A Better Me

The end of 2008 is drawing near and I have been contemplating all the changes I intend to make within my life this coming year. In the past I've never liked New Year Resolutions because frankly I've never been able to keep them. New Year Resolutions mean committing to something. Here are some of the top Resolutions I found online that people tend to "commit" to year after year.

Losing Weight, Gaining Weight, Getting out of debt, Saving money, Getting a better job, Getting fit, Eating right, Getting a better Education, Drinking less Alcohol, Quiting Smoking, Reducing Stress, Taking a Trip, Volunteering more, Being less Grumpy and becoming more independent.

I guess it shouldn't amaze me that no where in this list does it mention Religion....Spirituality.

This is where my commitment comes into play this year.

I accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was 9 years old. I remember the day clearly but yet I can't remember things I did yesterday. I was raised in a Christian home and my father was a Minister. I was at church every time the doors were open. Through the years I've fallen short and attended church but yet not really felt a part of anything. I find myself not talking to God as much as I should but only calling to him when I am in need. This year I want to rededicate my life to Christ and gain a more personal relationship with him. I want to praise him in good times, which comes so easy but also rejoice with him when times are bad and yes the really bad. I want to become a part of something and become involved in my church and serve. I don't know how or where but through prayer I'm sure he will lead me where he wants me to be. I want my family and friends to see Christ in me and I am asking God to help me become the servant he wants me to be and the wife that Mike needs. On one of the blogs I read it was asked "Could we have endured life like Mary, the mother of Jesus had to do? How blessed Mary was to have raised Jesus for 33 years but she endured such hardships along the way. Here is a quote from Lynette Krafts blog. "Mary…the mother of Jesus was blessed among women. She was a mere, sinful human being – not perfect – just human like you and me. Yet, God chose her to fulfill a special purpose.Luke 1:38 “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” When Mary said “behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”, I think she was saying, Lord, I’m submissive to your will. I’m willing to do your work. I’m blessed to be chosen. Do you feel that way with what God has called you to in your life? Are you the Lord’s willing handmaid?Mary was chosen to carry a child before marriage. Mary was chosen to travel during the last days of her pregnancy, (and every woman who’s been pregnant knows it’s not the most comfortable time to journey anywhere) - and she didn’t fly United, she rode on a donkey! Mary was chosen to give birth in a stable. Mary was chosen to endure the heartache of watching her son be beaten and tortured. Mary was chosen to grieve the loss of her 33 year old son. Mary was chosen to endure hard things… yet… Mary was “blessed among women.”?Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed…” Do you consider Mary blessed? Would you have wanted to endure the life she was called to live.Mary suffered, but Mary was indeed blessed".

In the days after reading Lynettes post, I was still pondering this question. I have felt at times God has given me too much to bear but I know the Bible says he doesn't give us more than we can handle. I know God will be with us this year and will help me accomplish all the things he wants me to accomplish to give him Glory. What more could anyone ask for?

This year I will be 48 years young. Wow is that really real? I guess this is one of those life changes I hear people talking about. It didn't happen at 30 or 40 or 45 but now at 48 I'm determined to make some changes. This is nothing new nor nothing I haven't known all along. However, I am a sinner and a lazy Christian. God knows my heart and knows what I'm asking now can I give him what he ask of me? Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". I am willing to become the person God intended me to be. Are you? Let us all work together to help each other and give support and encouragement for all the new things to come this year. Let us pray for one another and become Christ like in 2009.

Jesus is ALIVE today and he performs miracles daily. We should be shouting it from the rooftop!

Sydney

Sorry but I am having too much fun making these Magazine Covers. :)

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Layne, Christina and Payton

We spent a fun day with Layne and Christina yesterday. Layne is my oldest and he and Christina will bet getting married next October. I'm so happy for Layne and so proud of him and for what he has been able to accomplish. Christina is a beautiful girl and I am praying for their happiness and for God to be the center of their marriage and their lives. I'm very excited to be getting a daughter and pray that I will be a good mother in law and hope we can become good friends. Payton was really excited to see his older brother and could not stop talking. He doesn't see Layne that often and is just dieing to spend the night with him for some reason. I think Payton thinks he and Layne can play video games all night which would be just fine with him.
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Falcon Frenzy Wrestling Invitational

Today Syd was wrestling in the Falcon Frenzy Invitational Tournament at West Henderson High School. There were 27 High Schools at this Tournament and this was Syd's first of this year at Erwin High School. Last year Syd wrestled in the weight class of 135 and he was always trying to lose weight to make the weigh ins. This year he's bigger and he got to wrestle in the weight class of 152 today. Syd did great his first match and pinned his opponent in 11 seconds. He was so proud and we were so excited for him. His next match was forfeited by his opponent not long after the match started. The ref learned the guy didn't have a mouth piece. Whatever the reason....Syd would take the win. YEAH!!! This means his last and final match would be for 1st place. Syd seemed relatively calm but I was really nervous. I tried not to show it and while we waited for ever for the match, I was constantly trying to see if I could guess who his opponent would be. You know...just to see if my son could take him...:) Well I couldn't figure out who it would be until right at the time for Syd to go to the mat. My heart was beating so hard in my chest. This was ridiculous...Why was "I" so nervous? Well if you've ever been to a wrestling meet you would know why. It is hard to see another person throw your child around and squeeze him in places and against the mat when I know they are hurting him. BUT....my son did the throwing around. Syd pinned him in the 2nd round and that's all that matters. He was soooo happy, I was sooo happy, Mike was sooo happy and Payton was just proud to call him his brother. He took first place at this tournament in his weight class. This was a tremendous accomplishment for Syd. He wrestled last year and he won some matches but didn't come close to winning the tournament. I've posted some pictures. Some are not that great because this is a new camera and I don't know how to work it yet. The last picture is with Syd and his medal but he is so exhausted that's why he isn't smiling but rest assured he's smiling on the inside.

Blessings

I love to read blogs and today as I was reading and lurking I found the most awesome blog and I wanted to share. You may have heard of this lady, Lynnette Kraft, then again, maybe you haven't but her story is amazing. She has suffered great losses but her unwaivering faith in God has led her to where she is today. She has so much understanding as to why her life has turned out the way it has and I just had to pass this along. Her teenage daughter also writes a blog and she is a pretty amazing teen. Her name is Abigail, you might want to check her out too. I will be following these ladies for sure. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.