jumbled up

So, I have a lot of thoughts going through my mind. Thoughts about family. Thoughts about work. Thoughts about church. Thoughts about Christianity. Thoughts about marriage. Thoughts about the future. Thoughts about friends and so-called friends. Thoughts about exercise. Thoughts about growing. Thoughts about learning. Thoughts about thankfulness. Thoughts about forgiveness. Thoughts about boldness. See? I told you there was a lot.

Instead of trying to sort all these thoughts out, I usually just divert my attention to laundry or sleep or popcorn. I'm deciding now that I'm not going to do that. I'm going to pick one of those thoughts and actually think about it.

So. I pick...uh, ...oh, I guess I pick thankfulness.

I'm really not by nature a thankful person. Sure, I do appreciate words or gestures of kindness or love by others. Sadly, I don't always let the person know how much I appreciate them or thank them. Does that mean I'm rude? Does that mean I'm selfish? Probably. Something I never do is thank people just for who they are. There have been times in my personal worship time I thank God just for who He is just because He is...Himself. I don't do it enough. I don't thank my husband for just being himself. I don't appreciate him for who he is just as he is. Usually I'm annoyed by some petty little thing he does. I don't appreciate my kids for who they are. I'm not having a pity party. Rather, I think this could be called an awakening. I have great kids. I have an amazing husband. An even more than that, I have an awesome Savior and best friend. It kind of scares me to wonder if they even know how I feel about them.

And why? Why don't I do this more often? Because I'm selfish.

Forgive my selfishness, God. Help my husband and my kids forgive me for being so self-centered. Help me love the gifts you have given me in my family. Thank you for my husband. Thank you for my kids.

I think I'll plan to have some appreciation talks this week.

a new dawn, a new day, a new life...

Here is what has been happening in my life over the most recent weeks...in pictures.

My sister and her family came to visit. This is my awesome niece, Katie.

We celebrated Holly's 18th birthday a little early while Terri was in town.

Terri was able to watch Aaron play basketball and Holly cheering. Katie wore her cheerleader outfit to the game "just like Holly's."

Our church youth group put on a Christmas drama that the youth pastors wrote. It was amazing. The drama was called Natus Est meaning He is Born in Latin. This was before the production on the second night.

My oldest son, Devon, played Adam. Here God is giving Adam authority over the earth. Dev did an amazing job in his role.

I left my camera laying on one of the chairs, and these crazy girls got a hold of it. Asia, Holly, Zoe and Janelle.

We got our daughter a Blackberry for her 18th birthday, her first phone. This was her reaction when she opened her present. Pretty sweet.

My parents and the boys and I went down to Brookside for the first annual New Year's Eve street party...supposed to be something like Times Square in New York. It was alright. The boys got their picture taken with Julie Chin, the channel 2 meteorologist.

I didn't really understand why there were medievel people dressed up and walking around, but Dev wanted his picture taken with one of them.

This is mom and I trying to stay warm and wondering if it's midnight yet. It's a good thing we bought those tights at Wal-Mart!

The boys and I are trying to get on tv. The news people were doing a live spot right out front. Dev is holding the light saber sword looking thing. You can't really see me or Aaron...but we are there...on tv.

Happy New Year!