2010 Here We Come...

Colorado Christmas (2008 visit)

Hard to believe Christmas has come and gone and 2010 is literally right around the corner. Christmas was wonderful this year. I love Christmas-time and the joy, wonder, and magic that it brings. There is nothing better in the world than having family to share this special holiday with. I hope each of you reflected over Christmas, stopped and remembered the true meaning of this holiday and celebrated a birth that changed the world forever.

I am truly thankful for 2009 and believe 2010 is going to be beyond amazing. I am humbled for many things in my life and for all the blessings God has given to me, my family and friends. I may not have all the material things in life that some people strive for, but I certainly have the most important gift that anyone could receive, I have a very special and real relationship with that child that was born on Christmas day many years ago AND this, my friends, makes me very rich indeed.

So as 2010 approaches and your mind fills with all the New Year’s resolutions you intend on conquering, be sure to trust in that child that was born so many years ago on Christmas day and remain steadfast in your faith.

A GOOD WOMAN

A Good Woman

A good woman is proud.

She respects herself and others.

She is aware of who she is.

She neither seeks definition from the person she is with, nor does she expect them to read her mind.

She is quite capable of articulating her needs.

A good woman is hopeful.

She is strong enough to make all her dreams come true.

She knows love, therefore she gives love.

She recognizes that her love has great value and must be reciprocated.

If her love is taken for granted, it soon disappears.

A good woman has a dash of inspiration and a dabble of endurance.

She knows that she will at times have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them.

A good woman knows her past, understands her present and forces toward the future.

A good woman knows God.

She knows that with God the world is her playground, but without God she will just be played with.

A good woman does not live in fear of the future because of her past.

Instead, she understands that her life experiences are merely lessons meant to bring her closer to self-knowledge and unconditional self-love...

Aaah, I am a good Woman! <3

Whine Lists - - My “To Do” “I Want” “I Need” Lists

I posted today on FB that God rested so why do we feel guilty when we rest? (sigh). I am three weeks post-op and without a doubt, I am in dire need of a system restore. Just like an old computer that is dragging and overloaded and running waaaaaaaay to slow, I need some one to restore, reboot, and clean up my motivational drive. I feel guilty because I can’t do the things right now that I want to do or need to do. My “to do” list keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Even though I am crazy busy with life in general, work, and preparing for the holidays, I am still at a stand still with other things in my life. Things like working out (which I miss dearly), cleaning (which I enjoy), my hobbies (photography, reading, writing), all of which have been put on hold. Quite frankly, I am itching to get back to all of these things now. Most of this is due to my surgery and I know I need to learn patience. (Hmm, perhaps this is God’s way of teaching me patience.) The joke is on me if you will! :) However, sometimes He just wants us to be STILL (something that does not come easily for me).

Whatever God has in store for me, I am praying for peace and patience that I get through the next few months with a new determination that I never had before. I have never been one to feel sorry for myself so today I lift up a prayer – one of thanksgiving for the ability He gives each one of us to overcome. God has given us all gifts and talents to sustain us and expects us to trust Him everyday and to recognize that life is a journey filled with gates to open and trails to be cleared. I truly believe during times like this (recovery phase), He teaches us about patience, which obviously I acknowledge is not my strength, but somehow I know that perseverance, patience, and thanksgiving are the key ingredients for me.

I will continue to thank God that I can embrace with joy and thanksgiving the discipline and focus it takes to get me to a place of peace and joy. So in the end, my “whine lists” will get done and I will be able to sigh in relief. :)

No worries.

"Tis The Season

Today it is cold out. I am not a fan of the cold but so long as it doesn’t sleet or we don’t get a lot of ice, I can deal with it. It got me thinking about how we react to events and things in our life. Why is it when it is cold, we want it to be warm and when it is just a bit too warm, we want it to be cold? The weather should never interfere with how we react to life in general.

So this year I implore you to do something different to keep you from sinking into the “winter blues.” For instance, start a new tradition. Life is exciting and is meant to be enjoyed. Think of something unique to your family that can be a new tradition. There is no right or wrong answer. It is your family and your tradition; that is what memories are made of. This year we are incorporating a few more “holiday” movies into our mix. Funny after 40 some years of life, I never watched the Christmas Story until Kevin introduced me to it and he never heard of It’s a Wonderful Life. :) Now Scott wants to add his favorite holiday movie. :) We are also going to be hosting Christmas dinner at our house and decided to have "Wacky Sweater Christmas."

Another thing you could incorporate into your life is volunteering your time. There is no better time than the holiday season to get active and donate your time and energy to helping others. There are many organizations that need volunteers during the holiday season. You could go visit people in the hospital who are alone or go to the animal shelter and feed the animals. Tis the season for sharing. The shelters are always needing volunteers to help prepare and serve holiday meals. The possibilities are endless.

Happy Holidays