Teenagers Say the Darndest Things

After months of neglect, I decided to check out my blog and was sorely disappointed. For starters, my sister, Lori Beth, changed my background and it looks more blah than it did before. She was trying to be helpful, but her "helpfulness" stopped midstream and left me with a pasty, milky white background. Thank you, Lori Beth... (And if you are reading this...I love you dearly!) Secondly, I haven't posted even a single sentence since January. (Has it REALLY been that long?!?) Considering one of my "resolutions" was to "write, write, write", this fact is highly pathetic. Hence, this post.

For several years now my God-loving, church going, aspiring missionary of a daughter (age 16), Savannah, has expressed the desire to have a llama. Yes, a LLAMA! Tonight she learned that friends of mine have a llama on their farm, and that simple fact sparked a revelation. "Mom," she say. "I don't even know if they come this small, but I would like a llama this tall..." Sitting on the floor in the living room, she holds her hands up about two feet from the carpet and continues. "... And it could follow me and spit on people I don't like!" After further reflection, she decided this was not a good idea after all...

Living Life With No Regrets

This past year, like most, was filled to the brim with new experiences, unforgettable memories and a challenge or two (maybe even three or four).

I was blessed with the opportunity to renew relationships with Dwayne and Melissa, two of my good friends from long, long ago. It stills amazes me how ten or twenty years can pass and yet with that special person, it seems as if time has stood still.

One of my saddest 2010 memories was when Heather, Bryan, and the kids moved back to Alaska. Heather and I did our best to avoid any conversation having to do with the upcoming move which was good cause we both would have been in tears. When the day came for them to leave, I was strong and held back the tears until they drove off - a first for me!!

On a positive note, I held a snake, a rabbit and a rat which is saying a lot for someone who is a scaredy cat when it comes to animals. Bug, spiders, frogs and lizards still creep me out, but I'll work on overcoming those fears this year.

Today at church the sermon was about living life with no regrets - learning from the past, taking risks, and choosing to live your life with God-shaped values. It was definitely a message fitting for a new year. I'm thankful that God loves me despite my failures and shortcomings, and I'm looking forward to seeing how God works in my life. After all, He promises good things.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

I didn't make a new year's resolution, but here are some of the things I hope to work on, some things I hope to do, and some goals I hope to accomplish this year:

• Memorize scripture.
  
• OVERCOME some of my ridiculous fears. If other people can hold lizards and pick up frogs I can, too!!
  
• Let loose my artsy side and CREATE.
• PRAY more, do what I can, and TRUST God to take care of the rest.
• Write, write, write!!!
  
• LOVE others and look for ways to SERVE.
• LIVE simply but passionately.
  
• Be CONTENT.