The ONLY Resolution you need to make!

In 2008, I resolve to . . . .

What did you resolve to do in 2008? Did you write it down? Make a list? Was it longer than your grocery list? Did you make any resolutions or goals at all?

In years past I have had goals and resolution lists longer than the Constitution and all it's amendments. . . . . ok . . . maybe not quite that long . . . but close! And each year I felt like a big fat loser in looking at how many resolutions and goals I actually kept or obtained in the 12 months God gave me that year. So last year I decided to do things differently. . . .

I didn't make any goals or resolutions! I figured - if you don't make 'em, you won't fail at keeping them! :)

It worked! :) I am happy to report that I didn't fail at keeping any sort of resolutions this year. And I am still the same weight as last year, my house is just as messy, I saw the same amount of friends, and my spending habits didn't change. :)

Is that good? . . . . yes and no.

I do have to say though - it is nice to not feel like a failure at the end of the year. :) But I also would have loved to have felt a little toner, had a few more dollars in my savings account, seen a few more friends, and had my house a little cleaner (but not done by me! hee,hee) - amongst other things.

However, God has been teaching me a lot the past couple years about learning to just "BE". Be in- the moment, the situation, the day, the presence of friends or family, the happiness, the sadness, the good times and bad, etc.

And above all - He has been reiterating to me the importance of the only resolution and goal I ever need to have - not just each Jan. 1st - but every day -

Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

as well as . . .

Matthew 22:36-40 - "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

My only goal and resolution in 2009 and everyday of my life is to be a Lover of God - to seek Him first - His kingdom and His righteousness - and let Him take care of the rest! He can do it! He does it all the time! We just have to trust Him to follow through with His promises when we follow through with ours!

If I am loving God with all my heart - the rest will come . . . I will love myself more (because I will know WHO I am in Christ and how God sees me) - which may lead to taking care of myself more - toning up the gravity-induced sagging areas, resting more, etc. It will lead to loving others more (as I have learned to love myself) - so more time will be spent with family and friends. It will lead to a more balanced approach to how I spend my money (which I've done fairly well at - but there's ALWAYS room for improvement!). It may even lead to a cleaner house . . . . . maybe . . . maybe not. :) It may just take off the stress that I feel about it - realizing that people and God are so much more important than a clean house!! A friend may pass away tomorrow . . . but the messes never will!! They will only continue! So . . . choose people over cleaning any day! That's my philosophy! :) (so - come visit me . . . but expect to be able to write me a note in the dust on my furniture! . . . . ok . . . it's not always that bad!)

I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve and New Year's Day!

I know that God LOVES new beginnings! He invented them! If 2008 hasn't been the best year for you . . . look forward with anticipation to a new beginning in 2009! Seek God first and foremost - and you can't go wrong!! Give Him your worries, your resolutions, your goals and ask Him for His! They are always MUCH better than anything we could dream up!!

Blessings!!

Return to Sender - Final news!

Well - check it out on the ACLJ's website!!

We will "not be prohibited" from passing out our candy canes this year! It only took the school's lawyers a year to get back to us! :) But at least they came to the right decision. I would still love to see some sort of memo or information sent out to the staff, administration and teachers of the schools here to let them know just what the Constitution (and their own school policies) says about their students rights to express their religious views, etc. But for now - I'll take this. :) We will be passing out our candy canes tomorrow!

For those of you that do not know what happened - please read my previous posts:

Return to Sender
Return to Sender - Part 2
One Nation under God & Return to Sender update
Signed Retainer . . . . will win! (R to S update)

And for another Christmas post - Happy Holi-Hanua-Kwanza

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

Mom's Christmas Wish List

I'm not sure who wrote this, but I love it! As a mom (or dad) I'm sure most of us can relate!

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year.

I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground and figured
out how to attach nine patches onto my son's boy scout uniform with staples and a glue gun.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have)and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season.

Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door.

I think he wants his crayon back.

Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always, MOM...!

As funny as this is - many times we come to God with our own "laundry list" - especially during the holidays with all the stress, tight budgets, family get-togethers (or encounters!) and all the over stimulation.

Let me ask you a question. When was the last time you gave your husband, friend or child a list of requests (or a "honey-do" list) for/on their birthday?

Have you done it to Jesus?

This year - instead of coming to God with all you need, want or desire (which He already knows about anyways!) - why not come to Him to just BE with Him - to enjoy His company - His presence - and to celebrate His birth on Earth and all that HE has already done for you - for me - for mankind! We have so much to be thankful for - despite (or because of) the daily craziness at our homes!

Let this season be one filled with thanksgiving, joy and giving (of yourself, your time and love) instead of grumbling, complaining, busyness, stress, depression and all your wants, needs and desires.

Merry CHRISTmas!!

Luke 2:10-11
"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

P.S. -

What does God desire of YOU this Christmas? . . . What present does He want from You?

Just YOU!

But I'm warning you . . . . He wants ALL of you! Are you ready to give it all?!

I hope so. :) . . . . It's worth it!

Santa Baby

Ok - I just died laughing tonight!!!

My 13 year old son Tyler and I were in the kitchen together as he was making juice and I was doing the laundry. As usual, I had music from the radio playing . . . .Christmas music of course! The fun and cute song - Santa Baby - came on. This is the convesation that ensued. Let me preface it by saying that my son has Asperger's and sees things very literally and from a point of view I would never expect!

Ty - "Mom . . . is this song being sung by Mrs. Claus?"
Me - "What? . . . .No . . .I don't think so."
Ty - "It's not? Then who is singing?"
Me - "I guess it's someone else."
Ty - "Well if it's not Mrs. Claus, then it's adultery."

LOL!!!!!!!!!! :)

Me - "Well Ty . . . I guess it could be Mrs. Claus wanting her hubby to hurry and come home after passing out the presents to the kids." :) (she probably has a wish list too!)

I couldn't stop laughing!!

I needed a good laugh . . . but now I'll never be able to listen to that song again without chuckling! :)

Here's an older version of it.

Tragedy in Adopting

I have to share this with you all. I am sitting here snuggling with my little Guatemalan girl - crying and trying to explain this all to her - all the while, grateful that I have the chance to snuggle with her!

My good friend Kelly (who I met through my adoption agency . . . we both have similar families and adopted about the same time) posted some info on her blog about a friend's adoption from Guatemala - of little Josi. She was just about to come home (after over a year waiting) - but was just found murdered in a home invasion (along with the foster family). :( Kelly has posted the info and a link to help raise money to help cover the remaining costs THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY in their adoption ($13,000) - that will never be completed. :(

Thanks for praying for them! I can't even imagine their grief! I just read the book "The Shack" and that has helped somewhat to put a different perspective on all of this. You want to just go into the "why's" and the "if only's" and the "what if's" . . . what if they had gotten through PGN or other parts of their adoption sooner, what if they had gone down to foster her themselves, what if . . . .why . . . why . . . why?? They literally were only a couple weeks from picking her up. They had just gotten her new birth certificate in GT and were just waiting for their pink slip saying they could come down to get her and her visa!! What a sad c-mas it will be at their house. :(

Here's my friend Kelly's blog

Here is the Azhderian family's blog
(there a video on here about Josi . . . grab your tissues first!)

Here's where you can donate through ChipIn


Please pass on this info to those you know who can pray for them or bless them financially with the rest of their adoption costs.

Blessings