A friend of mine on Facebook just posted she was doing this and I couldn’t help but get a little excited over this myself!  Granted, I’m one of the slowest readers I know (mostly because I trouble with focusing, I swear I almost have A.D.D.).  This starts Sept 22 – Dec 21.  I suggest going to this site for details, they explain it well:  http://callapidderdays.com/2012/09/fall-into-reading-2012-the-basics.html.

Here’s my list:

Finish Reading: Jane Eyer (I should be done actually before Sept. 22 so I suppose this doesn’t count but I’ll just pretend it’s the big kick off)

A Confident Heart by Renee Swope

Start Reading: Leaving – Book 1 in the Bailey Flanigan Series by Karen Kingsburry. (Birthday gift waiting to be read after Jane E.)

Next to Read: Emma (It’s been sitting on my shelf for some time waiting to be read, it’s time to read it)

To Read: The Good Wife’s Guide: Embrasing Your Role as a Help Meat by Darlene Schacht (I have a feeling this would be a great book for more newly married ladies but I have a feeling there’s some good thoughts and perspectives that I probably haven’t thought of)

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (I have a hard time getting through Jane Austen’s books but I took a quiz once that said my personality related most to the main character of this book, so I’m intrigued a little)

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (I still have yet to read a book of his, but from what I have seen by his quotes I’m sure I will be blown away by his writing, I can’t wait)

On-going and never stopping: The Bible

I’m sure between 2 Jane Austen books this will be more than enough to last me through Fall, if not Winter haha.  Now that I have my list off to reading I go!  P.S. I know it’s not Sept. 22 but Like I said before I still need to finish Jane.

It’s almost the new year!  Normally around this time of year I sit and think over all the events and happenings of past year and leave it at “we’ll see what comes ahead” with maybe a new years resolution tossed in there somewhere.  This year is so much different.  There’s been a lot of pain within the last year and hardship thrown in at the end.  I don’t wish it away because what we could call a horrible ending is actually a COMPLETELY new beginning!  We are coming from a place that was comfortable, nothing really to worry about, but on the flip side of things we had nothing to look forward to- just had a lot of “well maybe we can do this” or “maybe we can do that” but nothing at all that would give us an exciting future.  I was praying for something new, praying for friendship, praying for the future that something amazing would come along, and I had prayed in previous months that God would move us by 2012.  God answered and he answered big and I’m sure he’s going to do something big here for us and I am SO excited for it!!!  I know there are things that I could be worrying about, but there is so no doubt that God has His hand in all this, so why worry (especially since we are commanded not to) and instead enjoy the ride?  I choose to be excited and not give in to fear or worry.  I pray that I won’t.  We have a new slate.  Yes, we have to work hard; yes we have a lot more responsibilities now, but it is all going to be so worth it to see how God is going to continue to provide for our needs and answer our prayers.

I have a list of just a few things I’m excited about for this next year (kept it short, but trust me I could have gone on for a veeerrry long time).

Things I’m looking forward to in 2012:

1. New Jobs.

2. New Church. (After about 7 years we can FINALLY go to a church on a regular basis, Lord willing, praying we’ll have schedules that will allow for this to happen)

3. New Apartment.

4.Friendships.

5. Marriage Growth.

6. Future Family Plans.

7.  Seeing exactly how God will use us and strengthen us.

These are just a few of the main things, this doesn’t include the things we can get involved in such as a gym, and maybe some memberships, going to really cool restaurants, and stores and such.  First things first we are looking forward to getting jobs.  We will take it one step at a time. Everything is all in God’s hands and in His time.  For that I can be thankful and look to Him for all of these things.

Here it is Christmas Eve.  By far the hardest Christmas yet.  I’m laying on my bed, lamp on, husband playing his video game and my dog is snuggled up next to me asleep.  Very quiet and calm night (aside from the occasional explosion sound from the xbox haha).  It snowed today and It will be a white Christmas; I’m excited for that.   I will always have room for excitement for Christmas.  God has been so good and I am so thankful for ALL he has done and for what He is going to do.  I can’t believe He loves us so much that he sent his Son to save us and to give us hope and an amazing future.  I don’t have much else to share but I’m going to end with a words to a Christmas song.  Have a very Merry Christmas and Christmas Eve everyone.

WHAT CHILD IS THIS:

This little frog was a bit of a surprise to me.  I was watering my flowers in the flower box outside our window and I noticed some of the leaves on the plants were starting to turn yellow so I started picking them out.  I did see that a very green leaf was on the edge of the box and just as my fingers were to about to pick up the leaf I looked down and saw that what I really was about to pick up not a leaf at all!  This little guy had been sitting there tucked in the whole time.  I’m sure we both would have had a heart attack if I had picked him up.  It turns out he liked my flower box so much he decided to make it his home.  So I named him Franklin.  And if it’s a girl her name is Franklin.