A Personal Day

One day last week I had the opportunity for 6 hours all to myself. As a stay-at-home mom that doesn't happen very often. So, I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish with high hopes of getting all of them done. Of course, that didn't happen, but I did have a full day! Every year in January I go through our past photos and pick about 30 of our favorites from the year and place them in a collage frame. I have bought the same frame for the past 5 years from Michaels. Then throughout the year, I keep a special envelope of photos that I think will work in those particular spots in the frame. I had such a good time going through and placing the photos and reminiscing over our vacation photos, birthday photos, family gatherings, and just plain silliness. It was such a perfect day for me to spend alone in my own thoughts. I realized how blessed I truly am. What do you do to keep your family memories preserved? The kids were so excited to see which photos made the frame this year. They loved talking about each photo and what we were doing at the time. We have just finished our basement, so I have the perfect hallway that all of these collage frames are going to be placed to share with others. My "day off" didn't give me time to catch up on my reading, or time to take a nap, but it did fill me full of joy and laughter and reminded me of all the blessings in my life.

Holding a grudge

In December I let go of a grudge that I had been holding for 15 years. I ran into the person and just decided I was going to forgive him and let it go. I can not tell you how good that felt. I instantly felt so much lighter. I have no idea if he was holding a grudge against me, but I needed to let go of that resentment and hate that I had been holding in. We had a nice conversation and I just feel I can release that part of my past. In Proverbs 4:25 it says. "Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you." What a great verse to start the new year. Only looking ahead and not in your past where you are reliving your mistakes, misfortunes, the "what-ifs". Letting yourself forgive and release the past and instead look forward for focus on what is ahead of you. God has a great future planned, so make sure you are looking ahead and moving forward. Consider forgiving someone today. Consider releasing that grudge and resentment. Reconsider getting revenge on someone. Just let it go. Give it up to God and start your life looking ahead.

Our Purpose

As I look back on 2007 and look forward to 2008, I think this quote from Oswald Spengler says it all. May you find purpose in your life and use it for good.

"This is our purpose:
to make as meaningful as possible
this life that has been bestowed upon us,
...to live in such a way
that we may be proud of ourselves,
to act in such a way
that some part of us lives on.