:. revelation .:

Here we are, at the end of another year. Like any other, it held the good, the bad, the not-so-great. (There was also The Over The Top FANTASTIC: have you seen Eisley Christine??!??!)

But overall, it feels like the past 12 months for me, personally, have held more down than up. Been a bit of a struggle, shall we say? (It doesn't help that I've been sick for the past 6 weeks. Feeling like crap doesn't add to a rosy outlook.)

The end of the year means I'm finishing up another read-through of my favorite book, the Bible. Since I read straight through, that means come mid-December I hit Revelation. I freely admit, Revelation is a hard book: prophecy, visions, end of the world happenings. If you don't know what I'm talking about, go ahead and grab a Bible, turn to the last book, and give it a go. It's only 22 chapters. It will have your head spinning, I guarantee.

But I'm always struck by John's words at the very beginning of the book:

"Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near."

So while it might not be easy, it would be foolishness indeed to dismiss it.

But in the first three chapters, before you get to the jaw-dropping end-time scenes, you find Jesus' words to the seven churches. I always ask the Holy Spirit to reveal which words fit my own spiritual condition, which words He would speak to me.

And this year, there was no doubt. He gently held my heart, and said to me (as well as to the church in Philadelphia):

"I know that you have little strength, yet you have not denied my name . . . I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown."

Aaahh, my Savior understands.

But so as not to sound entirely pitiful, let me list some of the highlights of the past 12 months:

• Josh continued to amaze with his dad skills.
• Chris discovered how wonderful it is to be the daddy of a little girl . . . and started honing his dad skills
• Emily continued to amaze with her mom skills.
• Kate discovered how wonderful it is to be the mommy of a little girl . . . and started honing her mom skills.
• Gavin started kindergarten . . . what a big kid.
• Liam went to art school . . . cartwheel school was just too noisy.
• Tate learned to walk . . . and do about everything else big boys can do.
• Eisley decided to join the fam . . . and be the most beautiful girl around.
• Josh continued to amaze with his handyman skills, improving his home for his family.
• Emily continued to advocate for her eldest the way only a mother can, making sure he gets every and all help he needs.
• Chris continued to amaze with his handyman skills, improving his home for his family.
• Kate returned to the stage to use her talent the way only she can, delighting audiences everywhere with her singing and her dancing and her comedic genius.
• Josh finished a mini-triathlon . . . wow.
• Chris ran a half-marathon . . . wow.
• Emily and Kate both chopped their hair . . . and showed young mums everywhere what hip and trendy looks like.
• Gavin continued at Child Serve, working hard at things that come naturally to most of us . . . he's my hero.
• Liam continued to come up with some of the funniest lines in comedy . . . without even trying.
• Tate decided he's crazy about his littlest girl cousin . . . he and Eisie are going to be Best Friends.
• Eisley learned absolutely everything she should learn in her first 7 months of life . . . she's the best.
• my kids continued to love each other and their God with all they've got . . . perfect examples of godly families.
• my grands continued to be the joy, delight and honey of my soul . . . whatever would I do without them?
• and fighting mightily against a very debilitating illness, Benny put in one of the longest, hardest 12 months of work ever . . . because that is the kind of man he is.
  

Here's to a better 2011.