New Year, New You!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

You knew I was going to say that, right?!!  Well, it is a new year, and I'm hoping yours will be full of the most wonderful blessings!  So...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  I hope everyone had a great Christmas!  We had a great time here!  My heart is so full, and I'm realizing more and more what is important in life, and to cling to those things.  I was so blessed to have my family come to visit.  When you've been a military family for awhile, you really appreciate visitors.  My kids get excited about the UPS man and the pizza man ringing our doorbell!  Okay, so here's who came to visit:
My Mom from Murray, Ky.
My brother and his girlfriend from Destin, Fl.
My brother-in-law and his Fiance' from Clarksville, Tn. 
Yay!!!
Overall, it was a good visit and Jay and the kids and I had a blast!  But I was so busy that I realized I didn't really take many pictures!  I'm kind of sad about that.  I was really looking forward to this time.  I was in need of a break from life and needed to relax and have a good time and laugh.  We always do a lot of laughing when we get together, so...Mission Accomplished!  I did some praying during the time leading up to the Holidays because I really wanted everyone to be able to relax and have a good time and get along well together.  We added FIVE people to our family of 6 for nearly a week, so I was praying for peace and for everyone to experience God's presence here!  Some really great conversations took place and no one was knocked out, so I'm confident God heard my prayers and answered! (Ha Ha!) 
I'm so thankful for my family and I love each one of them dearly.  I don't take it for granted that they were all willing to come from so far away to see us.  It meant a lot to all of us.  We had so much fun with everyone.  As for me, I am so so so very tired.  I was an absolute zombie today, and I felt really groggy all day.  I think all of the lack of sleep during this time has finally caught up with me.  It's so hard because I felt like the time was so short, I wanted to pack it all in.  We always have such lofty plans, but there's never enough time when you live so far away.  We felt a little lonely after all of our company left...it was so quiet!  But now we're okay and hopeful about the New Year and all that's in store for us.  We are so hopeful and expectant about this new year!  We truly believe that great things are in store for us!  I'm so excited!!!  I feel like we're going into this new year with new mindsets, a new resolve, and a fresh start!  My heart is so thankful!  2009 was a great year full of God's blessings, and was a year of many changes for us...many good changes!  I can't stop thanking God for all He's done, and as I look back I can really see His hand in all of it!  He always has a plan and purpose!  I'm realizing that although we may not always understand why, God is always busy working things out.  Although we may not see it at the time,  He’s always busy with a plan to work things out for us and it WILL come to pass at just the right moment! And…If we’re willing, there’s always opportunity to really grow our character. The magic word…“IF.” We should desire that. There’s always opportunity to grow and learn in life. As long as we're on this earth, there will always be something to learn that we didn't know, and there will always be the potential to grow and develop our character. Remember this! It's simply human nature to always want everything our own way, to be selfish, impatient, unkind, etc.,&...a... BIG...ETC.!!!  So, continually seek wisdom and keep stretching yourself even when it's uncomfortable.  There's always something to gleen for your life at the day's end.  When you learn something, don't forget to put it into practice! Otherwise, what good is it to have knowledge of something if you don't apply it?

"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.  You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.  But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." 
(James 1:22-25)

I'm working on this, and really trying to live my life not just for myself.  A friend and I discussed recently what our lives would be like if we could seperate ourselves from our emotions at times.  Imgine that for a moment.  What would that look like?  I think of how that would be in my relationship with my children.  I know I would be such a better mother if I could put this into practice.  This is a new concept for me, and I'm relying on God's help for this.  I don't believe it is possible without Him.  So, I am determined to NOT be moved by things that have the potential to stir up negative emotions, and to put love into practice instead.  Let me tell you a little about what love looks like, 'cause it's more than an ooshey-gooshey feeling!  Did you know that?  Listen:

LOVE IS [a CHOICE to be]:

patient

kind

LOVE ISN'T:

envious

boastful

proud

rude

self-seeking

easily angered

LOVE DOESN'T

keep records of wrongs

rejoice about injustice

LOVE DOES

rejoice when the truth wins out

LOVE ALWAYS

 protects

trusts

hopes

perseveres

LOVE NEVER

FAILS

(I Corinthians 13:4-7)
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
(Read this over slowly...and really think about it!)

 Each and EVERY DAY, we are faced with decisions of whether or not to love.  With all that Life may throw at you today, what will your choice be?  It's a New Year...how 'bout a New You? 

How about a LOVElier you?!!

May you have a blessed and prosperous
New Year!