...is beautiful moments

Beautiful Moments #1: Mommy/daughter dates. Kendall likes to come home and play with her baby dolls on our dates. We pretend to be sisters with several children each. Kendall was even pregnant at one point. Her imagination is extraordinary and makes for fun pretending. Jordan prefers to go out on our dates, usually at her favorite place- Target- to get an icee and look at toys, decorations, shoes, books, etc. We even recently had a mommy, Jordan, Aunt Sis date.

Beautiful Moments #2: Playing games, rolling in 'fake' snow, and drinking hot chocolate in front of the fire place in the North Carolina mountains with Gigi, Aunt Amy, Uncle Chad and Sloane was so much fun. And I actually read an entire book.

Beautiful Moments: #3: Jason turned 32. My sweet dad secretively arranged an outing for his birthday. Dad & Mom, Shaunacee and Alec, and Jason and I went to Jacksonville to see a band from Canada called "Great Big Sea". They were really good. We also enjoyed a beautiful view while eating some fresh seafood. Also, Jason's mom posted some really cute pictures of him growing up on facebook. It spoke volumes. Happy Birthday, Jason.

Beautiful Moments: #4: Hannah asked me to be her confirmation mentor. We have met together weekly for four weeks now and it's been a pure joy to talk with her about her faith and God's Word. She is an insightful and inquisitive young lady.

Beautiful Moments #5: We had our open house for our counseling offices today. I am so grateful for the support of my friends and mom in coming. I felt the love!

Beautiful Moments #6: Valentine's Day was filled with tulips, Broomelli Boys pizza, teddy bears, and Pride and Prejudice. There is nothing like watching unrequited love drive Mr. Darcy through the fog at dawn towards Elizabeth Bennett and upon reaching her finding hope like never before as she acknowledges her affection for him. I am thankful for the rewind button.

...is it's already February?

I can't believe today is the first day of a new month. January literally sped right by me, leaving me in its dust. I've been in a state of shock for most of today, with a few moments of awareness shining through. Then, I listened to a message from Chip Ingrim and it was like a 2X4 hitting me in the face. He talked about 6 symptoms of misplaced priorities in your life.
1. Busyness. Yes.
2. Emotional Stress. (It may come out in anger and irritability or disconnecting or just reacting rather than responding.) YES.
3. Low grade guilt. This, he explains, is a sense of restlessness- like not doing or being enough for (fill in the blank). Crap, Yes.
4. Financial debt or problems. (Our money will tell us a lot about priorities.) Definitely gotten lazy with the budget, so Yes.
5. Prayerlessness or deficits in our time with God. (We might begin to be superficial with God, going through the motions.) I alway want more time with God, so a little yes.
6. Escapism behavior. (Examples: eating out a lot, renting a lot of movies, eating when you're not hungry, etc.) Crap, Crap, Crap, Yes.

OK, maybe this explains why January is gone with little recollection of it. Since I don't want a repeat of last month, I'm going to face reality and make some changes. What they will be I'm not sure of yet. But, lo, change is a comin'. What I do know is it starts with slowing down!