A Post-Holiday Post

It's that time of year again.  That time of year when I get in a bit of a funk.  That time of year when I'm forced to think about those nasty things called New Year's resolutions. (Blah!)  And then I realize they're the same stinkin' ones as the year before.  And the fact is not much has changed.  And that fact is what sends me into my state of gloom. (That and the fact that I have to take my Christmas tree down.) So I tell myself that I am not going to make any this year, but deep down I know that's a bunch of bull, because there is so much that I want to learn.  Want to change.  Want to be better at.  But I'm not even going to talk about those things right now.  Because when I talk about them and don't follow through with them, well, then I feel like even more of a loser.

I recently purchased a devotional book to do with my kiddos at night.  Little did I know that it would speak to me way more than it did to them.  Last night's was about a little girl who had big plans to be a missionary someday and to go to faraway places and tell people about the gospel who had never heard it before.  But when her mother asked her to go on visitation and talk to some girls who had just moved into her neighborhood, she said she would rather go skating.  Ouch! That little message backfired and stepped right on my toes.  Sometimes I just get so focused on the big picture and doing such great things, that I don't pay attention to or bypass the small things that I could be doing daily.  Right here.  Right now.  That's true in my life in not just mission work, but in many different areas.  So I'm not going to call it a New Year's resolution, (because quite frankly, I just don't like those stupid things) but I'm going to say that it is my goal this year  to quit talking the talk, and just start walking the walk.  And to be content starting out with baby-steps, because those baby-steps are just as important as the giant leaps.

Let me just say that by NO means do I have ANY reason to be in a funk, because I have SO SO SO much to be grateful for! And although, I this is how I feel about the holiday season going by so fast...

I am extremely grateful for the times we had together and the wonderful people that I got to share it with.  (And I apologize in advance for all of the pictures, but I have lots of catching up to do.)

That face.  It's one of my favorite things about Christmas morning. 

Anna Grace's letter to Santa next year may go something like this..."Dear Santa, Please make sure when you bring a bike that you tighten the petal so that it doesn't fall off  the first time I ride it." Oops!

 And Nonna almost broke her ankle Christmas morning trying out the Pogo stick.

And this trip...loved every minute of it.  I'm ready to go back.  Like right now.

This morning was one of the highlights of my trip.  Watching the sunrise with Noah, my Mom, and well, Gideon the crane.  Once again,  I stood in awe of God's handiwork!  The pictures don't even do it justice. 

How cute are my Mom & Dad?!