The New Year, Aprons and Friends

Human beings are hardwired to hope, to desire forgiveness and to start over. Don't you think? Personally, I think this is because we are all hard wired to search after God. Thinking on this opportunity to start over everyday -- and this year in particular, I've been singing the song "Your mercies are new every morning". Actually, come to find out it's titled "The Steadfast Love" . . .
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The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases

His mercies never come to an end

They are new every morning, new every morning

Great is Thy faithfulness,

Oh Lord Great is Thy faithfulness.
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This song comes in part from Lamentations 3:22-24 (New International Version)
22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

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At the start of this new year, what ways will you be examining your life, looking for ways to improve and setting new goals? Here are a few of mine:

• Read through again the bible in total. It's been about 5 years since I last did. (Anyone want to join me?)


• Take time to exercise more regularly. In Serve God, Save the Planet Matthew Sleeth talks about how hard work around the house serves to provide exercise. And, it does to some degree -- but not quite enough. Thankfully, my exercise of choice is running. All it takes is about 45 minutes from beginning to end and a pair of running shoes. Thanks to my running buddy Bethanie, I usually manage to run once a week. This year, I'm joining up with some local women to run on a more frequent basis (look out Bethanie!).


• Cultivate the fruit of patience, gentleness and self control in my life. Galatians 5 talks about the Fruit of the Spirit in the life of a Christian. It says: "22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control." The gist of this is that as you become closer to God, through Jesus, the fruit (or the evidence) of your relationship with Him will flourish and grow. This fruit will be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When the boys are at each others throats and we are running late, the phone rings and the dog won't come inside -- I'm not the picture of patience, gentleness and self control.


• Make sure to spend quality time with friends! Don't you think, in this day and age so many people lose sight of investing in friendship? And, I don't mean texting someone, emailing someone or waving as you pass by -- I'm talking about inviting people that you see throughout your daily life over to your house for coffee or dinner or a glass of wine, for good meaningful conversation. Relationship is what life here on earth is all about -- PEOPLE. They expose our flaws and help us to improve. They make our lives rich. All of the verses in the bible are meaningless unless you "work them out" with people in meaningful relationships.
Having people over doesn't have to be fancy or complicated. On Sunday, with friends Michelle and Carl, we watched the Patriots win, but lose their opportunity to be in the playoffs, and chatted about nearly everything under the sun -- much to Victor's chagrin. Depending on the subject matter -- he teased us that we were being way to serious for football.
• Carve more off of our budget spending.
  
• Organize job lists and do a better job holding my children accountable to do them. Give my 9+ year old more responsibility.
  
• Attack problem areas of clutter. Recipes, pictures, crafts, the Laundry Room!
  

How about you?

I didn't mention to you that this Christmas was the YEAR of the APRON! A total of eight aprons were given on Christmas Day! I received 3!!! (Gee, what? Is it that obvious that I love to cook??) I thought you might like to see them. They are fabulous!

A Cupcake Apron . . .

A Ruffley Apron . . .

A Cheery Cherry Apron . . .

Ripley had fun with his friend Ian too . . . they had some fun with uh . . . milk.

While we were watching the Patriots, the boys were in the kitchen eating their pizza and . . . having a little fun.

Good grief.