New Years Resolutions, Lent & Deployment Determinations

New Years resolution-
Commitments people make to themselves to improve or change certain habits in the coming year.

For 2012-mine is to grow closer to GOD, and to be more patient and understanding. I’m making a huge leap in the right direction, I have been going to church every Sunday (with the kids). I am reading the purpose driven life, the love dare-365 day challenge, a daily devotional and doing a program where you read the whole bible in a year.


Lent-
is the period of 40 days that comes before the celebration of Easter. Today we know Lent as a season of conversion: we acknowledge the ways we have turned away from God in our lives and we focus on turning our hearts and minds back toward God. The three pillars of Lent are prayer and fasting. These help us turn away from whatever has distracted or derailed us and to turn back to God. Giving up something for Lent is ultimately a form of fasting. We can deprive ourselves of some small pleasure or indulgence and offer that sacrifice up to God.

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23).

For the past couple years I have given up two things that are in my everyday life. Starbucks coffee (any coffee not made at home) and sweets (that includes ALL sweets, except gum). To me when I reach for sweets or want a tall white mocha I will instead turn my focus on God and devote time to him.



Deployment Determinations-
Something I made up, its like a new years resolution but its something you want to accomplish before your loved one sees you again!

1. I want to get back down to my Pre-Caleb weight (actually 5 pounds less than what I was before I got pregnant with him).
2. I want to learn the basics of German, and teach the basics to my children. Along with teaching Caleb the basics of Spanish and sign language (and re-teaching Alexis).
3. I want to get out of credit card debit, and not a chunk out of student loans.
4. I want to save a chunk of money to go to Disney when Adam comes home.
5. I want to get rid of all the things we don’t need ex. Old clothes, decorations and what not.