The New Years Post.

These are some New Year's thoughts a~la me, in list form...

Top things I've been reminded of in '09 (in no particular order)

1. God made me, I'm worth it.

2. Caffeine is bad... very, very bad.

3. Meet others where they are.

4. God does give us everything we need for life

and Godliness...when we need it, not when we want it.

5. Stop barking up the wrong tree. Not only is it useless, it's life sucking.

6. The holes in the top of the ladder are there for a very good reason...

7. I have some of the best friends, a girl could ever ask for.

8. When God speaks to you, don't fight it, just do it....really.

9. Your family deserves more than your left overs.

10. Disneyland still is the happiest place on earth.

11. Life is all about choices.

12. No regrets. Just lessons learned.

13. My Jesus is beyond amazing...so are my husband and kids.

14. I have to create things. It's a must.

15. I love all things that sparkle.

Top things that I want to do in 2010 (in no particular order either)

1. live in the middle. I've mastered the extremes.

2. love my husband and children the way they need it, not the way I want to do it.

3. let my BFF and faithful companion, the 44 ounce plastic cup of life giving diet coke, become a thing of the past.

4. learn how to take better pictures.

5. always choose joy, or at least most of the time.

6. be ok with not being the woman I want to be....yet.

7. parasail on Lake Tahoe.

8. weigh what my drivers license says I do.

9. learn how to be still.

10. become passionate about drinking water.

11. find a deeper understanding of the heart of Jesus.

12. be able to embrace those that I do not understand.

13. get to bed at a decent hour.

14. distress an armoire.

15. learn how to set realistic goals...

Happy New Year.

xo.

D.

Day 45. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not.

Confession. Today I rushed through school. I cut every corner imaginable. At one o'clock we had planned to take the kids to my parents...while we have a 48 hour at home vacation to celebrate 15 years of marriage. We have ideas, but no plan. Thoughts, but no order. It's perfect. Whatever grabs us at the moment, is what we will do. We have been amazingly blessed recently with gift cards galore...the Lord provides. Our stay at home vacation, will in fact, be virtually free. Dave Ramsey would be proud.

15 is the number of the day. 15 times a minute, I looked at the clock all morning long. 15 times today, I've wondered how I am so very lucky to be married to him. 15 years of our journey, behind us....countless more, yet to come.

My marriage is beautiful. Not because it's perfect, because it's ours. We are creating our unique story...together. One day at a time. We have had the dark days. We have had the bright days. All together...lovely. All together...ours.

I am so very blessed. Football, movies, my leopard Slippers, pizza, diet coke, Macbook's, Christmas lights...these amazing things have created night one of our vacation. Sleeping in will fulfill morning one. I can't imagine not waking up to Emma yelling either from happiness or anger, but I'm willing to chance it.

I am so incredibly content. So much awaits. 2010 is gonna be amazing.... I can feel it.

There are just 125 school days left until summer.

Day 38. Goin' Old School.

I am still on a high from this past weekend. I developed and direct a worship driven children's performing arts program at our church. We run about 12 weeks out of the year and then perform a 15 min spot in "big church". While the performance is amazingly fun to watch, the whole process of getting there, is my love. Each of these kids are so unique and amazing. Even at such a young age, they have such a heart for God. To have a chance to be involved in their little lives on any level is honestly such a privilege to me.

I wish the parents and people at church could somehow see and experience all the moments we have leading up to performance. From the kid who came in to the program completely unengaged and then ended up helping the four year olds find their way on stage with all the gentleness a young man could muster, to the four year old who thanked God during our prayer time for the man on the big boat who saved the earth, to the five year old backstage who told me we can't go out there until I teach you about light beams! These kids grow, develop skills, develop relationships with each other, and bless me beyond words. I sat and cried as I watched them this past Sunday. They rock.

We went "old school" this session complete with choir robes. Add in some hip hop dancers, drama, art, sign language, a splatter paint set, 50 adorable kids, and a video, complete with dancing pastors (the adorable man in the white shirt is my hubby) and you've got yourself a great time! With two sound checks, three performances, and four services of 1204 people this weekend...Monday morning brought a tired teacher! We got through school fine however. I, in pajamas, with a big diet coke by my side. Now there are just 132 school days left until summer.

Day 34. Boo.

With the weekend comes Halloween. When I assigned the kids their work for the weekend, I made sure and discussed with them our schedule and that we were gonna be busy. They needed to plan their work in advance in order to accomplish it. We talked about some options and then I let them go.

The kids were very excited about Halloween this year. Between Shawn and I over the last 6 years or so, which is most of their memories of Halloween, one or both of us has been working, or in charge of our Church Fall Festival. Not this year, as our church did not have one. So, we had LOTS more time on our hands. We carved pumpkins together, a first for all three of my kids. Sad, but true. We also attended a large church festival in town, as regular attending people. It was strange, but fun. We came back to the house and trick or treated in the neighborhood, as well. I loved being with my family, but I enjoy putting on a party far more than attending one.

The kids ended off putting a lot of their work off until Sunday, despite our Thursday conversations. Cameron, especially, ended up really upset about the fact that he had decided to wait so long. This has been consistent with him for the past few weeks. This week however, I think we had a light bulb moment for him. For the first time, he talked to me about ways he could make sure he didn't "forget" to do his work. Putting notes up on the mirror and in his room. YAY! Crossing my fingers for next weekend. They need to take ownership of their work and learn to start figuring out how to accomplish it independently. Sometimes, unfortunately, a little bit of suffering is the best lesson. It all got accomplished and now there are just 136 school days left until summer.

Day 19. Are We There Yet?

I left Thursday after school, for our churches annual women's retreat. Day 19 of school was assigned on Th at noon and required to be done by Monday morning at 8:30. This is the second week that we tried this. The kids got it all done without an issue. Emma even learned to ride her bike without training wheels while I was gone!

When I was in high school, my youth pastor constantly talked about making memories. It kinda stuck with me.... My job at our church is Director of Events. It is about much more than that to me. It's about creating moments where people can connect with each other and connect with their Savior. Creating an environment where life change can happen. Our women's retreat is an amazing time of watching this take place. Memories that will last a lifetime were made. I love being a part of that.

The theme of this year's retreat was Are We There Yet? Ironic because I arrived home a full 24 hours after I was supposed to. After a long and rewarding three days away, we had finally packed up and were heading home. Four of us, were the last to leave the hotel. It was just a couple of hours after the rest of the ladies. Ten minutes into our trip, we were met with 27 degree weather and heavy snow. It was dark, late, and there was road construction. We were clearly about to be stranded in Truckee. Heading back to the hotel, we were given our rooms back at no extra charge. While the snow continued to fall outside, the four of us sat by the fire in our jammies, eating peanut buster parfaits from Dairy Queen and drinking big gulps from 7-11. We laughed until we hurt. It was magical. I will never forget it. I have worked with these ladies for three years on retreats and they are as amazing as it gets. I cherish them.

All too often, I think people tend to underestimate the value of the simple things. I am so thankful for that snowstorm. So thankful for those three amazing women. So thankful for the much needed, grown up, girl bonding. It refreshed me, energized me, and left me ready to come home and hit the books again. Now there is just 151 school days until summer.