Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room!

Christmas was a wonderful time with family and friends. I really can’t believe it’s over and a new year will soon begin. And as always I wonder what this coming year will hold. 2009 was a bit crazy for Ben and me as I described in my last blog. It makes me think 2010 will hold even more nuttiness. And I, like millions of others, like to make resolutions. Now don’t make too much fun of them!!

New Year’s Resolutions 2010 (in no particular order)

· Walk at least four times a week!! I’m pretty bad about exercise but I’d like to change that.

· Continue to stay out of the sun/tanning beds. It has been a struggle ever since my mother sent out her Christmas card and I noticed that my face was so pale it resembled something out of the Twilight series. If anyone knows of a good self tanner please let me know!!

· Worry less, pray more. It’s always a resolution for me but I feel like this coming year I can look back and see how Amazingly God provided in 2009. His faithfulness to me in the midst of my struggles strengthens my resolve. And I have lately realized I just don’t pray enough. I want to go to God all the time, pray without ceasing. I need to rely on Him constantly because on my own I make a mess out of everything. My words and actions show that my heart is not relying on Christ. But I’m asking God to reveal more of Himself to me and mold me into something that will glorify Him and bless others. I’d love y’all to pray for me too!!!

· Be more kind, more loving, more submissive, and a better listener for my husband. God has provided me with “the one whom my soul longs” for, yet so many times he gets my frustration, shortness, and tiredness. Ben is a great, no wonderful, no fabulous, no incredible, no…you get the picture. I’d like to be the kind of wife that God lauds in the bible. The one who encourages, listens, and obeys her husband. I need A LOT more work. Ben can certainly attest to that. However, I hope that God will help me grow exponentially in 2010.

· Paint a room. I’ve never done that!! And paint a bedside table.

· Plant a tree in the back yard for shade. I’ve got it pick out, it’s digging the monster hole that overwhelms me.

· Clean more often. Ok, I’ll admit, I wait until the floors and shelves have layers of dust and grime on them before I pull out the dustier and mop. Then I crazy clean to make up for not doing it. I’m typically exhausted and moody by the end of the day. I’d like to start doing a little bit of cleaning more often. No promises….I’m just going to try.

· Stick to the budget better. I’m not going to go into details except the one telling y’all I’m horrible with budgets. Yeah for Doc and Jennifer’s class!!! I know Ben is longing for me to take lots of notes and put them to action.

· Laugh, I love to and it’s what I do best. It might be the one thing I’m actually good at!! So I need to laugh as much as possible.

· Make sure I tell people how great they are. I’m not exactly thoughtful but I’d like to be more so in 2010. I’m surrounded by so many amazing people at church, in my family, in my in-lawed family, etc. I want them to know how much they mean to me.

· Finish putting away Christmas decorations.

· Send out a Christmas card. I’ve made this resolution since Ben and I got married…maybe this is the year!

I’m sure more things will come to me in the weeks ahead but this list already seems a bit overwhelming so I’ll stop here. I hope all of you had a very merry Christmas filled with the joy of remembering Christ’s birth, the comfort of time spent with family, the merriment of opening gifts, and the love of our wonderful Savior.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

So I quit writing in my blog but after months/years away and a little encouragement from others I thought I’d pick right back up. I’d like to start with a few quick updates. We are now in Scottsboro which I enjoy though I do reminisce about Publix and Target quite a bit. I’m currently staying at home tending the house while Ben works his tail end off at Tennessee River Steel.

Friends and family I’m in a bit of shock that it’s almost Christmas. WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS YEAR?!! It was a crazy year for both Ben and me with moving, work, and all the things that life throws our way. But, by the grace of God, we made it through. I was just discussing with my wonderful mother that when you are young it seems like you have a choice between a hard thing and an easy thing. Yet now it seems my choices are often between something hard and harder. Life never ceases to throw more at us each year. But God is sovereign and He is good. He knows I need those hard things thrown my way so that I will cling more fervently to Him. Sad to say but true. My mind often clings to things that will quickly pass but the cross bids me come and die.

That dying can be utterly painfully but I’m finding the joy of living in Christ to far exceed the momentary pain. Isn’t our God kind?! That in the midst of trials (most of which I bring on myself) He can provide peace and joy. I get work up about a plethora of things…most of which aren’t worth the effort. But God comes to my aid when I feel I can’t take one more thing. He might not take my trial away but the Holy Spirit leads me to look beyond, to Him. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a very self centered person. Anyone who knows me can attest to that. :) Many times I don’t want to go to God with my trails because I resent what He will ask of me. I kick and kick for days, weeks, months to avoid what I know is required. However, when my fighting has ceased and I finally run to our awesome God, He is there with love, rebuke and GRACE!! He doesn’t give up on me.


Totally off subject but I also wanted to tell y’all that I caved. Ben has been drooling over motorcycles for awhile now and I gave him the go ahead. Now I’m sure many of you think I’m utterly insane. My parents have known that for years. And you are going to think I’m really crazy when I say: I think it might be fun. Me on the back of a motorcycle seems pretty humorous but what the heck. Actually he has already taken me for a spin. It was around 9pm Tuesday. It was cold so I threw sweat pants (that have gaping holes in them) on over my pjs. I also donned my crocs over my fuzzy house socks. I told Ben we mustn’t run into anyone. I mean what were the odds?!! We only know half the people on our street!! We zipped along in the frigid air and ran into Scott Parr. Sweet Scott laughed his head off and TOOK A PICTURE OF ME. Sweet, sweet Scott, I shall get my revenge.

All that to say Ben and I are now the proud owners of a motorcycle. You probably wonder if I am in fear for his life. I do worry a bit but Ben is responsible, smart, and an insanely wonderful husband. A motorcycle might not be the safest hobby but in my book he could make a worse decision. I also have to say that it makes my heart leap seeing him so thrilled and excited about something. And biker babe just has a nice ring to it doesn’t it!!!