Good Bye. . .

. . . 2013!!!  I am not sorry to see you go. 

i  am thankful, however, for all the lessons learned this past year, but excited for the new ones that will be learned in 2014.   it is true. . . . lesson learning is usually a "ripping and stripping" process that, for me, tends to take way longer than what i think it should - but also that is way more difficult than i think it should be - however, as the old saying goes, no pain, no gain, right?

i wish it were not so.  i wish i were much quicker at learning lessons.  i wish once i learned them, they would STICK because all too often it seems that i have 'learned' the lesson before, but am back at the same spot all to soon because i apparently have to 'relearn' it!!  

but i guess that is my sinful, human nature.

i am striving to make 2014 better - with more lessons learned - but more lessons stuck! maybe this year i will learn a lesson and be able to have it stick just a little longer.

do i make new year's resolutions? sometimes. . . but what i do find is that the end/beginning of a year is a great time to evaluate the last 12 months.  how did it go?  what did i accomplish?  what lessons did i learn?  what lessons stuck?  so as i go into 2014, i am not looking at 2013 with regret.  i am not looking at it in terms of where i failed.  i am not going to look at it with a negative attitude.  

rather - i am choosing to look at the positive things that happened.  the joys that became mine this year.  the lessons learned - and stuck. .  but even the lessons learned that became unstuck - and resolve to make them stick in 2014.

i am choosing to look back and see all the incredible blessings god has granted to me this past year - and trust him for more to come.  

my 3 greatest blessings are truly my two amazing miracle children, and my amazing miracle husband.  some time i might just have to share with you those miracle journeys as well. 

happy new year to all my friends and family.  may you experience god in a completely new way this year, and may you look back on 2013 and see all the goodness he has blessed you with.

(and on a side note - HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my amazing mom.  wishing you so many joys this year - thanking and praising god for all the things you do for us.  and while we may not see you as often as we'd like, we are truly thankful for the times we have been able to be with you this year.  i love you so much!!!)