Merry Christmas!

We've been waiting all year (literally, we love Christmas) for this special week! We are looking forward to heading home and seeing family and friends! The long 22 hr. over 2 days drive will be greatly rewarded when we arrive Thursday evening to hugs from people we love dearly. We are looking forward to seeing the sweet faces of our nieces and nephews (all 6 of them) and pouring on them love and kisses! All for the most special celebration- the Birth of our Savior! As I was buying and preparing gifts for the ones I love, I couldn't help but think of the greatest gift of all- He was born 2000 years ago in manger and lived to die for us! One of my favorite Bible stories is told by Luke in the 2nd chapter of his gospel and it goes like this:

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Luke 2: 8-14

As we enter this most wonderful celebration let us remember the real reason for the season- Jesus and his birth and all that he has done for us!

And as we say here in Texas...

New Year's Resolutions- 2011

I know you must be thinking I'm some kind of nut for already thinking about New Year's Resolutions, its not even Christmas! But I have been prayerfully considering what goals I would like to set for 2011 and its time to start!



1. Start and keep a blog (i.e what you are reading). I've really gone back and forth as to whether or not I want to keep up with a blog, but I've decided it was something I want to do. Our time here at SWBTS is flying by so quickly and I want to document all that happens (to look back and see where God has brought us from, and see all that we have learned), and to share specific prayer requests and praise reports!



2. Spend less time on Facebook. (I'm sure you're thinking "She's really gone off the deep end!") I spend way too much time just sitting on Facebook and "stalking people", so it's time to step back and put into practice Philippians 4:8, which says "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things." {FB is NOT bad, I just spend too much time on there and need to find more productive things to do during the day!}



3. Health- I already go to the gym 3-4 days a week, and eat fairly healthy, but I'd like to be better! I tend to backslide on the weekends, so I'd like to try and keep up with my healthy habits even on the weekend.



4. Personal Quiet Time-

Part 1:I found a reading plan that is a 180 day plan. Its a good overview of the Bible and has chapters to read from every book of the Bible. But I'm not going to be starting this January 1st because I am currently still completing the plan that I started the beginning of this year, and I'd like to finish it before I start a new one. My goal is to start my new plan in February.

Part 2: Memorize one verse a month. (I know that sounds really small, but I usually try for the "one verse a week" plan, but I always fail and get discouraged, so I am trying something a little more manageable.)



I'm excited to start a new year and am looking forward to all that God has planned for us in 2011!

Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Happy New Year!