New Beginnings: rain and sunshine

The picture above is of the house plants on the front porch back in June. We had a large rain shower and put all the house plants out to be properly cleaned of dust. The last few days have been filled with rain. Rain, gray skies, and gray moods. Plus the yard does not look nearly as green as it did in June, but before I finish my thought:

I've noticed that many people (and myself) tend to take the holidays as a time to slack off, eat what they shouldn't, stay up late, scratch schedule and productivity with excuses for celebrating and "...But it's Christmas!". Then when New Year's eve ends we get back to the grind, frantically looking for a sheet of paper to scribble our resolutions on as we start over...again. I am not trying to write a guilt trip-I'm to blame, too.

It's a new year! January is a special month to refresh, rejuvenate and reevaluate our life and priorities.
Schedules begin their familiar hum and holiday sweets disappear. No. It's not a good thing that we slacked. (I am talking to myself here) We should be constantly guarding ourselves against laziness and making each holiday and break, more about Christ and less about our enjoyment. Let us not be discouraged or weary.

The past few days have been making me think that sometimes God sends rain on our lives.  Refreshing? Yes. Rejuvanating? Yes. Sometimes God sends hard times to strengthen our faith. If we get into bad habits and get out of good habits, God will continue to grow us, strengthen us, stretch us and discipline us. When your nice and healthy with foliage and greenery, rain is wonderful. Growth is seen quickly. When plants are dead and rain comes -especially in the Winter- growth is slow and sometimes the rain might even freeze the plants. But as with rain and clouds the sun will come out and joy, health, and strength will abide in our hearts.

As we spend each day serving God, we will all grow and learn. (Maybe learn a few lessons the hard way) Through this year there will be rain, clouds and sunshine, and God will be our strength and our joy.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 
                     1 Corinthians 3:7

How is God growing you?

It's a new year...

...A fresh new year with no mistakes {yet}and twelve whole months of adventures to come! How exciting.

2011 is here! Are you ready? My list is made out of plans and resolutions...now time to follow through.

Thank God for a new year. May you have a beautiful new year!  God bless you all.

New year's resolution

This year I have a couple goals that I want to accomplish. Here they are:

Learn how to cook. Yes, I know how to cook, but not very well. ( I know how to cook scrambled eggs and pancakes, but that's about all.)I rarely cook so I don't get my chance to learn very often. My mom has already told us that we have to cook ten meals for the whole year. So we know more about cooking. My hope is to, at the least, cook two meals each month. I don't particularly have a desire to cook but, I need to learn if I want to be a mother and wife. :) I am sure I'll like it more when I know how to. :)


Learn to Crochet. I don't know how to crochet but I really want to learn. I've tried to, by reading books but not much has come from it. Miss Rachel has given me some helpful links and book ideas.

I also want to get better at knitting. The only way is to knit. So, I've been working on a blanket. It's nothing fancy. Just a blanket. I do not know when it will be finished it will probably take quite a while. :)


Learn to speed read. I am a very slow reader. I really need to take the time to read but it always takes me so long that I get frustrated. Hopefully I'll be able to read a lot faster soon.


Increase my knowledge and skill in Piano and Violin.The only way I can do this is practice, practice, practice!!! :-)


Increase my skill in writing. I have been working on a story. It is 16 pages long and I am only half way done. I am making it for my sister Abby for Christmas. I gave her the first half on Christmas and I hope to finish it soon. We have a great writing program which we use in our school work so this will also help me. :)


Read the scriptures more often. I love reading the bible but I need to do it more often, by myself and with my family.


Less time blogging. I spend too much time blogging and looking at others blogs. This will be hard but I must stop spending so much time on the computer.


That's about it for now!

I am also thinking of changing the template of my blog. Something elegant, simple and something that matches with a lot.

Have any ideas on where I could get a free one or have someone make me one?
Thanks! :-)



Do you have any resolutions?


Blessings throughout your day and year!

A New Year

The balloon tree and the banner. (The twins helped a bit on that.)
The sparklers

I hope you had a wonderful New Year's Eve and have a great first day of 2010!

The Lord has blessed my family so much and I can't wait for a whole new year and see what God has in store for my life and many around us.

I am so happy, being alive for another year! 2o10! A new year and a new decade!

We enjoyed sort of two new years. First with our brothers by celebrating early with them. We put balloons on our tree and at midnight we pop all of them. This time we did it early with Sam and Joe joining in the fun. They loved their New year! All the big noises were fun for them and they knew it was an exciting time. I am not sure they really understand it's a New year. :)

Then on midnight we watched the peach drop and then went outside. Our neighbors down the street do fire works each year. So we always look forward to watching them. :-) Our neighbors really have some great fire works. After all of that excitement, we enjoyed our sparklers. New year's is a very exciting time for our family. I hope yours was just as special as mine. :-)



Many blessings to you all this year and I hope God will bless in many ways!