New Year, New Me...hopefully :)

Wow. The start of this new year has made me realize just how much I have taken for granted over the past year. Yes, I have been very thankful at times, when it is appropriate, but there also have been many more times when I have failed to acknowledge the Source of Life and the fact that every good thing I have comes from God my Savior. There is nothing that I have that has not been given to me, in some form or another. This morning when I woke up I journaled for a bit and prayed for a bit, asking God to really transform my life and show me the things that I need to change about myself, and reveal the things that are holding me back from becoming the person that He wants me to be. I tend to be so many of the things that I am called NOT to be...selfish, quick to speak, quick to become frustrated or angry, impatient, not loving others unconditionally, and not very joyful at all.

That is not the person that I want to be. Not at all.

This brought me to think about some of my new year's resolutions. Some are a little personal, but most just have to do with the way I live my life, every single day.

1. I want to pray more for others, instead of just always for myself. This comes with becoming unselfish and recognizing others' problems and the fact that they are as significant, if not more, than your own. I want to get there so bad!!!!!!!! I just wanna stop thinking of myself so much.

Jake is a perfect example of that. He came and sat with me for 6 days (!!!) after my surgery. What guy does that? He was so incredibly attentive and affectionate and always made sure that I was comfortable and that I didn't need anything. He never once complained about the fact that we were sitting around doing nothing and he was probably bored out of his mind. Nope, he just made sure I didn't need anything and said that he would've stayed a month if that's how long it would've taken me to feel better. Wow. He is so unselfish...I know I can learn alot from him :)

2. I want to start mangaging my money in a way that is pleasing to God and not just spending it on little things or going out to eat flippantly....I've really been convicted of that and I know that I need to start saving anyways. I am going to start keeping track of every little thing on paper, instead of just online, and see what percentage of my money is going where, and make sure I am being a good steward of the things that God has given me. Because I don't have an income and clearly, money doesn't grow on trees last time I checked....man, wouldn't that be nice. haha.

3. I plan to spend more quality time in the Word this year. Reading a chapter or 2 a day is NOT enough, no matter what I want to tell myself. The only way that I am going to grow closer to the Lord and really become more like Him is when I start really getting deep into his Word and studying the details of Him and who He is. I am pretty excited about it too! Now only to figure out which book to start in...they're all so good!

4. The last one that I will share publicly (haha) is to learn to enjoy the little things more...to really savor the special moments in my life instead of always trying to hurry my life along. "Stop and smell the roses" I guess is a good cliche for that one...but I wanna do it in my own way ya know. Really learn to slow down and live the sweet little moments in life.

my family is one of the precious things in my life, and I hope I never take any of them for granted...