1-1-11

I cannot believe it is 2011... I can remember very clearly the scare and fear that encircled New Year's Eve 1999. Can that really be 11 years ago? I never dreamt 2011 would arrive so quickly.

I look back on this year with bittersweet emotions. There were some really, REALLY great things and some things that really, REALLY stunk. But it was a year of great growth for me. God challenged me A LOT but He was always there with me. He never left me... He didn't send me through anything alone. What an amazing God.

As I look on the year ahead, I pray that I will grow even more... that each day I will look back and see how I've drawn closer to Him.

One of my goals for this year is to briefly blog each day about something that the Lord has shown me. It's hard for me to hand write journals these days but I'd love to have something to help me remember each day, to remember the things I've learned so that I can pass them on to my sweet children.

Today I spent the day cleaning/tidying up our house... and as I went through each room, my heart was disqusted with the amount of 'things' we had. I desperately wanted to just throw things away but I know there are many people who could use these items, so instead I'm throwing everything into a bag and will pass it along if I can. I love how I tend to be frugile in what I will buy because I know that we will never live in the same home for our entire life and what's the point of buying expensive things if we have to keep moving... but at the same time I feel like it makes our house look immature and even messy. It's kinda hard to explain my exact feelings but anyway. I've decided to go through a lot of things... get rid of what we don't need but then try to replace some things with better quality in hopes that it will last longer and look a bit nicer.

Anyway... as I was cleaning, I was just constantly reminded by God that life is not about things but about serving Him and others. I'd clean a little and then so politely be reminded by my children to play with them. So I stopped and played and loved every second of it. Izzy and I finally did her Beado's and Buddy and I had a tea party (hey that's what happens when you have a big sis) and then we all went outside to ride bikes. Now everyone is snuggled in bed and asleep, the house is tidy and the 'reading corner' (minus some shelves) is all set-up waiting for Izzy.

Off to read for a few minutes and then to bed.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!