resolutions

My 2011 New Year's Resolutions:
1. Study to take the CCRN exam and pass.
2. Stretch every day
3.  Pay off my student loans.
4. Clean more often, even if it's a tiny apartment.
5. Get Dan a job!

I'm excited to see what the new year brings.  God has blessed us so much and I am excited to see what journey He takes us on next.  I'm so thankful for my wonderful husband and our growing relationship with Jesus and each other.

God bless you all!

Merry Christmas from Cinci!

This year was a first that I did not decorate or really get into the Christmas spirit.  Dan hung up some stockings that were on our shelf just a couple days ago, but that's it.  I enjoyed sending out cards, but it cost about $100 (that's the cheapest I could find).  Due to advancement in technology, I'm thinking about cutting my list for next year and doing more electronic cards.

Last night we did have a couple of friends over and enjoyed dinner, Settlers of Catan, and DDR.  We stayed up till 3am, so that was fun.  Tonight we go to another couple's house.  They have a 3 year old, so that will be fun to get into the Christmas spirit with them.

I hope you are having a lovely Christmas and enjoying time with family and friends.  I am very curious about where we'll be next Christmas, but until then, we will enjoy our Cincinnati 2010 Christmas.

Alicia en el pais de las maravillas: Advent Conspiracy

Last year I posted this:

Alicia en el pais de las maravillas: Advent Conspiracy: "The Advent Conspiracy is an organization that makes you think about Christmas, its true meaning, and how materialistic it has become. Last ..."

I wanted to repost this since Black Friday and Cyber Monday just passed us by. I was thinking about buying charity gift cards for my nieces for Christmas, but Dan says it's not his ideal to force people to give to charity. Maybe he's right.

I will be giving to Living Water this year. They have some amazing photos and videos about providing clean water to countries all around the world. Please think about taking your Christmas money or an hour of your wages and giving it to this organization.

Meditation

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 hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you," declares the LORD

Psalm 37:
⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD
       and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
       trust in him and he will do this:

Philipians 1:6
he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Give Me Your Eyes

Brandon Heath, a Christian artist, has a song called "Give Me Your Eyes" and the words are just amazing!  Dan isn't the biggest fan of Christian music, but he sometimes tolerates me listening to it in the car.  He definitely makes fun of this song with the "ye-ahs" and sometimes sings along with a Spanish/Jamaican accent.  I laugh.

Anyway, back to the words, they are so powerful.  People are hurting, frustrated, lost...and how often do I look beyond myself and seek their needs?  Well, my job allows for this, but what about in "real life"?  I have started to pray for those people who really piss me off when I'm driving.  Those who cross the center line coming towards me, those who swing into my lane to make a right-hand turn or those who drift over into my lane for no apparent reason except that they're texting or talking on their phones.  This is a hard discipline.  I usually get so angry that I'm seething. 

Now to extend this to every part of my day.  Can I look at people as God does?  He loves them...all!  Lord, please give me your eyes and help me show Your love to those I encounter and to those You place in my path.  May I love them as You love me.

The Valley of Vision

I found this Puritan prayer and was so touched by it.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

No caffeine!!!

I did it!  I'm off caffeine!  I do have a small cup of green tea in the morning, but that is great for me!  I was drinking 2 big cups of coffee in the morning and 1-2 in the late morning or early afternoon.

I have also started my wii workouts again after taking off the summer.  They are kicking my butt and I have been sore, but the workouts are getting better.  EA Sports Active is my cardio workout while wii fit is my yoga and strength training.

I'm not the biggest fruit person, but I have boosted my eating to include fresh fruits and vegetables.  Now that I have a pressure cooker, that has cut out canned beans.  I hope to eat most of my food unpackaged from now on.  We used to eat everything frozen (fruits and veggies) and from a can (spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, beans, etc.).  We'll see how long I can keep this up.  I do however eat "Health Choice" frozen meals at work if I get sick of taking sandwiches.

I hope this fall and winter will be energy packed as I stick to healthier habits.