Happy New Year

Hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year.  Jeremy and I snuck away on New Year's Eve to Wichita. We started out in the morning, but returned home shortly after because of the icy roadways from the freezing drizzle that we had the night before.  But, with ample sunshine, by noon the highways were pretty clear despite continued temperatures in the mid teens. .so we left part of the kids at home and part of them with Granny and took off for the city.

I had an agenda!!

Some of you may remember me talking about the Dave Ramsey financial planning classes that we went to last fall.  At that time, since we were anticipating a huge drop in our income after I went part time, I started diverting money into a system designed to keep funds available for different needs (or in some cases. .wants) I did this primarily to make sure that we had some extra money saved for repairs, vacations, and some restaurant visits. .in case the general fund dipped too low to include any "extras." So, I have been putting money aside for the last 1 1/2 years and finally saved enough to buy an entertainment center that I have been seeing in my dreams!! And with a small bonus from work and a nice gift from my grandma. .I also had enough saved to purchase

THIS. . .

An exciting big screen T.V.

I'm soon to be 38 and have NEVER owned a nice TV.

We had a great time shopping for it. .and the nice salesman threw in a cool Blue Ray player for dirt cheap.

Our lucky day!!

As I dismanteled my Christmas tree on New Year's Day. .I also enjoyed my annual

tradition of watching the Rose Bowl Parade. .

Live. . .on the BIG screen!!

And I'm sure that my hubby, who wasn't completely sold on the idea to start with, wouldn't trade it in after watching a couple of weekend football games on it!!

And the boys were super excited to get the old entertainment stand and TV down in Grant's basement bedroom.

So they could turn it into a game playing man-cave!!

This week finds us back to the grind. .Full force ahead with basketball games and pep band.

The new year also finds me picking up 2 extra family planning clinics per month and 2 new clinics. .so I now serve these needs for 3 counties in Oklahoma. I will continue my other 2 1/2 days of clinics per week. .and I have really been amazed at how busy I can stay on the other 4 1/2 days of the week doing family and volunteer stuff!! The gardening catalogs are coming regularly now. .and I have a good start to my spring order list!! Grant is going to do horticulture as one of his 4-H projects this year. .and I can't tell you how excited I am about that!! I caught some pictures of the greenhouse late last week. .and intend to share some those happenings with you this week. Even though the temperatures have been frigid. .in the single digits several nights, the goldfish are still living and swimming around during the warmth of the day.  The icy pond surface is an ever-present temptation to the kids. .and after days of warning them to stay off the ice. .Grant broke through it yesterday morning before church. .soaking one leg up to mid shin.  Though he and Devin both got repercussions from their dad. .I'm sure that it won't be long before they are at it again. .my boys seem to be fairly slow learners!!

On the radio this morning I heard an interesting piece of advice regarding the new year. .we all make mistakes daily in our lives. .but unless we make changes to do things we have never done. .and read things we have never read. .we will be the same person next year as we were last year!!  Not sure about you all, but I could stand some changing for the better over the next year!!

I'm happy to report that I have only slipped two swear words out since Friday night (and I was REALLY mad both times. .that's a good excuse right? WRONG!) and am thoroughly enjoying some extra reading time. .especially since the extra Christmas activities have ceased!

Any of you girls looking for a good book should check out the one I posted about last week. .For Women Only. .It is VERRRRY enlightening in understanding men. .and their thought processes. .and their needs. .and some of their bizarre behaviors! I am intrigued by it, and occasionally amazed about the perceptiveness of the author. I even found myself identifying parts of the book demonstrated in the movie Bounty Hunter that Jeremy and I watched last night after the kids went to bed (by the way. .a GREAT movie!)

So, here's to wishing you all a great week. .and a SUPER new year. Strive to be better in everything you do!

Adios 2010

This week has filled my mind with reflections. .both of the past year and of the year to come.  The year has been mild. .no major milestones. . but no major trauma either! 

My heart has been heavy though with my ponderings. My good friend called on Christmas morning to tell me that his sister in law had been killed in a tragic, one vehicle crash earlier that morning. .and that has provoked a very profound appreciation for the gift of life.  On January 1, 2010. .if you would have told that family. .and countless others. .the events that they would encounter in the next one year. .they would have never been able to imagine! I think also for the people that I have interacted with over the last one year that have suffered devastating loss of spouses, siblings, parents, and even losses of their own good health.  Some of those losses couldn't even have been fathomed on January 1, 2010.  Some days I am just frightened about HOW quickly and profoundly our lives can change.  BUT. .I am quickly reminded of scripture offered to us to calm the soul. . Such as. .

Phillipeans 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:27
 Can any one of you, by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:34
 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Psalm 31:23-24
 Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves
those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full.
 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Now, I am not a worry-er by nature, but when I get un-nerved about something. .look out! So this particular passage is very comforting!
Isaiah 41:10
 fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Although I don't know what tomorrow holds. .I DO know who holds tomorrow. . and I know that whatever happens in 2011; God will have my back. .which in turns strengthens me enough to help others in the capacity that he has called me to. . .which leads me to some of my New Year's Resolutions!!

Has anyone ever heard the song What Love Really Means. .sung by J.J. Heller?
I LOVE that song!! If you haven't heard it and you have time. .it would be REALLY worth your while to  check it out here
It talks about people dying for someone to love them for who they are. .and not what they are. .or even what they will be!  One of the things that I want to do better in 2011 is to be an unconditional "lover." I often find it hard to love people where they are at. .especially if I don't LIKE where they are at.  Some people (including my kids. .my husband. .my friends. .my patients. .MEEEE) don't always make good decisions. It puts them in bad positions and rough spots in life. I want to practiceTRULY loving these people ALWAYS. .despite the stupid things they do and say. .and wish for the same mercy for myself from others.

A second goal for 2011 is to increase my reading.  I used to LOVE to read. .but as life happened. .it was a luxury that fell away.  Last summer I tried to start reading the bible on a more regular basis.  I'm not doing too badly. .but can certainly improve on it!  I also have several books that are on my list. I really believe that knowledge is power. .and that we can always find room for improvement in EVERY aspect of our lives. I am just finishing up "the Love Dare," based from the movie Fireproof (which, by the way. .I have never even seen! I hear it is great!!). Also on my list are "the Power of a Positive Mom" by Carol Ladd, "For Women Only" by  Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn and a book on Esther called "Hadassah" by Tommy Tenney.  I bought "For men only" for Jeremy to read too.  I read that book last week and highlighted the things about women (me in particular) that I thought he should read twice. I was pretty impressed with the way that they capture how women really operate. .and the research that went into writing the book. I am excited to read about how men think and operate. .and see if I can figure out that gender difference going on!! I hear stories A LOT in my job from both women and men related to the profound differences in our make-ups. .and hope that I can also share some tidbits and advice for them to use as well!! The books you read play a huge part in shaping the person you become!! I can't WAIT to see who I will be when I finally get grown up ;-)

My perpetual goal of the last 7-8 years has been to stop SWEARING!! I gain. .but I never totally succeed. This is the year. .It WILL happen! I blame my husbands mouth and my children's naughtiness. .but really. . it just boils down to one VERY bad habit. .and poor choices!

We have a few house projects on the list for the new year. .a front sidewalk to adjoin the pond where we ripped out the old rock one. .and a bathroom remodel.
We are also hoping for a few trips this year. We are hoping to spend some of spring break in Houston visiting my in-laws before they move back to Kansas. .I also found a great conference on contraceptive technology (I know. .something only exciting to ME!!) held in Boston. And. .my friend Cindy and I are hoping to surprise our men with a fun little trip next fall. . .shhh. .it's a secret!!

Our lives will be what our lives will be. .and what God intends them to be.  God willing. .I will be able to stick to my resolutions and become a better person because of them. .God willing. .my family and friends will remain healthy and happy. .God willing I will be able to make a difference in someone's life weekly. .if not DAILY!  God willing. .YOU all will be equally blessed throughout the next year.
Wishing everyone an abundantly BLESSED New Year!!
Adios 2010. .Welcome 2011!