Holding Up My End!!!

I have been trying to hold up my end of the resolution list I made. I hate to fail the same month that I made it. So far not too bad on some of them. I am doing pretty good at sending cards. I just think that it is the grandiest thing to get some "nice" mail for no apparent reason. I have also sent a lot of packages out lately as well lately. Today I found myself scanning old pictures at Walgreens. The photo clerk was swamped, so I helped several of her customers use the machine and find some things they needed. My reward was she gave me a discount on my disk. It really pays to be nice. I am going Thursday for a make over....I can't wait. I need some help with my eye make up...I am not happy with what I do right now. I just have so many problems. LOL Checked out about 9 books for the library today, and bought more things for my nieces Valentine's bags. I am trying to get all old magazines together to donate to the library. I have organized and cleaned out some this week. Well, nothing that grand to talk about, just rambling a little bit.

Resolutions!!!

I usually never make New Year Resolutions because I usually break them before the ink is dry on the paper that they are written on. This year I decided to take a different approach to my resolution list. They are all things I can do. That is better than committing yourself to lose 75 lbs or exercise daily. Trust me those are 2 things that I will not be doing this year. I hate to exercise, ask my doctor. Well, don't ask him because in 8 years he hasn't gotten the concept that I don't exercise. I know that he doesn't get this because every appointment he asks if I have been exercising and every appointment I say NO. So here is a list of things that I am committed to do in 2010.

1. To be an encourager to others, not a discourager


2. To love more openly


3. To send more cards to hurting people, and just because cards


4. To act on my good intentions


5. To smile and speak to more people that I meet in the world


6. To look for ways to show random acts of kindness


7. To laugh not only with my mouth, but with my eyes....that is soul depth laughter


8. To be a better listener


9. To be a super friend to my friends


10. To pray more for people, and not just for myself


11. To be helpful in situations that need my help


12. To always see the positive instead of the negative


13. To be happy in all situations


14. To cherish the times with family and friends


15. To never take for granted the little things in life


16. To let people know how important they are to me


17. To show Christ in my actions and words....let my every breath show Christ


18. To complete one dream of mine this year....I have thousands of them


19. To shed all bitterness from my life


20. To be "ME" and no one else

This are a few things that I have thought about over the last month or so. Nothing big in this list, but I hoping that this list will help change me and the people I meet for the better. Happy New Year. May 2010 be a banner year for you.

End of the Year!!!

This year has flown by very quickly. Lots of things have happened to us this year. We have seen lots of changes in our lives. It has been a good year and sad year as we have said goodbye to some dear friends and hello to new family members.

We found ourselves helping with the care of Mark's parents after their nurse died suddenly. It has been an adventure to say the least. This gave us the opportunity to spend lots more time with them, and help them out in a time of need.

We have gotten to see our family more this year. Our grown nieces and their husbands and our great nieces are all so precious.

Mark's family has pulled together and we have all worked together trying to care for their parents.

We celebrated our 1 year anniversary at Bethlehem Baptist as their interim pastor.

My laughter ministry got started this year. (Thank you Patty Chriscoe)

We celebrated 17 years of marriage. (Austin Dunn from our first church got married on our anniversary this year...he was 5 when we first started there)

I started doing a blog this year after Mark and lots of my friends encouraged me. I have found out through the blog....I am not that interesting!!!

We have said good bye to great neighbors in my neighborhood....Mr. Garland Lloyd and Mr. Stanley Gurganious. Both of these men were in the neighborhood when we moved there....I was in the 1st grade when we moved there.

Our little house has come a long way. The Riley's Creek Brotherhood fixed our bathroom, installed our washer and dryer and ran new wire and put in a new breaker box. (Thank you to Preston Casteen and all the Brotherhood men) Then Mark and I had a guy to install new ceiling fans and light fixtures. We have the new vinyl windows, they just need to be installed.

Our great niece Madelyn Claire was born this year. Mark's cousin Millicent had twin girls.

Mark's Aunt Alma walked down the aisle as a 75 year old bride....they make a wonderful couple.

My dad celebrated his 2nd year of retirement.

My mom discovered Facebook and Farmville...she makes a great farmer.

I reconnected with lots of high school friends on Facebook this year. (Dana, Jennifer, Jeff, Christy, Beth, Tiffany, Julie, Amy, Carl, Larry, Gina, Tina, John, Anna, Sabrina, Vivian, Pam, Michelle and lots more PHS friends)

I met and and started a new friendship with Amanda Talbert this year. She is the sweetest most giving person in the world. She started the Fed by Faith Ministry, which we have enjoyed being a part of this ministry. She is an inspiration.

We have gotten to reconnect with old friends and family since living part time in Moore County.

I met and became friends with Erin Brady this year, who is a true joy to be around....she makes me laugh.

We have kept in better contact with some of our old preacher friends this year.

Lilly turned 9 years old this year. She still loves bacon.

Mark's mom fell and broke her hip.....she is now in rehab.

Mark's dad, Jim, cracks me up with his quick wit even though he has dementia. It has been a pleasure to stay with him.

I got to see my Uncle from Texas at Christmas.

My uncle Larry came through a major surgery this year.

I got to reconnect with my best friend from high school, Christy Owens Rawls, through facebook.

My mom and dad watch over our house in Pender County. What would we do without them?

Mark turned 50 this year.

I have gotten to connect with my cousins on Facebook, and have gotten to know them a little better this year.

I realized how important it is to have extended care insurance...even if you are not elderly. Plan for the future, as though it was today.

I came to full realization of just how much our parents have loved us and helped us through our 17 years of marriage.

For some reason 2009 made me reflect on the times that death was so close to us, and how much I cherish Mark. My life would not be complete without him.

I learned to love my nose this year. That might sound funny to you, but I have never liked my nose...but this year I came to except it.

I have learned that life is full of changes, and you just have to roll with a lot of them.

I learned that being a Pastor's Wife is my true calling, and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Life has been good this year over all. That doesn't mean that there hasn't been tough times, but God has seen us through the good times and the bad times. 2009 has been a good year, but we look forward to an even better year in 2010.

Grand in All Ways

This Christmas season was just GRAND in so many ways. We got to spend a lot of time with our families. I got to see some family that I had not seen in quite a while. So much good food that it was crazy. It was a relaxing time. I am so thankful that we started our shopping so early this year. It took so much stress off of us. We were free to do more little things. Also, we didn't freak out when life threw disasters our way. We had things a little more together this year than any other time. That is why I like to preplan everything that we do. The only thing this Christmas was the weather. 70 degrees and stormy...not exactly weather to get you in the mood for the season.

I am already planning a few surprises for the upcoming New Year. I intend to spoil those little nieces even more. Hopefully, I will get to see them more. Been thinking about my resolutions for the new year. Looking at my life and seeing what changes I would like to make this year. I have a growing list. LOL

It has been just the grandiest of all Christmas' this year, and for that I am very thankful.