Happy New Year 2010!

Soooo, I did not post at all the month of December.... I guess it was a busy month with a couple of birthdays, several parties, and Christmas. I did however remember to start a post of each of our two birthday kids actual birthdays so I could come back to them later and have it look like I did it on that day... But I'm not foolin' anyone. I just wasn't in the blogging mood. So I will do my best to get caught up, because we had a WONDERFUL month with so many fun things. I also learned some great lessons, more about my Savior, and read a life-changing book. These will hopefully be coming soon, but it doesn't really matter because I'm mostly doing this blog to chronicle the things I'm learning and the activities we did that (I'm sure someday) the kids will enjoy looking back on.

New Year's Resolutions?

I have had a few in the past that really stick out to me. One was a resolution to read through my Bible in a year and I did a great job until the last month and I ended up like 13 chapters short by the 31st. Really? I'll just blame it on high school, cause that's when that one was.

Another year when I was in college I made a resolution to not watch any rated R movies. I did accomplish this one and am glad I did. My mind is pretty weak and I struggle with saying swear words in my mind after I've heard them a lot or I would have violent dreams after seeing too much of that. It was disappointing to not be able to watch the really good ones that everyone recommends. But I enjoyed the experience so much I have kept up that resolution since then. I'm definitely not saying that everyone should do that. But for me it was a really good solution.

I have made a few exceptions over the years. I decided that if the movie was historically accurate and was not just gratuitous, I would go ahead and watch. I ended up seeing Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's list, and Deloris Claiborne....among a few other which I can't remember right now. OK! No. Deloris Claiborne is completely not historically important! I ended up having to watch it for a Psychiatry class assignment in nursing school and I didn't make the request to be assigned an alternate movie until it was too late.

I'm kinda stuck on this one resolution huh? Well, I want to record one more story that I want the kids to know... I think I heard it on Focus on the Family. It was a story told by a father of teenagers. They came to him one day and asked to go to a movie. It was up for an academy award, had A-list actors, and had gotten great reviews. "The only thing is," they said, "there is a little bit of nudity and just a couple swear words. But other than that it's a great movie!" The dad wisely said, "I'll think about it." So after a while, he called the kids into the kitchen. He said, "I have thought about the movie and have decided to let you go. But before you do, I want you to eat these brownies I just made." The kids were excited! "I made these with the best ingredients. The finest chocolate." As they reached for the brownies, the dad mentioned one last detail... "The only thing is I mixed in a little bit of dog poop. I'm sure the oven killed any bacteria and I only put a little bit in. But if you eat it I'll let you go to the movie." They did not eat them or go to the movie and while I'm sure they were really disappointed, they (and I) learned a really important lesson about the filth we allow into our bodies (and minds).

Other New Year's resolutions have been losing weight, trying to be better at something, etc... I get pretty frustrated with myself when I don't end up failing. So I guess that's why I don't really make them anymore.

Our Pastor had a great sermon on New Year's Day a couple of years ago. He related our "eating" the Word of God and spending time in each day to the Israelites eating of manna in the desert. I had not really thought of it that way before. He talked about how God 's Word gives life and nourishment and yet we still occasionally complain about it sounding the same or becoming boring. God instructed the Israelites to gather the manna every day and to only gather what they needed for that day. When they tried to store it and gather more than they needed, it would rot by the next morning. Likewise, we cannot expect to be able to gorge ourselves with God's Word one day a week and expect it to properly nourish us for the other 6. He wants us the read and spend time with Him daily and to continue to be thankful for His provision at all times.

His sermon was MUCH more eloquent than I have just described, but I wanted to include that because, while I am not making a true resolution, this year I want to be the person that is diligent to gather the manna daily and to be thankful for it every day as well. It was miraculous that God sent that manna for the Israelites and it is miraculous that He sent His Son to save us. And he is truly everything we will ever need!

So here's to 2010! May we be thankful for our blessings and gather manna daily!