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Hello Reader,

This is my last newsletter of the year. Can you believe it? Thanks so much for sticking with me.

As we head into this brand spanking new year, I have a long list of things I want to accomplish in the next 12 months. How about you? Are you making any resolutions? Setting any big goals? Maybe, like me, you're doing a little bit of both?

Whatever your particular approach, this week's link list is meant to help you make the most of 2024. I hope you'll find something useful here.

Free resources for you this week:

• ​Prayer for the New Year - no better place to start formulating goals than on your knees!
• ​2024 Calendars - my most-requested printables, with several different styles to choose from
• ​6 Smart Ways to Start 2024 Right - practices (& printables) to make this your best year yet
• ​New Year Conversation Starters - use these discussion prompts to get your family talking
• ​New Year Themed Gospel Tracts - perfect for sharing God's Word in the coming year
• ​Teach Us to Number Our Days - this coloring page is a reminder to use our time wisely

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What I'm reading this week:

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​NASB Life Application Study Bible​ I'm finishing up my annual reading of the Bible this week. I read from a variety of versions, but my favorites are the King James Version for Psalms, Proverbs, plus a few other selected passages that sound more lyrical and are easier to memorize in that translation, then the New American Standard Bible for everything else. If you never find time to read any of the other books I review in these weekly newsletters, I hope you'll make the effort to read God's Word. The Bible is still the best selling book of all time, for good reason. If you want a reading plan that will take you cover to cover in a year's time, here is the plan I use (free printable). ​

What we're eating this week:

We've been eating more meals from our EveryPlate subscription box. Our favorite dish this week? Moroccan Chickpea & Apricot Tagine. Yum!

To order a subscription box of your own, use my referral code and get your FIRST BOX FREE. No obligation. Cancel at any time.

On the podcast this week:

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EP. 24 - Loving Life at Home ​Embarrassing Moments & Tying Strings​ Like a ghost from Charles Dickens’ classic tale, today I’m sharing a couple of stories this week from Christmases past. Stories that entail more than one embarrassing moment, plus some concentrated efforts to re-tie strings that had been broken.. Listen Now

Progress on last week's goals:

I'm delighted to report I marked off all the tasks on last week's to-do list! I ✅ enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with my family, ✅ completed six more pages in my Christmas journal, ✅ reduced my inbox to less than ten messages, ✅ planned next week's menu, and ✅ designed the first of 12 monthly scripture memory challenges I plan to give my grandkids: first up, the ten commandments (I even wrote a new song to help them hide the Word in their hearts)

Personal goals for next week:

• write thank you notes for Christmas gifts
• print out a new day planner for 2024
• start training in earnest for an upcoming half-marathon
• organize my bathroom closet, desk, and cabinets

And that's it for this year. I'll be back next Wednesday with more Flanders Family Freebies. I pray God gives a restful remainder of 2023 and a fruitful and joyous 2024!