The New Year! Full Speed Ahead!!

It's that Ol resolution time again...
So, what will you resolve to do?

Eat better?

Lose Christmas pounds?



Aidan, our youngest son, last year.



Pay off debt?

Make better use of your time?

Prioritize your time?

Have daily devotions (reading the Word and praying)? 

Give your kids more hugs?

Our youngest son this summer, flying around.... in his dreams. :)

Spend even more quality time playing games or going for bike rides?

Maybe you want to finish something?
That quilt you started for so-and-so...?

That painting project?

The walls still need finished getting painted!

Keep up on housework better?

Or maybe it's about money.
You want to pay off your debts?

Resolve to not use credit cards?

Make a plan to be better off financially- even if it means giving some things up!



Our boys wishing they could jump in and get going! It might take a take a tank to blaze through some things but we'll get there!



Start really using the Dave Ramsey plan?

Go to church more often?

Be involved in your groups or church more?

Catch up with friends more often?

Stay home more?

Try some new crafty project? A new techinique?

This looks like some strange poem, or list. Wait!! It's just about everything I need to do better! haha Some things we're good with but this is probably generally what most people want to do better, right?

The first thing I'm doing is a Biggest Loser Challenge with friends. There are more than 20 of us I think. It costs $20 to join in and winner takes all! (Based on your percentage of weight lost.) If you've been waiting for a good reason to start exercising or doing ANY or your new year's resolutions, try starting a group. Our's is just for 8 weeks! That's my kind of challenge! There's an end to it! But even though there's an end to the official challenge, I can still keep off weight and do better with exercising! We eat relatively healthy I think, so it's more about being active and portions. 

I went to the Dr. a couple of weeks ago and there was a sign in the room that said, "The American Diet" and showed a picture of a cheeseburger, fries and pop. Seriously?? Is THAT the average American diet? Reheated frozen fries and a cheeseburger?  I understand eating that way several times during the summer but I really thought the average diet had a veggie, some meat, some good carbs and water or milk. Wow. I'm naive! haha I know there's times when you need something conveneient but.... OK, I'll stop ranting now. I just couldn't believe that's "average".

I can't WAIT to get my garden going again!! I've been missing it this winter!

So, has this given you any ideas? What are your resolutions? This is a great "reset" button that we can use to start fresh. I love it!

Unfortunately, my husbnad was the ONLY tacky sweater -wearing guy at our Real Life Face Book Christmas Party. He's really a much better dresser. One of his best friend's won the Best Dressed award!

Happy New Year my friends!

January Thoughts

As you're reading, enjoy the photos of the "paper" doll I made for my daughter this Christmas...


This is my daughter's favorite outfit!
Here's the little kitty.
And here's where you can see how she works: Velcro.
Here's her Sunday dress and shoes.

Here's her swimming suit and party dress!

Gotta have Footie PJ's and a summer dress..

It's a cozy day for us at home. I woke up to very warm and cozy wood stove heat, which means my husband thought of us before he left for work. ahh nice guy.

I'm feeling kind of ...like I'm anticipating something. Maybe it's just winter melting into spring (after few more months), maybe it's getting organized after the holidays, maybe it's making plans and goals for my business, health, weight and home stuff. Who knows! I'm hoping it's because of what God will be doing in our family. This week has been a milestone for me. I'm -finally -willingly allowing my heart to sacrifice a dream, in order to obey God and really be open to what He wants for our family. It always seems hard until you make the step, then when you're willing to "let go" it's almost easier. I breathe deeper, feel more peaceful and become excited to see God's plans unfold because they are not mine. I love this place. God is my Lord. He is in control of my life, I might as well surrender! LOL

I'm kind of late for resolutions but maybe if I start them now, I'll keep momentum for a little while longer than usual. In general they are (what they are every year): to do better! (Eating-lifestyle choices, relationships, discipline, organization, time- priorities). Even if I can't keep my resolution for a lengthy time, it's always good for me to step back and evaluate my life to see where it is and where it should be.

Is it because I'm past the 30-year mark, that I'm beginning to see glimpses of myself the way other's see me? That alone makes me want to stick to my resolutions!! haha Not because I need to compete with someone else or even to attain to their standard but ... we all appear differently than we mean to at some point, right? My heart is that I want to be a kind, compassionate person who displays and lives out the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peacefulness, kindness, self-control, perseverance.... is that all of them?) But I miss the mark so many times and may come across to some as not having that heart at all. That's sad.

Well, thankfully I'm a growing branch!! I get pruned and trimmed down as the Holy Spirit works in me. I love that. I do not have to be perfect (in myself), just complete (in Him). I'm just living and doing by faith and grateful that He will perfect these things in me!