Happy New Year!!!

A new start! A new beginning! A new me! Why is it that the change of one day brings forth the "new" beginnings that could have started yesterday, last week or last month? The promise of NEW is always so refreshing and a whole year to do it makes it seem more realistic. I am reminded of the true new beginning I had 24 years ago next month! It was the day that I gave my life to Christ. The moment He forgave me from my sins and washed me clean. 2 Cor. 5:17 says it all "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" Not a new beginning but a NEW CREATION! A new person. From that point on it was up to me to make the changes through Christ to be the best new creation I can be. I have a new chance each day to do this and my God loves me enough to give me "new mercies" every morning. (Lam 3:23) We have the promise of God and are reminded in Heb 10:23 to "hold on unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful". " Being confident of this, He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" (Phil 1:6 ) is our promise that He began the work and He will see US through. Do we have any role in this? Romans 12:2 tells us to "not be conformed to this world BUT be transformed by the renewing of your mind". We are to be "filled with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" ( Col 1:9) To do this we are to spend time WITH Him and IN His Word. I decided years ago not to make New Year's Resolutions but to recommit to spending more time in His Word and with Him each day. I think this is something that we all can strive to do. So as 2011 begins, I know there will never be a better new beginning than the one that took place that Friday night in February of 1987 and I will continue to "press on to the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:14)

Twas the Days After Christmas

Today is the 28th of December. The rush of Christmas is over. I think the kids were pleased with the gifts they received even though it was a very small Christmas for them. And we are still waiting on the weather to co-operate so that Santa can put in the basketball goal! One thing I have noticed in the changes of seasons of life~ mine and my children's~ are the way some traditions have changed a long the way. Even the decorating of the Christmas tress. What once was a family affair is now with the younger ones and the older ones who may be home that evening. Even having everyone place their own ornament on the tree is a hit and miss. The fun of going to look at Christmas lights has changed from several times before Christmas with the whole family to maybe 2 times before Christmas if we are lucky. And with only the younger children. The busyness of basketball games and exams have led to those changes. Another tradition that has changed is reading of Christmas stories before bedtime. Again, I think the ball game schedules as well as the change from homeschooling to the kids being in school has led to these changes. I so miss Jotham's Journey and the other stories we read. Another change was our Christmas Day with the whole family. With Adam's children growing up and Jason's too, we have decided to get together the day after Christmas instead of Christmas day. Last year was the first day for that in YEARS and it was so quiet here! Yes even with our 8 at home and Amber's family, it was quiet. In a way, it was nice to enjoy Christmas without all of the cooking. This year with my children being sick, and Rocky and Pam being in Oregon, we had a real small group. Momma and Daddy came, Adam and his family did too. Jason and Jenny decided not to come since my kids were sick and Alex was with Allie's family. God has shown me a couple things from these changes. One is that as life changes we can either let it change us and the things that are important to us or we can adapt the life changes to still do the things we want to do. Next year we will read Jotham's Journey~ we will have to start in November to get it done~ but we will do it. Another is that changing traditons is not a bad thing. We will probably have to change the family time again. Maybe a weekend earlier in December. But the tradition that will never change is making Jesus the center of Christmas. And remembering that HE is the reason for the season!

Christmas Eve

On this Christmas Eve with a house full of sick children and a list of things still to do, I started the morning very early with a child needing a breathing treatment. As she was doing the treatment, I thought I would check my Facebook. It was there that I saw the video for "Where Is The Line To See Jesus?" As I watched that video, tears streamed down my face. I was so convicted of the truth that I had lost site of the REAL reason for this season. My vision was blurred by the business of life, working full time, and sick children. I was so disappointed in all of the "traditions" that we were not sharing this year that I was not focusing on the ONLY tradition that matters and that is the celebration of Jesus. Oh, I am one to believe that we are to celebrate HIM all year, but I also believe that we are to be the LIGHT of the world who focuses ONLY on the THINGS of Christmas. And here I was, falling into that trap myself. So today, with presents left to wrap, and cookies left to bake, I have gone to my Lord and asked forgiveness and praised HIM for loving me these last weeks as I have been so unloveable. And I am starting our Christmas season NOW~ focusing on HIM and not the THINGS!! Merry Christmas to ALL!

CHRISTMAS 2008

Alex asked Allie to marry him in November. They are getting married on July 25th! What an exciting time!

Alyssa played softball for Curtis Middle School team this fall. She started out rough but for her first year, she did great!!

A New Beginning~ Again

Seems like every January I start over again! With diets, with quiet time commitments, with school goals, with parenting goals, with BLOGGING, with everything! I am praying that I will be more committed and more diligently with them ALL this year. There have been many changes this year~ some good and some not so. Aaron went to Curtis Baptist this year in the 9th grade. He has done very well and seems to like it. I am still homeschooling the other 4 and AIMEE is still keeping life in a state of confusion. In November I went back to work in L&D and now work every Sunday night. The nights aren't bad~ it is the 2 days afterward!!! I am praying for changes so that life may settle back down to a ROAR!!!