2011

2011!  The new year always brings with it so much hope and promise.  All fresh starts do.  But a few weeks have passed and as we go back to school and work all the plans we made on vacation get pushed into the small amount of spare time that we have.

Amazing how our priorities become a blur and how our days and our time seem to be dictated for us.  Sometimes, we can feel constrained by our work schedule and the chores that must be done in our spare time.   We can't go to sleep when we are tired but before we reach that point, because we have to get up much earlier than our bodies would have us arise due to...oh yeah, those pesky schedules. 

And then I remember...how blessed I really am...
I have a husband and two beautiful children who I adore!
And what do you know...undeservedly they love me back!
I have parents that, despite some health issues, are doing well...well enough to bless me by taking care of Maxo during the day.  How blessed am I that my parents are taking care of my son?
Did I mention that my husband, myself and my children are for the most part healthy?
Then there's the fact that my big sister lives twenty minutes away...essentially, I can see her and my brother in law, my niece and my nephew whenever I want.
Our little sister, lives in North Carolina...but despite that unfortunate distance, we are extremely close.  We don't get to see her and her family as often as I would like, but I talk to her and to my precious niece and nephew as often as possible.
As much as I don't want to get up some days, my husband and I have jobs that allow us to live the lifestyle we are used to.
We have a house that we love, which means a roof over our heads.
We have heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.
We have cars to get us where we need to go.
My children are intelligent and beautiful on the inside.
Have I mentioned my friends?
Why God has chosen to bless me with the friends that I have I will never understand.
They are unconditional...there when I need them...and love me in spite of my plethora of flaws.
But then that brings us full circle and right back to the core truth of everything...

God.
God loves me more than I deserve.
He blesses me more than I deserve.
He died for me which I DEFINITELY don't deserve.
And this blog entry is just purely and simply my outward show of gratitude to Him.
I hope that everyone that reads it feels the same.
And if you don't...maybe because you don't know Him, let me introduce you sometime.
I can guarantee that if you are willing He will become the best friend you will ever have.
I know He's mine!

Perpetuating Christmas...without resolutions!

I've stated before that Christmas is my favorite time of year.  I think it starts with Thanksgiving and ends with the ringing in of the New Year.  That span of time is saturated with get togethers, time with family and friends, and peaceful time away from work.  I feel special every time I open a card and see that someone has thought of our family.  I smile when I see pictures of friends and family, especially the babies and children.   My heart overflows with gratitude when I read words that remind me of the first and greatest gift, Jesus Christ.  My heart swells when I hear songs like, "Mary Did You Know" and "Joseph's Lulaby".  (If you don't know these songs google them and listen or at the very least look up the lyrics.)  Going to my daughters school for her Christmas party, seeing my niece Tricia as a mouse in the Nutcracker, recieving beautiful Christmas crayon drawings from my five year old niece Morgan, having Christmas camp with my niece and nephew and my kids (wishing my NC niece and nephew were with us), my girlfriends tea, our couples party, the annual family party that my cousin and his family came to this year, all of these things warm my heart and make me adore the holidays!  All of these things leave their essence, the fragrance of happiness in my home.

Now that they are over, I have to find ways to perpetuate Christmas.  I need to perpetuate the selflessness that God portrayed when He sent His son as a baby to save us.  I have to perpetuate the love that He showed that I feel so much at this time of year.  How can I do that?

Today my friend sent me tickets to a Wings game.  Yeah, seriously...no joke!  Four tickets for me and my family to enjoy a game.  Are you kidding me?  That is not a cheap gift.  That is not something you just drop cash for and give to someone.  It was a selfless gift.  It was a thoughtful gift, because he knows how much Chip and I love the Red Wings.  He knows that we are on a tight budget and can't go to games, and he knew it would make us happy.  Truthfully, he is far away right now and I would love to have the gift of time with him.  My husband and kids adore him as much as I do.  But I am truly grateful for what he has given us.

I can't give lavish gifts like that one or the 50 dollar gift card to Olive Garden bestowed upon us by another wonderful person.  But I can definitely find ways to be selfless this year.  I can take on God's command to love one another and let those around me know that they matter.  If we listen and pay attention God sends us people, situations and His word to let us know that we matter to Him.  The least we can do is help Him with His work by encouraging, supporting and genuinely loving those around us.  I want to be better at that this year.  Resolution? No...just trying to be better.  Just trying harder to represent Him well. 

God bless you in the New Year.  Can't wait to see what God has in store for 2011.  If you know me you will know that 2011 is a special year ...