Goals...hmm...

Hello all, sorry it has been sooooooooo long since my last post! However, there is much to say today, so that should help fill in the space .


So New Year's Eve is not one of my favorite holidays. I think I would place it in second place for least favorite holiday right after the dreaded Valentine's Day....ugh.....Anyways, for the last 4 years, New Year's Eve has been very hard for me because of the memories attached to it. Long story short, this year wasn't any different, I got in my sightly zombie mode/ was slightly depressed in a silent way around people that night and when I got in my car and drove home I had a good cry. But now the dreaded Eve is over and life always seems a bit better afterwards.
The next day, New Year's Day, I started writing journal entries each day. So far they've been a few pages each day. I tried to journal when I was younger, but never got past the first 2 days. But I've got to say whoever said journaling was theraputic was dead on! I also hope that someday it will be something that leaves my thoughts, hopes, faith and values behind for someone else to learn from. I usually journal each night and then read my Bedside Blessings by Charles Swindall (he rocks!). Long story short, it gives me a sense of peace and it just helps to get everything that flows through my head down on paper. It just flushes what ever is bothering me out and it magnifies those that lift my spirits. I know that it is also another way that God speaks to me.


Back tracking a bit...yes, I had an absolutely wonderful Christmas with my family! Although I wish I could have stayed longer , but I had to return to Wichita the day after Christmas to work. I am however planning on taking another mini trip back to KCMO in a week for a few days. Wow I'm getting side tracked today.....


.....When my younger sister was about 4 or 5 I think, she said something I will never forget. She was watching me and my parents take the Christmas decoration boxes from the basement to the living room. The boxes were marked X-mas. And my little sister in her 4-5 year old wisdom said, "Why did you write X-mas. You are crossing Christ out of Christmas.".............Talk about a "through the mouths of babes" moment eh?! But it's so increadibly true! Even as Christians we get caught up in the extras of the holiday, but not the main focus! We can get caught up shopping, or decorating, baking, cooking, cleaning the house for when relatives come over, fighting with relatives, worrying about what to wear to church, worrying about church solos or caroling, etc. There is so much to get caught up in, including family. Yes Christmas is a time to share with your family and loved ones, but they should not be the main focus of the event. Christ is the main focus of CHRISTmas, as He should be the main focus in our lives. Even after the holiday, we still get caught up in all the extras and add-ons of this world. Yes we are human and we are prone to being a little ADHD about these things, if you will. But we need to constantly return our focus to our Father. And another thing that has become so appartent to me is how present He is in nature. I've always love nature, but lately it's seemed to come alive for me. Here's a movie quote that I found quite moving, it's from A River Runs Through It. "These river rocks were formed billions (I don't agree with that number, but go with it) of years ago, and under these rocks is the word of God." Notice the present tense....IS! It didn't say "under these rocks was the word of God", no....God is present in all His creation. We get so caught up in our busy lives and the noise and we are costantly asking Him for things and telling Him what we think is important, etc. When was the last time you stopped talking and LISTENED to Him? If you listen you can hear what He is trying to tell you. Go out and take a walk, listen to the nature around you. Go into a quiet room and turn off, yes I said turn of your cell phone, radio, IPod, etc and just close your eyes and listen in the silence. Then go read His word and be willing to listen for His voice. He constantly calls out to us, but I think that sometimes we are so self absorbed that we don't hear Him.


That has been my revelation thus far in the new year....well that and make one day a week laundry day . I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and God bless!