New Year - New Goals

I think the turn of the year is a wonderful time to set goals...start out fresh...it's a time I love to clean out closets, purge the things we don't need and look forward with anticipation to what the Lord has in store for our family. Below is my top 10 Goals for 2011...


1. Spend more time reading the Bible. I want to memorize more scripture where it is the first thought that comes to mind when I encounter moments of anxiety, fear, anger and sadness. I want those who I encounter to know I am without a question a believer of Christ.


2. Spend more time with family. Several friends have lost family members this year and it reminds me how precious life is...how short our time here on earth is and how I long for the day we will spend eternity in heaven.


3. Spend less time worrying about the things I can't control. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6 Why is this so incredibly hard for me? This leads me into goal #4...


4. PRAY. I want to pray for E...that she would accept Christ...and pray for her future husband. I want to pray for the daddy...that he is able to be a light for Christ in our dark world. I want to seek His wisdom as a mom and wife for every decision I make.


5. Spend more time with E...wow...can't believe she starts kindergarten in the Fall...sniff sniff. I want to spend more time reading to her...playing with dolls....dressing up...drawing...and playing games. Doing the things that matter most. I want to help her memorize scripture...and continue guiding her on how we pray. 


6. Spend less time on my computer...nuff said


7. Read more...more about Christ...more about parenting and maybe a little for fun


8. Quit drinking diet coke...since having E, I have created a terrible habit of drinking several cans (sometimes 6-8 a day...yikes!)


9. RUN...I was doing so good last spring running...I was able to complete a 10K in less than 52 minutes...and I want to be doing that again! First 10K is scheduled for February...must go run...


10. Give to others...our family is so incredibly blessed...I want to be more intentional about giving to those in need...whether that is through gifts or giving of my time. 'Tis better to give than to receive...


Til next time... 

2010 - An Amazing Year

1/1/11 - Wow where did 2010 go? Our family has had an amazing year! I am starting a blog as a visual scrapbook for our family. I want to be more intentional about capturing precious memories. What better way to start than to reflect on the past year...God has greatly blessed us!!

In January we took an amazing trip with our best friends. We took a Princess Cruise to the caribbean. While the daddy and I have taken several short trips and a nice trip to California, this was our first trip with friends since sweet E was born. It was an incredible time with many memories made...

E ran her first Polar Bear Run at the end of January...she was so cute!!

We celebrated her birthday too...4 years!! We had fun with friends visiting from out of town, a yummy Cinderella cake and a visit to Chuck-E-Cheese. So thankful for our E and how she blesses our lives each day!

In February E and the daddy went to the Father Daughter Dance at our church and had a wonderful time...

In March, E started softball (boy was it cold)...it was so cute to watch her play...not sure if it's her sport as she spent more time kicking dirt in the outfield than catching the softball. We also placed our house on the market...asking for God to sell it in His perfect timing...

The Spring brought many celebrations...we traveled to our favorite beach (Litchfield) for Spring break...and while we were gone the daddy found a house and put an offer on it even before this momma saw it!! We praised God for selling our house in 4 shorts weeks. God is so good! We also took Sarah out for dinner to celebrate her 21st birthday at Flip Burger Boutique...yum! Allie turned two in April and her mommy Rebecca threw a fun Minnie Mouse party. The same weekend we celebrated Easter...the birth of the risen Son...

May was very special as Amanda graduated from nursing school (I am so incredibly proud of her...she is now working at Piedmont on a cardiac unit)...a good friend was baptized...we closed on our new house and I turned 30! We celebrated my birthday weekend with sweet friends at a wonderful cabin and spa! 

June was a crazy month as we moved into our new home after renovations...we had the ceilings smoothed...new appliances...granite and blacksplash added in kitchen and the entire house painted. There is still much to do but we feel so blessed to have moved to a new home this year. It is closer to our family, friends and church! 

July started with the fam (mom, dad, Amanda and I) running the Peachtree Road Race...a tradition for our family for over 25 years. We then spent two weeks at our favorite beach (again!!) with our best friends and had an amazing time. This year was extra special because we celebrated Rebecca's birthday and her husband Spencer surprised her with a Kenny Chesney/Zach Brown Band cover band private concert. It was awesome and made the beach time so very special! We also held the 2nd Annual Pelipalooza...a morning spent with games and races parents again kids...so so fun!!

In August, E started her last year at the Wee School at our church. I am so excited about her starting kindergarten this coming fall but it makes me sad we are done with preschool! She is such a joy to be home with everyday and I know I am going to miss her so much when she is gone each day in the fall. E goes to school three days a week from 9:30-1 PM while I work part-time at the church. 

In September, we celebrated the 40th birthday of a very dear friend and partied in Hilton Head, South Carolina. It was a very special weekend and one will always cherish and laugh about thinking about all the fun memories! We spent the weekend eating amazing food, riding a boat, driving around in a golf cart and laying out by the pool. So thankful for my wonderful parents who kept her for the entire weekend!

E also began soccer and seemed to really enjoy the sport...we loved watching her play every Saturday...and look forward to many more games in the future!

In October, our sweet niece Isabella turned 1! She had a very special party and we loved being a part of it...and E loved seeing her cousins...

We celebrated Halloween...E dressed up as Ariel from the Little Mermaid and we carved two pumpkins...one Cinderella and one Ariel. So fun! E loved trick-r-treating with her best friends!

In November E and I went with sweet friends to the Coke Museum in Atlanta. E loved getting to try soda for the first time! She would tell you it was the highlight of her month!

December was a very busy month as I co-chaired our church's Women's Christmas Events. Everything went great and there were over 10 first-time decisions. So thankful for these sweet ladies who's lives are forever changed! The same weekend, our church hosted Christmas Packages...we love attending this fun event each year! E's 4 year-old choir sang...and was so sweet. The daddy and I also participated in our church's Choir Christmas Concert, "Christmas Festival". The daddy had to travel the week before Christmas so as soon as he returned home we raced to enjoy the season...riding the Pink Pig, visiting Santa, viewing Christmas lights, enjoying yummy hot chocolate, making a Happy Birthday Jesus cake, opening our Christmas Eve present...pj's...and celebrating Christmas! 

Christmas morning was magical...we had a white Christmas! Ella received so many precious gifts...a trampoline, belle costume, cardboard house, books and fun game...but the most precious gift...and one we celebrate all throughout the year...Jesus! We enjoyed singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and eating the yummy peach cake.