used to be rain."...now I am humming the song in my head, you still get the point.
We can get so caught up the whirl-wind of life that we can live with tunnel vision, whatever is happening...either good or bad, can lead us to forgetting "time changes everything".
So today I celebrate "What a difference a Year makes" through pictures.
Last year by this time we had already had four snow storms....so unlike Texas. (2011)
January 2012 - overly warm temptatures and wonderful sunshine
His looks have just changed so much and he left age 5 behind last week...yes mother still wants to pickle her little ones at this age, but I must, I must, let them grow up.
January 2012 - overly warm temptatures and wonderful sunshine
Where I thought we were going to live until we could buy a house. Covered with snow...prior to a summer of drought and record breaking heat.
Our new rental and rain after a summer drought. A warm winter and rain.
The only thing certain in life is CHANGE!!
What will life look like in another year....for now I am enjoying today.
Yes, I did turn a year older also (thank you for the birthday wishes)...on the 8th, I share my birthday with Elvis.
Our other son turned 16 on the 3rd and Benjamin on the 6th....life goes on.
I do love to look back at photos I've taken a year ago!
ReplyDeleteThe Lord remains faithful, doesn't He? He just keeps administering His love.
Happy Birthday late, Janette! I hope you had a day of sweet celebration.
Beautiful photos my friend. The one thing that went through my head when I was reading this was the quote the only two things in life that are certain is death and taxes. Life has brought so many changes this past year and so far this year too. I am so blessed to know that no matter what those changes are, that my Jesus is in control of them, and He loves us enough that no matter what those changes are He never walks away, just through them with us.
ReplyDeleteLove you-glad you had a great birthday.
Happy Thursday!
Hugs
Jill
I forgot would you e-mail me your address, I have two small somethings for you and all I have is the old address and wasn't sure if you were still getting mail from their sent to your new address.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Janette, Happy Birthday to all three of you!! Celebrating is a wonderful way to start the new year. And, yep, change is bound to happen. blessings ~ tanna
ReplyDeleteps love those chairs and I much prefer the way 2012 has started out for us!! LOL!
oh a belated Happy Birthday to you Janette!
ReplyDeletelast year seemed to fly by oh so quickly, but if i stop and reflect, much occurred. thanks for the prompting to do so...
love the peek into yours!
Oh how I love to look back at how things change...cuz we can ALWAYS count on that, your right. Your Benjamin is growing up...what a little cutie he is. And happy birthday to all of you! Hope you all enjoyed your days! HUGS
ReplyDeleteYes, changes come and sometimes too fast. Last year was a year of many changes for me. I'm glad God is in control of our lives and knows exactly what He is doing. Thanks for the post. Loved the pictures.
ReplyDeleteone thing we can be certain of is that life will continue to change. the other thing we can be certain of is that he will not. that's my anchor as I walk thru these changing days . enjoyed the pictures hope you all enjoyed the celebrations
ReplyDeleteYes, life does go on. I didn't realize how close Benjamin is to my grandson's age who will leave five behind in a few short days.
ReplyDeleteJanuary is a very good month in your family.
Your home is lovely and a blessing in the here and now until your dream of owning a home becomes a reality. I think a little snow would look very nice in the yard. Wish I could share!
Well, I think the house you live in now is really nice too. It is hard to imagine you had snow last year and your yard this year looks just like mine does now.
ReplyDeleteYou have grown so much it is amazing to see. You have done I think so much better than I might have done.
It is something to see the changes you have gone though in such a short time.
I like looking at your pictures like that. I wish I had done something to keep record.
Great way to remember the last year. You have beautiful rentals in Texas. I would love either house :)
ReplyDeleteYes...it seems that "change" is inevitable! Thanks for sharing your photos from this past year.
ReplyDeleteI love how you said you would like to be able to "pickle" your son at his age. So very cute! :)
Did you get any of this last rain? It just missed us, we got a few flurries but not worth measuring. I am waiting for change and it didn't come last year. (a new job) One looked so promising over Christmas but a no go. I love my current position and co-workers but it's part-time. Remaining faithful and hopeful (for rain too!)
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed following along with your life! Keep sharing. You bring such encouragement to me. I hope this coming year is full of God's blessings and mercies!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! We can 'make our plans, but the final outcome is up to God.'...
ReplyDeleteI love both houses, and especially the love and TLC that is going into making it your home. Next year?? I have no idea, but HE does!! :)
Love you!
I enjoyed this look back with you. Change happens but one thing is for certain--Benjamin just keeps getting cuter.
ReplyDeleteI love both of your homes and I am sure that whether you own or rent you do a wonderful job of making your house a home for your family. And that's what counts most.
xo
Happy belated birthday, Janette! Somehow looking back sometimes makes it easier to keep looking forward, doesn't it? What a year you HAD -- and what a fantastic year I pray you HAVE ahead of you! (What a happy red front door you have!)
ReplyDeleteOh yes! What a difference a year makes. You had a big year.
ReplyDeleteBenjamin sure has matured in one year.
Happy late birthday.....that boy of yours is soooo cute...Hug him lots now, he'll be all grown up before you know it.....
ReplyDeleteChange that word we love or late...but one thing we can count on is that God is in control of time and all that touches our lives. I like to call change adventures and wonder what kind of adventures He will take me on this year.....
Thank goodness for friends like you who are willing to share the journey.....
hi janette!
ReplyDeletei am so sorry to hear about your uncle. life is
just so hard . . . and wonderful. you have to
accept both and rejoice in the Lord always.
thank you for your sweet words at my place
and happy birthday, you young thing!
Remembering is good.
ReplyDeleteFondly,
Glenda
My dh has a saying "Nothing stays the same",only the faithfulness of God remains. and oh! how true this is. Love both your homes, and this weather we are having is so unpredictable.
ReplyDeletePlease give my dear buddy Benjamin a very big hug, and a very big Birthday wish for me, I was thinking of him today as I was walking and looking at the animals, and hope to soon e-mail him some updated photos.
I am so excited to see what we will be writing about next january,!
Love,
Sue
Seems like the older I get the easier it is to embrace change and not fight it so much. There are so many things in my life that I said I would NEVER do or places I would NEVER live. I have certainly had to eat those words and deal with change...
ReplyDeleteI love love love all that brick on your home. It's so so elegant.
Oh, yes, change is the only sure thing and as we know, itnisn't always easy. Enjoyed the pics and blessings for a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteJeanette,
ReplyDeleteYour look back and then forward shows progress and optimism. Good for you! Happy Birthday - Marsha
Great post, Janette! You are so right. Nothing is certain except that life here on earth is uncertain. That little tidbit of wisdom is the motivation behind my searching for sunshine theme for 2012.
ReplyDeleteYour six year old is even cuter at six than at five. How did that happen? His eyes dance. I love person with dancing eyes.
Change is a certainty, that's for sure. I happy birthday'd you on Facebook. I hope you had a wonderful fun filled day. I love how you chronicled the changes through photos.
ReplyDeleteLove you,
Debbie
Ch...ch...ch...changes. Remember that old song?
ReplyDeleteYup - it's one of the few certain things in life. Once you think you're certain about something - IT. WILL. CHANGE.
Loved the comparison shots from 2011/2012. And my goodness, Benjamin has certainly grown up! I had forgotten how much those young boys can change in one year!
Happy Birthday to YOU! (No comparison pictures for you? Hmmm...?) Hope you had the wonderful day that you so deserve, and that this will be the beginning of a year of positive changes.
Resting in this promise that brings such steadiness to my spirit - JESUS is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow...
The One unchanging thing in my life.
GOD BLESS!
I love your post. It's so true - life does change and I'm not always good about accepting that change. The key I took from your post is to enjoy today! I need to write that on my hand and look at it every moment! lol I love your photos - that is such a great way to see one year from another. Love it!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you - Julie
I like your new header, Janette!
ReplyDeleteSorry to have missed your birthday...Well, at least I think I did(?)
...and I concur with your experiences and insights about change.
Looking forward to the changes that come with 2012 knowing that HE never changes!
Janette, I missed your birthday but I'm so glad I came here today to see this post. I hope your birthday was blessed and hope the year ahead is as sweet as you are!
ReplyDeleteEven though your post for this actual day (about your uncle) is closed to comments, I just wanted to say that my heart goes out to all of you as you mourn your loss.
Too busy indeed......this life keep speeding up and we fine ourselves rushing to get things done and even to get from one location to another. I'm glad you will see your uncle in heaven! Until then, may we all heed your wise advice and make time...beacause life is short!
I loved seeing the changes and the contrasts in all the photos too! Your pic of the weather was a reminder to me of what a difference a "day" makes here in Chicago!
Bless you and thank you for always speking wisdom and truth!
Happy belated birthday to you dear friend and to Benjamin!
Thanking God that He never changes!
Beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteI did read your latest post, and it really touched me. Thank you for sharing what must have been a very vulnerable pain...
Janette, I am finally catching up on my blog reading.
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures!
Wow, a year can change a lot of things, as well as two weeks or months. All things are transitory, only our next life will go on forever.
Great post!