New Year, New Things

So it's early (REALLY EARLY) Christmas morning and I can't sleep! I've been thinking about the new year and what I want to do this next year. There are so many things that I've always said I wanted to try but haven't. This next year I'm going to do it! So far on my list I have: snowboarding, camping with my daughter and wakeboarding. I know there's going to be more, but that's what I've started off with. I've actually set a date in January to go for some snowboarding lessons, so that's already in the works. I talked to my cousins, aunts and uncles tonight and they've agreed to take me out on their boat and show me the ropes of wakeboarding...so why not through in camping while out there?!

I value my family a lot. Not just my immediate family, but my entire extended family as well. This summer it is my goal to get my whole extended family on my dad's side out to my place for a BBQ (the weather better be good because not everyone is going to fit in my 720 sq ft house!). Tonight my grandma expressed that she would love to have a picture of all of her great grand kids along with one of her grand children (my youngest cousin). It was my youngest cousin who was wishing that his cousins would start having kids so that he wouldn't be the youngest anymore. His wish came true, and now there are 5 (almost 6) babies and young kids. I'd love to get this picture for my grandma. Wish me luck in getting this done!

Sounds like I have a pretty exciting year planned! I'm looking forward to it!

Love is a Choice

I know I've linked this page to my facebook too, but I just love how this dude describes love! I think waaaaay too many marriages end because people's "buzz" has ended and they just think "oh, well I've fallen out of love." That's such a cop out!
http://www.laughyourway.com/blog/falling-in-and-out-of-love/

Forgiveness

I know I need to forgive. I need to battle bitterness. I've seen first hand how bitterness manifests itself and takes hold of a person's life. After getting to know these people, I always told myself that I don't want "end up" like that. Bitterness has made them angry, almost cronically angry. It seems there is always a problem with everything and everyone and that they can never be satisified or happy with anything. I thought I had forgiven the people who have hurt me. Sometimes I find myself needing to continue to forgive on a regular basis though. That makes me think, have I truly forgiven them then? I guess time will tell. It seems there is some truth to the saying "time heals all wounds". I find time is definitely helping, however, it just that, a helper. Time is not the ultimate healer, God is.