I know it's been a long time since you've heard from me. I have been doing the same things you've been doing - planning, shopping, cooking, wrapping, sending - and trying to stay organized and enjoy the journey.

It's been a really good Christmas for us here which among other things has resulted in 2 new learning curves. My kids bought me a programmable coffee maker which makes very delicious coffee. Unfortunately my first 2 attempts at coffee waiting for me in the morning have resulted in an empty cup. I'm going to see if I can figure this one out today.

My other learning curve is my daughter's cell phone. She bought herself a new one and since there is some time left on her old phone and since I'm among that very small group of people who have never owned a cell phone - she's given it to me. I can't text, it takes me more rings than they give to figure out how to answer it, and I'm really not interested in being "connected" wherever I am. But it is almost 2011. So I'm giving it a go for these two weeks and we'll see if there's a way I can get it to work for me.

My motivation to be in touch with you today though is to give you an invitation. During my morning Bible reading/study on BibleGateway.com these last few weeks I've been reminded of a yearly Bible reading plan they have on-line.

I would like to read through the Bible in a year again this year and I wonder if any of you would like to do that with me? I've started a community page on facebook so we can be in touch on-line to encourage each other along when we start to fall behind, help to hold one another accountable as the year goes by, and share any of the numerous blessings we encounter along the way.

I know it will be a blessing because it's God's word and if you remember, "They are not just idle words for you-they are your life."

There are a lot of different options available to us this way too:

• you can read your Bible
• you can read a different translation on-line
• you can listen to the passage of scripture read to you
• you can read Genesis to Revelation, in Chronological order, in Historical order or some Old Testament and some New Testament each day

Take a look at the different reading plans available on Bible Gateway. If you click on the down arrow in the "Reading Plan" box you can see how it is set up. If you'd like to join me on this journey there are 2 options for keeping in touch:

If you're already on facebook, click here to go to the community page and "Like" it. That will include you in the comments we can make back and forth with one another.

If you don't have facebook use the Cybersalt contact form and put "Read 2011" as the subject and something as simple as "sign me up" for the message. We can be in touch with a weekly e-mail to share some of our significant thoughts and to help us catch up if we fall behind.

The revelation of God is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.
God 's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
down to the nth degree. Psalm 19:7-9

Wishing you all God's richest blessings in 2011,

Simply Susan