Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

It is here again: the New Year.  We all knew it was coming.  The signs were there.  Thanksgiving came and went.  We all turned our clocks back (with the exception of my Saskatchewan friends).  We put up Christmas decorations and some of us braved Boxing Day sales (Canada's version of Black Friday).  So, why am I shocked that 2011 is almost gone and 2012 is on its way?

A lot of things have happened this year.  We met autism and discovered its effect on our lives.  We made the decision to move to a province with better funding for children with special needs.  We slowly watched as Sam needed a patch to correct a lazy eye to full surgery to correct the issue.  We have struggled with depression and frustration.  New schools and old job.  Throw in 4 boughts of stomach flus in which the 2nd one took out our old washer and you have a fraction of what our 2011 looked like.

I am hopeful that 2012 will be better.  I am getting pumped at what the New Year will look like.  I have been inspired to look at Resolutions as changes I want to make.  Not the typical eat less, lose weight, etc.... resolutions, but actual habits.  Last year I participated in the 3 in 30 Challenge for the first few months.  I looked each month at a spiritual, emotional and physical habit to work on.  I will be doing the same this year.  I am going to choose a few habits and exercises that I want to accomplish this year.  I don't want to set myself up for failure.  I want to set myself up for success.  

Spiritually I will be working on reading the Bible chronologically, memorizing scripture and continuing participating with my Good Morning Girls Facebook group.  I also will be tackling at least one non fiction book each month.  I have promised myself that I will not buy any more books until I read the ones that I have already.  I have a lot so I may not be able to buy any books until 2013.  I feel these are some easy goals to complete.   I have been getting up at 6:30 am to do my devotion time (OK, so I make it up at least 3 times a week).  I also will be watching less tv during the day.  Most of what's on during the day is just ridiculous and time wasting so I can fill it with other things or if I need a break, I'll read some fluff.

Physically I am going to try to make getting active a regular routine in my life.  I am pretty sedentary (well as sedentary as a mom can be).  I live behind a park and a walk way and watch people walk by all the time.  It's time I get out and walk.  I can take advantage of the days where it is just Sammy and me,  put him in a stroller and walk for a while.  There's a bakery/coffee shop about a 20 minute walk from my house.  I'm sure that I can talk him into  going there.  On days where I can't get out I have a treadmill that sits alone in my basement, rarely used.  I need to start using it.  Over the last few days I have struggled in watching the kids watch TV or play their video games.  I remember when I was a kid and played outside all the time.  But then my family was outside a lot.  How can I force them to go out and play if I do not exhibit it myself?  I am hoping that by my getting out and about that the kids will be encouraged to do it as well.

As I have said before 2011 was draining.  In 2012 I want to focus on the positive.  Not in a false Pollyanna style but in a way that encourages those around me.  I want to be honest about my feelings.  When I am not doing well, I want to be able to tell people that and it be OK.  I don't want to wear a false smile and say "Great!"  Sometimes things aren't OK.  I think we need to be open with the people around us.  When we are struggling, we need to let them know.  People who read this blog know more about my struggles than people who I see at Church each week.  That's wrong and I am going to end it.  I cannot be emotionally healthy unless I am willing to be honest with not just myself, but with those around me.  Life is hard.  It's not easy and again, that's OK.  

As you may have noticed this year I was a little up and down with the blog.  I was wondering if I was even going to continue the blog or not.  This past week I have been really inspired and lead by God regarding the blog.  I have a tonne of ideas that I need to get on and posted.  I am not going to say that I will be blogging daily, but I will be blogging more than I have in the past few months.  I even am going to set some time each week to work on my blog.  I have someone coming in to do respite with the boys and I may use that time to blog or clean or just sit and drink coffee peacefully.

As you can see I am excited and hopeful for 2012.  I really feel like I may be seeing the light at the end of the valley of the deepest darkness.  What are your resolutions this year?  What are you going to be working on?  

Come join in the random fun.

I am a geek!  Only a geek would get excited when our Pastor announced that the Bible League of Canada Devotional Day Planner was in and available.  I managed to grab one of the last ones available.  I actually got a little nervous I wouldn't get one when I saw so many of the ladies with them at coffee.  This lovely planner has daily devotional readings, an area to write daily prayer requests and several reading plans.  This year the main reading plan is a chronological reading of the Bible in a year.

Last year I attempted to read the Bible in 90 days with Moms Toolbox.  I made it through to Luke.  That's the furthest I have ever made it in one go.  I justified that I have read Acts to Jude on my own before and in other studies.  So the only book I haven't read is Revelation.  Note how I put "justified".  I feel bad that I didn't finish the B90 challenge.  I enjoyed reading and learning more of God's word and the history of God's people.  I feel like a "drop out. "B90 drop out, no graduation day for you....."  I can hear Frankie Avalon singing it to me while I sit in a nice church pew (think Grease, without the pink hair).  

This fall I decided not to try the challenge again.  I wanted to focus on  getting up and studying daily (I'm still working on this) with Good Morning Girls.  I've met a great bunch of ladies who I have become close to even though I have only met one of them in person.  But.....I still feel lead to read my Bible start to finish.  

This fall I also discovered this and have been coveting it ever since.:

I love the look of this Bible and since I do not currently own a NKJV translation, it is definitely the one I will be ordering in the future.  It comes with maps and articles about the historical context.  It also is in full colour.  

Because I do not believe in coincidences, but believe in the leading of the Holy Spirit, I feel lead to read the Bible chronologically this year.  I will be posting a weekly reading plan on my side bar and posting each Thursday what God has been teaching me or leading me in my reading.  The reading plan I will be following is from the Devotional Day Planner.  If anyone is interested in joining me I may post a link each week after my post.  

I can not wait to get started and can not wait to see where God leads me in this journey.  Won't you join me?

I'm linking up with Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood at Finding Heaven.