New Year's Resolutions

Ok, I know I am a bit late on this since January is almost over, but our New Year had a rather busy beginning with visiting family. Besides the usual weight loss goals, I have been thinking of how easy it is to fall into the trap of being discontent, of wanting circumstances to always be different. I am currently living what I had always dreamed about...being happily married and staying home with my little one...and yet it is so easy to miss out on the joys of my present circumstances by always wishing for more.

My heart is so full of thankfulness when I think of how God has blessed! One thing I am thankful for is how my husband loves to surprise me and to make me laugh.

For instance...

... who would have believed that this beautifully wrapped Christmas gift...

... would be a promotional bobble-head doll from his work.

Ah yes...anyway... back to the resolutions... as I see how quickly our son is growing, I realize how important it is to enjoy each precious moment that God has given us. So along with the usual resolutions to be more organized, disciplined, lose weight etc, my goals are to be content and to be thankful for my circumstances (the good and the not so pleasant). I love Philippians 4, and how in the first half it talks about how we are to rejoice in the Lord and reminds how we are to focus our thought-life. The second half of the chapter talks about God's provision, such a wonderful chapter!!

Here is another picture of the growing boy...because I couldn't resist.

Grandmas and Green Thumbs

While I really love flowers and well cared for houseplants, I have never been very good at keeping them alive. This could be due in part to being busy working and forgetting to consistently water them. However, I have recently aquired a couple of new plants and am determined to take the best care of them.

One of my most poignant memories of my Grandma is how much she loved to grow things. Each summer a visit to Grandma's included a tour of her vegetable and flower gardens. When I see the colorful blooms of the african violet on my window sill, I am reminded of how it used to sit near my Grandma's special chair to cheer her during the winter months when she could not garden outside.

Next to the violet, sits this ivy, given in memory of Jason's Grandma.

This holiday season has in some respects been a sad one for Jason and I. The week of Thanksgiving we said good-bye to Jason's Grandma.

...and shortly after New Year's day my Grandma went to be with the Lord.


Two Grandmothers both leaving a legacy of their deep love for God. While I enjoy growing plants inside when things are bleak during the winter months, these plants are also daily reminders to me of two women who had lives well lived, and inspiration for me to do the same.

A Try at Blogging

Well, I am not making any promises as to how great a blogger I will be, but I am going to make an attempt. Here are a couple of pictures of LG during our recent visit to the family.

First he is enjoying his first slice of orange at Papa and Mimi's house.

In the second pic is a face we are seeing quite frequently on him with the lower lip sucked in.

This third pic is an unofficial "Christmas picture" of LG.

I had to include this final pic of LG's uncle. It was too good to resist...
That's about it for now. I am hoping to keep at this with some regularity. We'll see how it goes.