Resolving and whatnot...

I didn't/haven't made any official new year's resolutions yet, but there's plenty that needs to be "resolved" on the horizon in 2012.  Although Rome wasn't built in a day & all the resolving won't be complete in that time-frame either, I feel a little urgency given that we're in an "even" year and I feel due some goodness based on that...

Not really knowing where to start w.this inaugural post in this new year...so much to say, so much not worth saying - the railroad's stretching far and wide.  

I'll start with the homefront where the blessings are abounding as much as ever.  We now have two burgeoning little personalities on our hands - both going in totally opposite directions.  While one is often calm and sensitive, the other is wide open and bursting with curiosity and tenacity.  They keep us equally on our toes and there's not a dull moment to be had.  And despite the amount of "no's" we've proclaimed, the tears we've tried to squelch or general feeling of being as effective as banging our head against a wall (over and over and over again) - we still revel in the imminent joy we're blessed with being parents.  More specifically, being parents to John & Ella b/c in our completely biased opinions - it doesn't get any more awesome than those two :)

I am "back at work" (relatively speaking) in week #2.  Nothing is as it was and the roller coaster continues to roll on.  How I feel about that depends on day, time or hour you ask.  The emotions are all over the place, but consciously trying to be positive, patient and hopeful.  Some days this requires more consciousness than I possess.  That's ok, I know when I'm defeated and I forgive myself those moments.  

Thankfully, there are "nudges" at every turn reminding me what's important and giving perspective.  I never knew how loud the devil could be in life's hard moments.  Even though his discouraging voice feels deafening at times, I am thanking God for the sure and gentle reminders that His voice will always be louder and ring truer.

Some recent "nudges"...

Church sign passed daily on way to work..."resolve to trust God at all times" (noted & trying)

Excerpt from Max Lucado book that I don't have the moxy to finish right now...but letting this excerpt be on my forefront as the screen on my phone...

 

Marinating in daily texts that sometimes feel like God's speaking to me in that exasperated tone I use w.John when trying to convince him that what we're having for supper is not "disgusting"...trust me Lord, I feel your frustration :)  Today's is a great "for instance" - 

"I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:24

O Savior, you are Lord over our doubts and our confidence, our questions
and our convictions. You are with us when our faith trembles and when
your light fills our souls. Thank you for your faithfulness. Amen.

Yes, I know it's His faithfulness, the blessings before me and the lessons I'm learning (whether I like it or not) that are the reason I can put my feet on the floor in the morning and know that I'm ready to face whatever the day may bring.  And if I'm blessed, I'll get to wake up tomorrow to welcome whatever challenges and blessings come with it.  

So, what else...

Looking forward to meeting some new babies this year...baby girl Johnson & baby boy Rogerson!  Prayin' for and lovin' these babies already.  Tickled for Apes & Kimberly, excited for the blessings of motherhood that are awaiting them.  Only semi-sadly bagging things up to "pass along" knowing that the baby stuff's not getting too far out of reach.  Not that I anticipate needing any of it back, just softens the reality that my babies are not really babies and only less so with each day that passes.  

Speaking of not being babies - now when we pray, Ella reaches for Bubba's hand and is quick to interject her "Amen".  Joining hands as a family for the blessing...big sigh to that. 

So, that's about all I got for getting out the gate in 2012.  I got out of the gate, so that's at least some progress :)

Per this Story People, anxious for the "pen" of late to dry up and looking forward to what lies ahead in this new year.

Waiting for the pen to dry up so he can start fresh with thoughts that are worth new ink.

Along the lines of "new ink", another church sign passed lately...simple, but true "new year - new hope - new joy"...certainly looking and praying on all those accounts.

Speaking of joy -

Here's "calm & sensitive"...

And here's "wide open & bursting"...

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
love & blessings ~ me