Okay, I must confess as a little girl that I thought we would all be driving/piloting flying cars by the year 2009!! Did anyone else think that??? (seriously, read the rest of the post, and then comment on this...I'm curious!)
Anyway, this year has been a year of trials, joys, and new ways of life! As I reflect upon this year, I remember my tough days, like the day I got really mad and broke my door/wall. In case you missed that, you can read about it here. Although it is definitely not something I am proud of, I still wrote about it because my blog is a place where I wear my heart on my sleeve and talk about my struggles as well as my accomplishments! I love my boys so much, but being a mommy is the hardest job/ministry I ever thought I would do.
Unfortunately, I also remember 2008 as the year that my husband worked and worked and worked and worked, sometimes 70 hours/week. I will remember that this year was a very hard year for our marriage. Even now though, I can praise God because I know that He is the Healer and can get us through anything! I didn't write about the marriage part that much on my blog, I don't think. I think I really wanted to hold my tongue and trust that God truly, truly works all things together for those who love Him...and oh, how I love Him, my heavenly Father!!
This year was also full of many joyous occasions! I have made some of the most awesome friends this year! What blessings! I also left my 20s this year....YES, this is JOYFUL!! I loved my 20s and look forward to what God has in store for me in my 30s. You can read the prayer I wrote on the eve of my 30th birthday here. I also have loved homeschooling my children. Oh yes, it has its hard days, but I just love spending time with them (well, not so much on the fighting days) and do treasure the time I get to spend with them. I love seeing them learn and experience new education milestones with them. I have had some awesome dates with my husband, even one that included an OU game! My family brings joy into my life, especially when I have the right mindset to allow myself to be joyful!
I will also remember 2008 as the year that I officially overhauled our family diet, eliminating from our house these 10 ingredients. With that, I also switched us totally to raw milk products and began making my own house hold cleaners, dishwashing soap, and laundry soap. I also eliminated paper towels and napkins (we still use toilet paper, don't worry *smile*). This adventure has led me to the aisles of Whole Foods versus those of Wal-mart, but it has definitely been an awesome change for us all. We all have been healthier and have been able to experience new recipes, new fruits, new vegetables....it's amazing to watch my young sons LOVE an organic spring mix salad with organic ranch dressing...sweet! I have began making more and more recipes completely from scratch (even chicken ON the bone) and learning so much along the way! It's been a fun food year! I find peace in knowing what is actually IN the food that goes into my body and my families' bodies!
So this year....here are some of my goals:
1. Do not put any holes into doors, walls, or ANYTHING else. In a nutshell, this means practice some self-control and working on my anger issue...God and I have some major pow-wowing to do!
2. Enjoy my kids more.
3. Pray for my kids more.
4. Love on my kids more.
5. Enjoy my husband more.
6. Pray for my husband more.
7. Love on my husband more (his love language, I learned this year, is quality time and words of affirmation...that is what I am going to work on!)
8. Tell my friends I am thankful for them more often.
9. Eat out less...even though I have done awesome with changing our diets AT HOME, we eat out entirely too much, which is not good for our bodies or the budget!
10. In addition to planning our dinners, plan our LUNCHES. This, hopefully, will eliminate drive-thru runs.
11. Love God more.
12. Pray more.
13. Memorize more scripture/write more scripture songs.
14. LOVE LIFE!! Smile at the future (you know, that whole Proverbs 31 thing)
15. Work-out more (I had to add that one, doesn't everyone include that one!)
So, I will end this post with a prayer over 2009:
Father, I praise You for my life. I praise You for caring about me. I praise You for loving me, even though I fail miserably, often. You have blessed me more than I could have ever imagined. Praise You for Mike, Nate, Kyle, Ian, and Caden. Help me, in Your strength and with the Holy Spirit's guidance, to be a better wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend. I give You me, completely. Use me this year to glorify You and to bring others to You. I love You. In Jesus name, Amen.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
good-bye 2008, Welcome 2009
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Hmm...flying cars? I don't remember thinking that...but I DO remember thinking that I hoped one day there was a telephone where I could SEE the other person...and Walla! - Computers with Webcams and Skype!! Doesn't seem OUTRAGEOUS that we were born BEFORE the email era? I think I was in college before it became the big boom and everyone who was anyone had a computer. It's interesting to think back on how things were just 20 years ago. I'm the big 3-0 this year...ready or not! :o)
Did you see my status update today on FB?! I was thinking the Jetson's today as well ; )
Grace upon Grace for you in 2009 sister! God blessed you with a sweet heart, it's easy to see in your 2009 goals.
Love ya!
Hey girl, I enjoyed reading about your 2008. I enjoyed reading about your goals too. Thanks for being real and for sharing your struggles and hopes. I think you hit on something huge...PRAYER!! I hope to get more disciplined with this again. I have not been consistent over the holidays. I can't wait to read about your 2009!!
Happy New Year. Hope it is even better than the last. That is a lot of hours for your husband to have to work. Hopefully he won't have to work so many this year. Blessings. :)
I thank God for your life, too, and for your friendship. :)
And yes, I did expect Jetson cars! Where are they?
And Mike and I laughed at your reference to chicken ON the bone!! :)
As for turning 30...it made me realize that when I turned 30, I was still waiting (none too patiently) to be pregnant for the first time. God does love diversity, doesn't He!
(Your wd. ver. is "nouniate"...is that what I should call it when Jessica is talking too much?)
What a great post! I think you're an awesome mom to your boys.
May 2009 bring you many more blessings. :)
thank you for your post..i am going to do a simular one in the next few days...this year for me has been about letting things go..and it's an ongoing process. but i like blogging and sharing with others too for i know i feel so much closer to you by reading your blog! thank you my friend for your willingness to share and love others.
Steph said it well. To sum it all up, proceed on your knees. I'm with you :) And I totally thought we'd be flying by now. You can pay a hefty sum and do a little space travel. I don't think that one's in the budget :)
Margo - I think you can also add to your list of things that happened this year - became a great writer! Your posts and writing have become so wonderful, I really enjoy reading it all!
And I will forever remember reading your post about overhauling your diet - it got me to start rethinking some food choices we make too. We can't do everything organic here because we don't have whole foods, but we try our best :-)
Your goals for this year are so inspiring! I'm hoping to post something similar soon. Blessings!
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