I learned....

........There is no Person I need more in my life--need approval from, love from, correction from, etc. than Nathan Jones. No other person compares to the goodness and decency of Nathan Jones. I have experienced a large hurt in this past year and he has been the solace and stone for my soul and heart. He amazes me in his calm and compassion. There will never be a year which passes that I will not re-learn this lesson.

........I need to learn to be nice to people I do not respect. I have found if I have no respect for a person I do not want to be acquainted with them. This is a fault I found recurring in myself in 2008. I plan on working on being more a giver of Grace.

........Family does not have to be defined by blood or legal obligation. Sometimes the people who love you the best or are your go to people are not blood or legally related to you. "There is a friend who is truer than a brother" is in my estimation a biblical Truth with a capital T.

........Authenticity is a trait in myself and others I find very important. On the converse, a lack of authenticity, in my opinion, is the most unattractive trait in a person. I need to be more tolerant of fake voices, fake smiles, fake life styles, fake friends, fake people, and etc. But I really don't want to be more tolerating of those things.

.......My children are very loyal. Sometimes it is hard to protect them or keep them unaware of things going on in life that you would rather them not be privy too. I really learned how in tune my children are to what is going on around them. This is a blessing and a curse. I have learned, for now, they will be on my side, even if I am in the wrong. That is humbling. It makes me want to be more noble and honorable.

......There is nothing too small or unimportant that it is not worth taking to God in prayer. If it is on my mind, I have found it is best to take it to God. I no longer believe he is uninterested in the minutia of life.

......Camping with your family is a great idea and being in the wilderness causes great conversations to happen. NO PHONES, NO TV, No DISTRACTIONS equals happy, happy times.

.....Living outside of the city limits is worth the drive, even when gas is expensive. I have felt more in tune with the creation of God since we moved in April. The sparkling evening stars, the odd creatures in our yard, the most amazing unobstructed views of sunrises and sunsets. I don't ever want to move---I have not said that since I was 14 years old.

.....There comes a time to get off the computer and be with people who you can see. (goodnight!)

So the first day of 2009 will come to a close for me just on the other side of this entry's end. It has been a very productive one for me. I decided that January 1 would be the start of my goal keeping rather than the normal January 2. It feels good to be 1/365th into my goal for the year!

Nathan and I have put ourselves on a pretty tight budget. I have decided no matter how well you try to live within your means, medical bills will be the undoing of our financial future. We had accumulated a total of $14,000 in medical bills over the last 2.5 years. We are down to $1100. We are hoping to have that at $0 before March 1. I have turned in all plastic cards that work as money and my checkbook. I have very cute labeled envelopes with cash sitting in them. I decided to keep a checkbook register of where my cash is going. I am sure I will see what I am no longer able to blow money on right away! The good news is, that once the medical bills are out of the way, we will begin saving for the work on my kitchen. I am so excited to get this last piece of the inside of the house taken care of. So exciting!

March should be a very exciting month for us...if I can keep myself focused I will have reached my goal weight by the end of March. I have been doing Weight Watchers since mid-October, and I am down 30 lbs. My christmas present from Nathan was to have a family portrait done--I have opted to wait until April. I would love to have pictures done on the beach (Kyle?).

So far I see that the first part of this year will include budgeting dollars and calories.

Tomorrow we are going to Nashville to let the kids make bears courtesy of their aunts. We will then meet up with my friend Lori for a movie date to see Despereaux. The children are very excited.


Happy New Year's. May the Lord bless you in this year.