First gift

This morning I received my first official Christmas gift of the season...and I am so excited! These are two super creative guided journals...these journals are created for people who love to create!

The pages instruct you to do things like fill an entire page with one word by writing it over and over again; make an inventory of everything you own; create a self-portrait by listing things that define you...minus your face.

I can't wait to wreck these journals :0) Thank you so much Mackenzie!

Dear Zoe...

Dear Zoe,

I have been thinking about you a lot lately. Only 8 weeks left in this journey of pregnancy before you arrive, though I'll admit, I'm hoping it is slightly sooner.

It is amazing to me that right now, God is crafting you to perfection. He has already given you talents, hopes, and dreams. And He has given me the privilege of being your mother, and watching you walk into those dreams. Every limb, every tiny organ is already functioning perfectly, you are being prepared to enter this great big world. You are such a miracle.

I am curious about you. What will you look like? I know that you will be beautiful, but of course how could you be anything less in my eyes. Will your hair be curly or straight? Brunette, blonde, or a fiery redhead? I know that your eyes will be bright and carry a sparkle, no matter what color they are. What will you be passionate about? In which areas will you excel? Maybe music and art like mommy, or sports and speaking like daddy... I want you to know that you can achieve anything, and you are so special.

You have a daddy who I know will adore you. You will be his princess, and he will give you lots of kisses! You will be cherished.

You have a big brother who already loves you. He can't wait to give you kisses and hugs, and I know he will always protect you and watch out for you, just as a big brother should.

Zoe Grace, this is my prayer for you;

That you will be filled with kindness, compassion, humility and gentleness. You will radiate a beauty that comes from the inside. You will be passionate in your love for Christ, your love for family and for your friends. You will grow to walk with grace, and a sweetness will follow wherever you go. You will impact everyone around you, just by being the incredible girl God has created you to be.

I love you so much,

Mommy

Oh Omaha!

Omaha...Nebraska... NEVER in a million years would I have imagined this would be a place I could be living.

I have often imagined moving somewhere great, like Tampa or Aspen...but Omaha? Not so much.

But yet here we are, in the middle of this adventure of life, and it seems as though Omaha is where God is directing us.

It really is a beautiful place, but still not too far off from our midwestern roots.

I really am excited about this opportunity, but stepping into the unknown and unexperienced is always a little bit scary too.

Justin and I could both travel the Quad Cities blindfolded...we have lived here our whole lives!

We were in Omaha for about 2 1/2 days this past weekend, and got lost almost EVERYWHERE we went!

But I'm sure, like with everything, you adapt. And I'm sure it won't be long before the city and people of Omaha also begin to feel like home.

I have never been outside of my comfort zone when it comes to living environment, or being away from family.

I think it will be good for us. It will force us to open up to new relationships, and I think it will draw us closer as a family as well.

Sometimes surrendering to God...I mean COMPLETELY surrendering...is the most difficult thing to do. It would be so, so, SO much easier to stay here in the QC and just keep doing what we are doing. But when it comes down to it, no matter how painful or how difficult, the voice of God is the only one we should listen to.

What an adventure....here we go!

I'm so ready!

A few months ago, I was dreading the thought of going through the whole labor/delivery/recovery process again. But now??? I can't wait!

When I was pregnant with Javen, I ended up having him 8 days after his due-date. I had a very comfortable pregnancy, up until that last week or so.

I don't understand why this time is so different, but the entire past month has felt like those last 8 days...and I still have 9 weeks to go!

I feel...HEAVY!

I am normally a pretty petite person. So when you throw 30 lbs. of excess weight at me and just expect my hips, back and legs to suddenly support it... well it's not working out too well!

I am looking forward to going into labor. With Javen I think I was a little bit naive about the whole process, I didn't know what I was getting into when I checked into the hospital that day!

But now I know exactly what I'm in for, and I have spent the last several weeks preparing my body and mind. I feel unafraid and empowered to bring this baby girl into the world!

I know that by the grace of God that this labor and delivery is going to be quick, easy, and free of any complications.

I am craving this little girl, I want to see her face....and I would also love to go for a jog. :0)

Can't wait to be non-pregnant!

6 Weeks

It's been 6 weeks since I have sang into a microphone.

Just typing that makes my heart ache.

Not out of pride, or a longing for the "spotlight". But it's a longing to be doing what I know God has called me, gifted me, and blessed me to do.

I didn't realize how much singing had become a part of me...until now.

Like everything, I choose to believe that this is just a season. I know that I will be singing again. But for now, God, my husband, my son, the shower and the steering wheel will be the only ones who hear my voice...for now.

Back at it again

It's been a while! So I redesigned, and re-titled my blog, and I am vowing to post a new blog at least 3 times a week.
Let me give a brief description of my new blogger-title. Yes, we are naming our soon to be born daughter Zoe. But I titled my blog "living zoe" because of the meaning of the word. In the Bible, the word zoe represents abundant life---therefore "living an abundant life" is the title of my blog. :0)
Oh the seasons of life! The past several months have been...a rollercoaster. Our direction has been changed from east to west and back again a dozen times. I guess that it just goes to show that our plans are not Gods plans.
I will tell you this, relocating was the LAST thing I expected to be doing in 2010, but it looks like a big move will be in our very near future. We have not made any final decisions regarding where we will be living for the next 1-2 years. We have been invited to Omaha, and we will be heading there this weekend to check things out and see if it's a good fit for us.
This is all so scary and thrilling at the same time. I am not looking forward to the day we hug our friends and family goodbye and pack up. In the immediate, I am heartbroken. But looking at the grand scale of life, this season is so temporary.
I believe that this opportunity is going to be one of the most refreshing, fulfilling things we have ever done. I know that we would regret it if we chose not to go.
You can read more about this transition at my husbands blog.

I can finally feel my joy returning as I look towards the future.

A Change is Coming...

I had my 19 week ultrasound appointment yesterday, and discovered with absolute certainty that our 2nd baby will be...a girl.

I can't say that I "knew" it was going to be a girl, nobody can. But I had a strong feeling that it was going to be a girl, and I wasn't taken back or surprised at all when we were told.

My husband on the other hand was, ummm... "slightly" surprised. I'm pretty sure he went into some form of shock, causing his eyes to bulge and his vocal chords to stop working.

I have only ever dealt with a son, where everything is rough and tumble and favorite toys are motorcycles and army guys.

Now we are being thrown into a world of baby dolls, hair bows, and Barbies. What a change, but what a joy.

I have no doubt that this little girl will be beautiful, intelligent, sweet and abundantly talented. I can't wait to meet her, but in the meantime, I've got shopping to do :0)

I can't wait to get my hands on...

...our living room! Along with our kitchen, bathroom, kids room....but the living room first! There is an HGTV worthy masterpiece brewing in my mind, and I can't wait to make it come to life! Our living room is BIG, about 25'x14'. The color theme will be shades of beige, charcoal gray, and accents of cranberry red. I am wanting to cover one wall with a bold geometric wallpaper. My favorite that I've found so far is in the photo above. I will be sure to post before and after photos of the transformation, once it gets underway!

Prayer Request

Please read this blog and take a moment of your time to pray for this sweet little girl, Kate. This beautiful 5 year old is having brain surgery today to remove an egg-sized tumor. Her family are believers and are holding tight to the promises of God and the power of prayer. Let's come into agreement with them. As a parent, I can't even comprehend what they are going through. My heart aches for them, and I am praying that God will do a miracle in Kates body.

http://promisetangemanblog.com/life/pray-for-kate

Prego-Week 6

A wonderful new sound enters the world this week when it comes to the development of my baby...its heartbeat. Although it is still too faint to be picked up by a stethoscope, it's visible in a sonogram as a tiny pulsing dot. From now until birth it will beat approx. 150 times per minute...twice the average adult heart rate! The baby will also TRIPLE in size this week, to about a quarter of an inch long. (Maybe that explains my sudden massive appetite!)

Symptoms: Vary by day...slightly nautious, more tired than usual...and STARVING always!

Baby bump: Not really noticing a "bump" yet, but definitely some softening/thickening (?) of the abdominal area. :0)

Prego

Well, the cat's out of the bag...Justin and I are expecting our 2nd baby! I have been off of birth control for 10 months, and it's finally happened! We are so very excited.

I will be using my blog as a way to keep track of my "pregnancy progress".

Right now I am about 4 weeks pregnant, give or take a couple days.

Here is what my baby and I look like at the 4 week mark...

The little one is smaller than a grain of rice and weighs only a fraction of an ounce. But he/she is already hard at work. The tiny body is transforming by the second, each layer is developing perfectly. Right now, it's tiny nerves and spinal cord are developing.

Here are my week 4 stats:

Symptoms: None, I feel good. Perfectly normal!

Weight: 109 lbs.

Waist size: 26 1/2"

(Prepare to see these numbers balloon over the course of the next 9 months!)

We goal weight gain for this 2nd pregnancy is 30-35 lbs. I gained 42 with Javen because all I did was stand around at work and eat vending machine snacks. This time I have a 2 year old to chase after, so I should be able to maintain a slightly healthier weight gain.

Keep checking back for weekly updates! I'm sure there will be some name-voting posts to come as well!

A Birthday Wish

Today is my husbands 30th birthday! (he robbed the cradle, I still have 5 good years left!)

I think that everyone handles turning 30 in their own unique way. Some may experience a "mid life crisis", while others celebrate a new chapter of their life beginning.

I know that Justin is a lot of things to a lot of people. He is a pastor, coach, "big brother", boss, father figure...but I want to take a minute to talk about who he is to me.

My very first impression of Justin Dean occurred when I was about 15 years old (10 years ago, WOW!) I had started going to a youth ministry on Tuesday nights with my boyfriend at the time. Justin was one of the greeters. He always made a great impression as people walked through the church doors, his vibrance and passion was obvious even within those few seconds of passing each week. He had ear-length, super curly hair and gaged ears, which really made him stand out to me...LOVE that curly hair :0) I remember him doing backflips off the stage, and even rapping at times! Yes, I thought he was super hot...but so did most of the other 15 year old girls at the time. I'm NOT the type to flirt, or go after a guy, so I didn't even dwell on the thought or possibility of dating him. He was WAY out of my league.

About 3 years passed and I stayed involved in that ministry, eventually becoming an intern. One night I was sitting in service, in the back row with an empty chair next to me. Justin came and sat next to me and in a very cheesy, funny way he said "How you doin' " as he slid his arm over the back of my chair. He asked how old I was and I told him 18, he cracked a smile and said "Interesting...." haha...I remember this like it was yesterday.

I was in charge of a station every Wednesday night that I had to set up and tear down before and after service. Justin had hundreds of things to do after services each week, but that night he came and helped me tear down and put away my station...and the week after, and the week after...

One Sunday he asked me to go out to lunch with him and some other friends....and I said no. I made an excuse, but I did it on purpose. Then, he asked me AGAIN on a Wednesday night to go to Village Inn with a group of people. Again, I said no... (ladies, men like a challenge!)

The following Wednesday he asked for my number, and I gave it to him. Then he waited 2 days to call! Talk about torture! He invited me over to his apartment to watch a movie with a group of friends. I was the first to arrive and the last to leave. He walked me to my car and asked for a hug :0) Then the very next night he asked to see me again and we went to get coffee at Village Inn. My hands were sweating, I wanted so badly to impress him.

That was the beginning of our relationship. With the exception of missions trips, we have been together almost every single day since January 10th, 2002.

I can not begin to explain how incredibly blessed I feel to have Justin as my husband. It was through a series of events, some unfortunate, some joyous, that him and I ended up together. Many, MANY things tried to keep us from becoming husband and wife (that's a whole nutha' blog!) But the hand of God was so obviously at work in our relationship, and my heart overflows with gratefulness.

Justin has accomplished many, many great things. But I believe that one of his greatest accomplishments has been our relationship and family.

My husbands strength has made me stronger. He is an excellent father, and loves Javen more deeply than he will ever be able to tell you. His passion is contagious and has inspired me to run hard after my dreams. He is the hardest working, most dedicated man I have ever known. I respect and trust him with my life.

Jus, you are more loved, more admired, more respected than you will ever know. Happy 30th birthday. I am in awe of what you have survived and accomplished over these last 30 years, I can't imagine what you will achieve in the next 30.

Works of Art

Well, I guess this makes me official. 

These are my business cards, and it overwhelms me just to look at them

Why??? Because lately I have been selling artwork as quickly as I can make it.

I don't even have a website or a gallery. Just a few pieces hanging at a local coffee shop, and pictured on facebook.

How far could this go??? How much money do I have the potential to make for my family?

My biggest issue is that I want my artwork to remain just that....ART. I really, really don't want it to become stressful and something I no longer enjoy. I don't want to just start producing pieces that I don't love, just to meet a deadline.

I have A LOT of questions!

Should I start making prints?

Should I frame my art, or just use the boxed canvases?

Should I try to submit one of my most popular pieces to a distributor and have it mass produced for a commission? 

HELP! If any of you have experience in this area, I would love your input!

Girl-Crushes

 I have never met any of these women. But for one reason or another, I find myself watching what they do, what they say, what they wear and how they live. Some of them I probably would not choose to model my life after, but still think they are cool. So here they are:

#1 Promise Tangeman

A super edgy artist, photographer, and designer. I LOVE her work, and I love her personal style.

#2 Brooke Fraser

One of the lead singer/songwriters for Hillsong. She is a beautiful girl with an amazing gift. And most importantly, she is in love with the same God that I am in love with. 

#3 Kate Hudson

A gifted actress and such a naturally beautiful girl. There is nothing about her that is artificial or "implanted", and I love that :0)

#4 Carrie Underwood

This girl has got insane vocal talent! I love that she hasn't let her blast-off career and stardom change the person she is. From what I've seen in her interviews, she is super sweet and down to earth.

#5 Megan Foxx

Megan is on this list simply because, she's hot.

Yes.

I think that another girl is hot.

And I'm pretty sure, male or female, you would have to be blind to say that she isn't :0)

ABC, Easy as 1, 2, 3

A - Age: 25

B - Bed size: Full...though I'm craving a larger one

C - Chore you hate: Cleaning the kitchen floor

D - Dog's name: None

E - Essential start your day item:  The Bible and breakfast

F - Favorite color(s): Green and orange

G - Gold or Silver: Silver

H - Height: 5'1"-ish

I - Instruments you play: My vocal chords :0)

J - Job title: Mommy! Also aspiring artist and musician

K - Kid(s): 1 little man, Javen

L - Living arrangements: With hubby and son

M - Mom's name: Joleen

N - Nicknames: Manda, Mandy (when I was young)

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Never

P - Pet Peeve: When someone says they can't find something and they have already looked. Then I go look in the same spot and find it right away.

Q - Quote from a movie: "It's not a graduation, he is passing from the 4th grade to the 5th grade. We keep finding new ways to celebrate mediocrity!" -The Incredibles :0)

R - Right or left handed: Right

S - Siblings: 2 brothers, Joel, Colton. And 1 sis, Karlee

T - Time you wake up: 8-ish

U - Underwear: Wouldn't you like to know... ;0)

V - Vegetable you dislike: Beets

W - Workout style: Some cardio and light lifting

X - X-rays you've had: Only 1 I can remember, for a sprained ankle in 6th grade.

Y - Yesterday's best moment: Visiting Evergreen art supplies store...and drooling as I walked through the aisles.

Z - Zoo favorite: Giraffes, Lions

Would you Rather?....

So, it's been a while since my last blog-post!

Here is a little "Would You Rather" entry for the day.

Vacation season is right around the corner, so...would you rather spend your relaxation time on the beach, or in a cozy cabin in the mountains?

I want to know!

FL

Hopefully there aren't any storms like this while we are in Florida, but I just thought this was a pretty gnarly photo.

In approximately 24 hours, we will be in Florida. Let's take a moment to breathe out a big, relaxing, Ahhhhhhh.

This will be a quick trip, but hopefully just enough time to soak up some sun and recharge a little bit.

The reason for this trip is to attend the wedding of two of our good friends, Jen and Brandon. So that means that a bunch of our other friends and relatives will also be down there to celebrate, it's always a good time when we are all together.

Fort Myers Beach, I can't wait to sink my toes into your soft white sand. :0)

Oh boy, Oh boy...

So, there's this little event called the "Wonder Worshipping Arts Conference" coming up this summer. I am so beyond excited right now that I can hardly type! Here's what's happening at this conference: 

3 days of totally creative, inspiring, vision-planting sessions, all focused on the worship and artistic elements of a church.

There are dozens of sessions to choose from every day, from: improving vocal skills, leading praise and worship, graphic design, stage lighting, how to incorporate choreography/drama into a service, and sooooo much more!

Oh, did I mention that Darlene Czech with be speaking, and Hillsong UNITED is leading late night worship?!

I am praying that God will open doors for Justin and I, and hopefully several other members of Rock Church,  to attend this conference.

I am pumped!!! I have never experienced anything like this.

I think that God is wanting to take me to the next level in my ministry and abilities, and this conference could be the launching pad! Yeah baby.....

Laziness...

This week I have been, lazy. And now that it's Friday, I feel incredibly unaccomplished and sluggish. I feel kind of like that Thousand-Pound woman you see on the Discovery channel...yep, I'm sure this is what she feels like. Since Tuesday I have only left the house twice, I haven't cooked a single meal, I haven't done my hair or makeup, I haven't been to the gym, and I have watched plenty of mindless, pointless TV. I am pathetic... however, I have also been very sick, so I have a little bit of an excuse. But man, I hate doing nothing! Especially when there is housework to be done, a baby to entertain, and rehearsals to go to. People kinda need me!

Here's the sicky-update: 

-I have gone through an entire large box of tissues in 3 days. I have abundant snot.

-My abs are actually sore from coughing so hard (sooo...does that count as my workout for the week???)

-The GOOD news is: I woke up this morning feeling much less congested. I am trusting that my throat will get better throughout the day as well so that I can sing this weekend. I am going to try and limit my speaking to only whispering.

Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement!

Hopefully after today I will be back to my old self again, and officially un-lazy!

Valentine's Day

Ahhhh yes, Valentine's Day.

Let's reminisce for a moment...

Think back to around 2nd grade. 

First, you got to make your own valentine box, where all of those top-secret cards, notes, and candies would be deposited. Even at the tender age of 8, I always stressed about this part. My box had to be beautiful and perfect. If I messed up, I would get a brand new box and start over. I could never comprehend how some kids could just scribble on their boxes and allow the world to see them that way. This is your valentine's day box people, you only get one a year so let's put a little effort into it.

Then, your mom would take you to the store to choose which valentine cards and candy you wanted to hand out to your classmates. Maybe you chose your favorite Disney movie or cartoon character as a theme. Or, if you had an especially artsy mom, you would hand-craft your valentine cards.

Then came time to address the envelopes and carefully place the card and candy inside. If you were handing out "Sweet-Heart" candies in your valentines, this became a very delicate process. You had to make sure that all of the "Best Friends" and "Hug Me" hearts went to your girlfriends. Then maybe the "You're Cool" and "Awesome" hearts would go to the boys in your class. And finally, there were the sacred hearts reserved for your crush. The ones that made such bold statements as "You're Mine" and "Kiss Me". If you received one of these types of hearts, it was a sign of destiny! 

And, what was even more exciting was if someone left a valentine in your box, and didn't sign their name! You had a mystery crush! You and all of your friends would brainstorm at recess to try and figure out who this mystery person could be, but in reality, you would probably never speak to that person even if you did figure out who it was. 

For the sake of teenage girls everywhere who hate Valentine's Day...I wish it could all be as simple as 2nd grade.

Who do you look like?

This blog is in response to Mrs. Olivia Ryans most recent blog post. Have you ever been told you look like someone famous? I can't tell you how many times I have been told I look like Sandra Bullock. Even complete strangers have told me! Maybe the brown eyes, but other than that, I don't really see it. What do you think? 

What about you? Who do you look like?

New Art FOR SALE!

I just finished these 2 pieces today. I am hoping to finish 2 more this weekend and have them all up for sale on Facebook by Monday!

My son eats 3 times his body weight...

Well, almost. Little Javen has literally been eating more than than I do for the past week. This is what was on the menu today:

Breakfast: A bowl of cereal, a whole container of yogurt, a whole banana

Snack: A big handful of dried fruit.

Lunch: Half of a peanut butter sandwich, a handful of chips, 2 cookies.

Dinner: A whole mini-can of ravioli

Bedtime snack: TWO whole containers of yogurt, and a granola bar.

Oh well, he has more than enough energy to burn it all off!

In Ten Days....

I will be HERE! Times Square, New York City. Justin and I are taking a long weekend and heading to NY. Justin has been a part of an Executive Pastors Coaching Network that is based out of a church in New York City. February 7th is the graduation/recognition ceremony for everyone who was involved in the network.

I'm so excited! I have never seen New York City! I can't wait to spend some quality time with my husband, do some great shopping, eat at some great restaurants, and do some sight-seeing.

I'm sure I will have another post with actual pics from our trip!

Anybody been to New York City??? If you have any traveling tips, let me know! 

My Photo Blog

I started doing this "Photo A Day" blog on the first of January. The goal is to take one picture every single day of the year, and post it to your photo blog. I am loving it! I was just looking back at all the photos I have posted, and I had already forgotten a few of the things that I did at the beginning of the month! What a great sort of "diary", a way to remember what you saw, experienced, and accomplished in 2009. It's not too late to start a photo blog! Here's mine: www.everyday09.blogspot.com

The Marrero Family

This blog is in dedication to one of my all-time favorite TV shows, Extreme Makeover Home Edition. To this day, I have never sat through an episode with  dry eyes.

This morning I was watching a re-run that was especially touching. It was about a single father who was raising his 5 teenage boys, after their mother walked out on them. They were living in the absolute ghetto of Camden New Jersey. Gang fights and gun-shots were something they saw and heard on a regular basis.

These 5 boys and their father literally had nothing but a shack of a rental property to live in.

No heat.

Rust-polluted water.

Empty refrigerator.

No beds.

They had been sleeping on the hardwood floor for 6 years. Many nights they would all sleep huddled together just to keep warm.

Their dad spent almost every night crying, wondering how he was going to care for his boys.

In the midst of all of these circumstances...I have NEVER witnessed such love within a family.

These boys were best friends and you could just tell they had each others backs, no matter what.

Their dad was constantly pouring out affection on his boys. Hugs and kisses and telling them how proud he was and how much he loved them.

In spite of his financial struggles, it was Mr. Marreros dream to start a foundation to help other single fathers living in Camden. He wanted a place for the fathers and children to come together, a place that would be warm and safe.

There are two separate reveals in this clip. One of the new "Single Fathers of Camden" support house, and one of the Marreros new home.

Watch this and remember how blessed you are. And I hope it encourages you to be a blessing to someone else today.

I so needed this...

For the past 3 weeks, I have been battling sickness. It started out with what seemed to be a flu-bug which had me vomiting and miserable for about 3 days. 2 days after the flu, I started getting a sore through which evolved into a nasty sinus issue...congestion, cough, stuffy nose, etc... Well now the congestion has cleared for the most part, but my sore throat has returned. After 3 whole weeks of not feeling like myself, I decided to go to the doctor this morning.

After I got home, a friend of mine gave me a sermon to listen to...and the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

As I was driving to the doctor this morning, I was thinking to myself "WHY do I get so sick?I don't know any one else who gets completely wiped out for weeks at a time. Maybe it's because I haven't spent enough time reading the Bible or praying, and this is God's way of getting my attention. Or maybe I have a weak immune system and this is just something I have to live with."

Obviously these thoughts are based on fear and lack of faith.

The over all message of the sermon was about the power of communion and understanding the meaning of taking the bread and wine in remembrance of Him. It is SO powerful, I am actually considering taking communion myself here at my house tonight.

A couple of other things that really stuck out to me were: 

God trains and corrects us through His WORD, not through sickness and disease

If sickness and disease were from God, then He would be un-doing what Jesus did on the cross.

I suppose I have heard these things in one form or another over the years, but it was so good to be reminded of the power of Jesus' death on the cross.

He did it for me.

So I can be healed.

Muscle Bound

I have been going to the gym pretty consistently for the past month or so. But I was thinking, I should set a measurable goal for how I want my body to respond to my workouts. So I decided that the above photo would represent my goal body-type. 14" biceps, thighs like tree-trunks and veins popping out in all sorts of unnecessary places. That's hot.

Totally kidding

To each their own, but I just don't find this attractive. I do admire the discipline and perseverance that is required to shape your body this way though.

I haven't really set super specific goals, but I would like to be able to:

-Run a mile without feeling like I'm going to pass out (I am NOT a runner!)

-Develop more visible muscle tone in my arms and legs

-Improve my overall strength

Sorry Jus, no body-builder hottie for you.

Rise and Shine, it's 2009!

Jeremiah 29:11 "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 a hope and a future."

To sum up my New Years Resolutions in one word, it would be: Grow

I am so excited about this new year. I feel like God is drawing me closer to Him than I have ever been. I believe He is leading me away from my plans, and towards His. I can't wait to see what is in store for me and my family over these next 365 days. 

My Top 3 Resolutions:

-Train and mentor someone who will be capable of filling my shoes (when needed) for Sunday and Wednesday praise and worship services.

-Spend a minimum of 30 minutes a day reading, journaling, talking to, and listening to God.

-Read at least 1 book (fiction or non-fiction)  a month

And here's a few others:

-For Justin and I to be completely out of stinkin' debt! 

-Work out 2-4 times/week

-Spend a minimum of 20 minutes a day doing preschool lessons with Javen

-Create and sell at least 1 piece of artwork a month

-Take one picture of my life every single day this year to put together in a photo-journal of '09

-Get my 2nd tattoo

-To not sleep past 9:00am, except when absolutely necessary! (I love to sleep!)

There is sooo much more...

What about you???