A Fresh Start

There's always something a little exciting about the New Year... must be the feeling you get of getting a fresh start. Especially after what you consider a crappy year. 2011 for me... was good though. The big highlight for me was becoming an AUNT Jess. I have never had so much joy in my life until sweet lil Sonorah was born. If I love her THIS much as her aunt.... I can only imagine how a mother feels about her own child. Wow... what an amazing blessing.

Other than that... I don't think I'll remember much from the past year, well maybe getting back surgery... but lets hope I never have to go through that again!

I'm not one to set resolutions b/c I NEVER stick to them and don't want to get discouraged or disappointed in myself. I do have some hopes for 2012 though...

1. I'm praying more. The past few weeks I have been feeling God's presence in my life. There is a lot that I need to pray for that I haven't in the past year... so I have a lot of hope now that I'm talking to God and letting him carry my troubles. <3

2. I'm going to be more active. After my back surgery... I felt immediate relief. I still have a little pain from time to time if I've been sitting too long and I still have to work on my posture. But after 5 and half months in extreme pain... I have learned to NEVER take the simple things like walking/standing for granted. It was SOOOO frustrating before my surgery not to be able to do simple things like picking up things off the floor, walking down the hallway, etc. So now I'm going to start walking and signing myself up for some 5Ks to give me some motivation! I loved running/walking the 1/2 marathon a few years ago and even though I'm way out of shape... I KNOW I can do a 5K. I get excited thinking about them!

3. Write and read more. I enjoy writing and reading, but I never make time for it. I blame it on the TV b/c I love to just come home and chill... but sometimes I need to turn off the technology and enjoy a good book or write out my feelings in a journal/blog.

4. Go to church regularly. I was so lazy about that in 2011... so that will change. I also want to get involved in church more.... join a bible study, missions, etc. (It's going to be hard b/c I enjoy going home on weekends to see my family...)

5. Control my spending so that I am not so broke at the end of each month. I get paid once a month and it's so frustrating because I am usually broke before the last week or two before payday. I also need to start making a dent in my cc debt... so no more credit cards. I think I will just have to shred them so when I get "tempted"... I can't!

6. GET. MORE. SLEEP. I seriously think I am an insomniac sometimes.... I have been up til 3 A.M since I went to my parent's for Christmas break. It's like clockwork... I start getting tired around 3.... weird. Well hopefully tomorrow I'll get myself to bed a decent hour so I can wake up refreshed for work on Wednesday.

7. Continue to give more... I was so much better in 2011 about giving to others... not EVERY month... but I would try to when I had the finances. Whether it be to someone in my family or someone in need! I want to continue to bless others like the Lord does for me.

It is amazing how much can chance in a year... it makes me wonder wonder what my life will be like a year from now? It's exciting AND scary at the same time. <3 Jess