Tips To Revive Your Religious Life In The New Year

I stole these from my friend Jane's blog.  I love these "Tips to revive your religious life in the new year," that she found from the Huffington post so much so, that I thought I'd share.  I think it gives us all something to think about, dontcha think?  

1.  Do something really nice -- that no one knows about.

2.  Spend more money on other people than I spend on my self. Love my neighbor as I love myself. And love myself as I love my neighbor.

3.  Laugh often... especially at advertisements that try to convince me that I must buy more stuff in order to be happy.

4.  Learn a new life skill - like carpentry, pottery, or canning vegetables. Teach someone else I life skill I know how to do.

5.  Love a few people well, remembering that what is important is not how much we do but how much love we put into doing it.

6.  Write a letter to someone I need to say thank you to. Write another letter to someone I need to ask to forgive me.

7.  Track down a critic or someone I disagree with and take them to lunch. Listen to them.

8.  Compliment someone I have a hard time complimenting... and mean it.

9.  Choose life. Do something regularly to interrupt the patterns of injustice - do something to end violence, bullying, war, capital punishment and other mean and ugly things.

10. Pause before every crisis and ask "will this matter in 5 years?"

11. Get outside often and marvel at things like fireflies and shooting stars. And regularly get my hands into the garden... so when I type on the computer I can see dirt under my fingernails.

12. Believe in miracles. And live in a way that might necessitate one.

What would this world be like if we all did this?  Definitely something to think about...

Lifes Lessions...Take 2

To my devoted blog readers, you may have noticed I took a month long hiatus.  I'm sorry.  I needed a break from the blogging world.  But not to fear people, I'm baaaaack!

I've learned a lot about myself over the past few weeks, I mean month, oh who are we kidding, year.  I have a great life and I am blessed beyond belief.  I thank my God everyday for all of the wonderful blessings that he has given me.  But I am not going to lie, I have had a challenging year.  I have learned so much about myself and decided I would write it all some of what I learned here, mostly so that I can have a place to go back to and read when I need a little reminding about how far I have come :)

1.  God has so much to teach and blesses us so much...if you let him.

2.  If you don't have faith, you really don't have anything. 

3.  Sometimes you need to take care of yourself.

4.  Sometimes you need to put your emotions aside and show up and be supportive of others, but sometimes you don't because you need to take care of yourself, and that is completely ok!  Those that love you will understand.   

5.  Those that truly love you and care about you will take your feelings into consideration and be conscientious of your emotions.  And it is ok to separate yourself from those that don't.

6.  My husband loves me more than anything in the whole wide world.

7.  I don't know what I would do without my family. 

8.  I have some of the best, most caring people in my life, I call them my friends.

9.  Life doesn't always never goes as planned.

10. Everything happens for a reason.

11. Life's challenges make you appreciate the little things so much more.

11.  Everything is going to be alright.

12. When you don't know what to do, pray.

13. Have empathy for others.  Simple words like, "I am sorry," mean the world to those going through rough times. 

14. Pray for others.

15. Don't be afraid to say no.

16. Don't surround yourself by people that bring you down.  

16. You must take care of yourself.

If you haven't noticed in the theme above, or the fact that I wrote it more than once, one of the most important things that I have learned over the past year, besides from always knowing to trust in God, is that I need to take care of myself.  I am so thankful for a wonderful and supportive husband.  He gets me and he loves me so very much, and for that I can't thank God enough! 

Looking forward to a wonderful new year!     

"So do not fear; for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you." (Isa. 41:10)

God Wanted Me To Tell You...

I received this in an email from a dear friend the other day, and while I am not big on forwards in my inbox, I love this one.  Hope you do too!  

"GOD WANTED ME TO TELL YOU, It shall be well  with you this coming year .

No matter how much  your enemies try this year, they will not  succeed .

You have been destined to make it and  you shall surely achieve all your
goals this year .

For all of 2011, all your agonies will be  diverted and victory and
prosperity will be incoming  in abundance . 
Today God has confirmed the end of your  sufferings, sorrows and pain because HE that sits on the  
throne has remembered you.  He has taken away the hardships and given you JOY . He will never let you  down . . ...

I knocked at heaven's door this morning,  God asked me . My child! What can
I do for you? And I  said,

'Father, please protect and bless the  person reading this message . . . '"

God bless all of you this coming year! 

My cute niece is 7 months old!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours

Photos courtesy of my talented hubby.

Sweetness...

There is nothing sweeter....

Than a sleeping baby on your shoulder...

My sister swears up and down (except she doesn't) that Lexi doesn't ever fall asleep while anyone is holding her on their shoulder, ever...

She was probably just completely exhausted, but I like to think she fell asleep on me because she just loves me so much or perhaps it is because she realizes how much alike we are, she could have been thinking, "finally someone that understands my nosiness and need for attention."

Regardless, there is nothing more precious than a sleeping baby.  They are like little angels sent from Heaven.  Don't you agree?

A Christmas Smile - Through the eyes of a child

What does this picture look like to you?  To me it looks like Christmas garland that is lined with lights and strung across the pillars.  But through the eyes of a 9 year old, it looks like a "Christmas Smile."  Oh, how I love the innocent and imaginary mind of a child.  What I would give to be a child again...