Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2012! So far, it been a pretty good year. I know we're only 3 days in, but my Alma Mater won the Fiesta Bowl and I'm super excited about it!!! I've made two resolutions for this year. For the last few years, I've tried to keep my resolutions simple. At least, simple in words...and not more than 2 resolutions. On top of the simple resolutions, I've tried the "101 in 1001" or something like that and the lists of things to keep up with and measure every month. But, I've found that if I can keep it simple with only two things to focus on, then I really work on the goals I've set.

It all started in 2003. It was by "accident". I had broken up with my college boyfriend a few months before Christmas and I was utterly heartbroken. The goal I set for for 2004 was to "get through one day at a time". I knew if I could just get through each day of that year, then I would have gotten through all the "firsts" without him. I cried a lot that year, so my resolution for 2005 was to "cry less". I broke out of my shell that year. There were a lot of things I realized about myself. I had fun, but I was still hurting and tried to "fix" things in my life to work out how I wanted them to in the moment. Of course, they still didn't work out how I expected, and, thankfully, God was working outside of me trying to do HIS job. For 2006, my resolution was "less drama". :) While that year had less "drama", it was full of great memories. Serving in the college ministry, seeing my best friend get married, and I bought a house! Actually, as I think about that year, it had a little drama. There was someone in my life that was constantly telling me what I could and couldn't do, who I could and couldn't be friends with, and that I was too "old" to be friends with college students (I was only 28)...and I let him. I allowed someone to dictate my life for a whole year! So my resolution for 2007 was to "have fun". And, fun I had!!! I did exactly what I wanted to do and didn't really care about the consequences. There were times I lost my witness because of it, but I was tired of being "good". By the end of the year, I started realizing that I wasn't living the life that I truly wanted to. I wasn't being a fully-devoted follower of Christ. I was ready for a serious change! My resolution for 2008 was to "ACT OUT a godly adult-life and make godly decisions" and I wanted to "be a good steward of what God had given me". I made some tough decisions that year, but knew I was making the godly decisions I needed to make. Single life wasn't easy, but it was better than settling for whoever walked into my life. I'm so thankful for the wait because God allowed me to meet my sweet husband! Up to this point, I was really proud of how well I'd kept my resolutions.

Enter 2009. I went away from my "simple" plan and, as a result, didn't do my best. I thought I was keeping it simple by saying the resolution was "live healthy", but I had a list to follow: workout more, eat less, more bible study, and keep a clean house. I did well with the workouts and bible studies, but my life didn't change in the food and cleaning house departments. I made it too difficult. When I try to do too much, I end up not focusing on all areas.

In 2010, I thought I would try something different. I picked a verse to meditate on for the year. I had good intentions of memorizing the passage and really using it throughout the year. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. I did learn to seek the Lord in my fears of the unknown, but I had a hard year spiritually. God used that year to grow me in ways that I wasn't expecting and I was definitely ready for the year to end.

I was SO glad to see 2011!!! And, I went back to my simple resolution! "Eat less". This was my year to break my stronghold of food! I'm proud to say that I am in a totally different place today than I was last year at this time! Praise the Lord! He has brought me here. I still have bad habits I battle, lies I have to conquer with TRUTH, and I'm still learning that its hard work to break this addiction. Its not an easy, overnight fix, but last year allowed me to focus on my relationship with the Lord and defeating this stronghold!

Now for 2012. My resolution for this year is "to extend more grace" and "read more". I've realized in the last couple years, I've become very cynical with people. We live in a world where it seems that every day breeds more and more entitlement. Its ugly! I find myself getting frustrated with people that walk around with only themselves on their mind. Is their behavior okay? No. However, my goal this year is to extend grace to people that I think don't deserve it. None of us deserve the grace that God freely gives us! I don't deserve it! You don't deserve it. So, who am I to not extend grace to others? My prayer is that I will find ways to show people God's love through grace. This will be tough for me...but I look at it as an attitude adjustment. Looking at people through God's eyes and not my own.

And, finally to read more. I stick myself in front of the TV way too often. Its time for a change! I'm not looking to read meaningless riff-raff, but things that will make me think and allow me to grow. I'm not saying there won't be some "girly" books thrown in every once in awhile, but I really want to read things that I won't feel are "time wasters" like TV has become.

So, there you have it! Resolutions for the year! Simple. Doable. Life-changing. Christ-representing!

Happy New Year!