Well hello 2012, nice to meet you!

A skinnier me??
A more organized me??




Thank you 2011 for all the blessings the Lord bestowed upon our family but also for being yet another year that my resolutions didn't last past a day or two. Why am I thankful for that you ask?? Well it is just another reminder that I can do nothing in my own power-- well I can for about a day or 2 then any little power I thought I had is all but gone.... I have resolved to lose weight, have more patience, be a better wife and mother, be a better friend, be more organized, be more spiritual, save more money,,, and so on and so on and so on. Year after year after year.. I am by nature an optimist so I truly do believe every year that this will be THE YEAR,, but it never is the year for me. To be honest I could probably be in the Guiness book of World records for the person who has joined Weight Watchers and quit the most times in a 20year period.. but please don't turn me in-- I couldn't stand all the attention! Unless of course there is a cash prize for such a dishonor and then at least one of my resolutions could be achieved. ha!
All kidding aside all I want this year is to be present in the moments of my life, the good and the bad. I am so busy and tired that often times I wake up and say to myself -- just get through the next two days and you will have a small break-- I have wished the day away and that is an awful thing to realize. I want to wake up in the morning and say Lord here I am, use me as you will-- I want to bless someone today in the busyness of the day--do one of my students need an extra hug today?, does my husband need an extra measure of mercy today that I would normally not give?, do my own children need to see that mom didn't go ballistic because things didn't go the way they were "supposed" to(her way)???? This is what I desire for this year.. to be present! I can only do this through drawing closer to the Father.. If I have an hour a day to search pinterest/facebook/twitter but not time for the Father what a slap in His face! I don't want to have a once a week relationship with my heavenly Father. The thought of my own children only wanting to fellowship with me one hour a week is a sickning one, yet at times is that all I am giving my heavenly Father??? I would have to admit that yes this is true at times.
The only thing that defines me is my relationship with Lord. Not how skinny or overweight I am, not how much or how little money I have, not how much or how little STUFF I have, not how many friends I have or don't have, It has to be all about Jesus, I know this in my head, I know that all areas of my life will fall into place if I put Jesus first. I DID NOT say my life would be easy and without tough times, but His Word says He will never leave nor forsake me, He is my strong tower, so I have to believe that I would be able to endure tough times because of a stronger relationship with Him. Now I just need to transfer that head knowledge to my heart.

So here it is--- Jesus was a present(a free gift, yet a sacrifice) from the Father now I want to BE present for Him- I want to show up for my life!


Blessings for the New Year to each of you!