We’ve rolled into 2020, but before this blog touches its toes into new territory, I’d like to share some delightful scenes from our Christmas in Chicago along with a few thoughts about this amazing, new year.
In the hymn, “Our God, Our Help,” Isaac Watts describes time as “an ever rolling stream.” Each swiftly turning year reminds us. While this is sobering, the good news is that our God is our constant help, “our guard while troubles last,” Watts explains, and then finishes his rich poem by describing God as “our eternal home.” Home. God is our home. Hmm. Watts is heralding Moses’ message in Psalm 90: “Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born…from everlasting to everlasting You are God” (verses 1-2).
Good to think about and be thankful for as we roll through time, our time within God’s providential line.
Here are a few pictures I snapped recently, as I was rolling through December 2019.
Father and daughter. Paul and Amanda in downtown Chicago during Christmas week.
We spent Christmas week with our daughter, Amanda, who lives in a Chicago suburb and works in downtown Chicago.
Eating lunch in a roof top restaurant overlooking Lake Michigan. Beautiful day. 58 degrees!
View from the roof top, outdoor deck. You see the lake in a distance…and the Bean below and part of the ice rink. Fabulous views.
I loved my salad: a beet & avocado salad with citrus, fennel, sunflower seed and a saucy little champagne, vanilla dressing. Yummy!
Amanda with her coconut milk potato bisque which had bright flavors from lemongrass, yellow tomato, lime, peanut, and cilantro!
‘Twas a lovely Christmas in Chicago! And since I took these pictures, I didn’t have to be in them!
I am thankful for all the temporal blessings of this age which mix with the eternal blessings of family and loved ones and God’s good presence.
Rolling, rolling, rolling. As we cascade into 2020, I’m pleased to invite Isaac Watts to frame our perspective of this new year.
Journey North Character 
Beautiful hymn, Karen, and a peaceful, encouraging way to start the day! Thank You! I enjoyed your Chicago photos. Paul is looking good in his winter beard and jaunty hat! Happy New Year 2020! The Roaring Twenties have come around again…..Rick and Mary Shepherd
On Mon, Jan 6, 2020 at 18:13 Journey North Character wrote:
> Karen Thomas Olsen posted: “We’ve rolled into 2020, but before this blog > touches its toes into new territory, I’d like to share some delightful > scenes from our Christmas in Chicago along with a few thoughts about this > amazing, new year. In the hymn, “Our God, Our Help,” Isaac Wat” >
Thanks, Rick! Ah, yes, the Roaring Twenties again!
Amanda bought that “jaunty hat” for Paul over in Scotland last year. Just right for Paul with his English-Scottish heritage!
Oh sweet friend, these pictures are spectacular and make me miss you even more! Amanda is gorgeous as always! Thanks for sharing!! It all goes so quickly, just like Isaac Watts states.
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