The mosaic of Christ Pantocrator which we saw last week (Monreale Duomo, Sicily)
Merry Christmas, dear readers, and here’s my short and sweet Christmas letter.
2013 was a full year, and a good one.
We put 2012 to bed in Malta, which we loved. Neolithic temples, Crusader towns, and fabulous beaches.
January
Zoe was accepted by Jesus College, Cambridge to read Theology.
February
We spent a few days in Fflad-y-Brenin, a retreat centre in Wales. Very wet.
Resolve: Do not go on holiday in England in February if you can avoid it.
March
Enjoyed my church’s (St. Andrew’s, Oxford) weekend away.
April
Enjoyed Handel’s Messiah at Good Friday at Royal Albert Hall. Foretaste of heaven.
We spent a week in Corfu—which I loved, gorgeous beaches and mountains.
May
My friend Jules invited me to the revival meetings at Cwmbran, where I experienced God’s presence.
June
Yeah, it’s been quite a year of God-chasing. I went on a retreat at Harnhill Retreat Centre, Gloucestershire, with powerful prayer ministry.
July
Zoe graduates from Oxford High School winning the Head’s Award for Academic Excellence, her school’s Award for Academic Excellence in Religious Studies, and a Commendation for Achievement in Philosophy and a commendation for progress in French,
Irene visits First World War battlefields; we stay home
Irene, who is growing in her faith, spends a week at Lymington Rushmore Christian Camp. She starts a baking blog, Life Among the Cupcakes.
I voluntarily took part in the Race for Life, first race since forced to run in school.
August.
We visit Switzerland, Italy (Lucca, Pisa and Genoa) and France—Laon, Troyes, all in our trusty campervan, which I love.
September
Roy and I visit the romantic walled cities of Tuscany with Kim and Penelope Swithinbank & their friends, on our first trip away without children in 19 years. Loved San Gimignano, Volterra, and Siena.
Zoe leaves to the School of Ministry at Catch the Fire, Toronto for her gap year. She has heard excellent speakers; has done some preaching; some prophetic evangelism and outreaches; and discovered nascent spiritual gifts of preaching, prayer ministry and prophetic ministry. She believes she would like to do some form of Christian ministry as her life work.
October
A week in Cornwall, for half term. Loved the beaches, but it was rainy.
Resolve: Do not go on holiday in Britain in October, if you can avoid it.
November
I was nominated for “Tweeter of the Year” and so attended the Christian New Media Awards Conference and dinner in London. Met lots of interesting British social media people.
And heard Heidi Baker in Birmingham. Heidi has made preaching into an art form (listen to her on Youtube), but listening to her is both utterly convicting and inspiring at the same time.
December
Zoe home for a week.
Roy, I and Irene have just returned from a week in Sicily. Enjoyed the ancient Greek Temples, and the nature reserves, and the Byzantine mosaics at Monreale.
Other highlights—I’ve lost 11 pounds this year, by eating a whole lot more vegetables and fruits (discovery: green smoothies!!) and a whole lot less sugar and white flour, and longish walks. Total weight loss since Nov. 2012—16 lb.
Doing a bit better with my perennial struggle to balance blogging with its attendant distractions (Facebook, Twitter, emails, comments) with serious reading and writing. Am getting going with my book.
Spiritually, I have reached a calm, settled place, and am really experiencing the love of God. Blogging with its introspection and encouragement to change has been psychologically and spiritually good for me, though since I am trying to write a book, it’s been more haphazard than I would wish.
Zoe will be volunteering in the Bridge, Gadsden, Alabama, in January. The rest of her gap year is still jelling, but we are sure that she and Roy, Irene and I will taste the goodness of the Lord next year too.
And this is my wish for you, friends—“to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13)
Happy Christmas, and very happy 2014
Anita
Read my new memoir: Rosaries, Reading, Secrets: A Catholic Childhood in India (US) or UK.
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My book of essays: Wandering Between Two Worlds (US) or UK
Kathy says
I am awed by your adventuresome spirit and your love of travel, and writing. I wish I could travel more but have been restricted by my home-loving husband and our two indoor cats. I feel reading of the lands I would like to see is a good way to travel and spend time reading in the time I am convalescing with a torn Achilles heel. I enjoy your blog and the wondrous sights you describe when you are abroad. Your strong faith and great revelations also give me added insights into our wonderful God. May this coming year give you direction in writing your book and other articles.
Anita Mathias says
Thank you, Kathy. My husband is home-loving too, but every couple of months or so, I itch to travel a bit. Living so hear Europe helps. I used to live in the US for 17 years and in India for even longer, so being so close to Europe is still novel for me.
Please pray that I get my book finished this year. I really should.
Thank you for being such a faithful, supportive reader. God bless you in the New Year!