Firmly Determined

Resolution: A firm decision to do or not to do something.
Resolved:  Firmly determined to do something.

Firmly determined, a firm decision.

I think most people (including me in the past) consider New Years resolutions to be good desires rather than firm decisions, which explains why most resolutions quickly fade out. So I'm changing my mindset for this year, and making some firm decisions! :)

On this 31st day of December, 2015, I resolve to do the following in 2016:

1. Read through the entire New Testament, one book at a time, seven times each (starting with the shortest and working to the longest). I'm taking the advice in this post because I want to be more deeply transformed by God's Word!
2. Believe God's promise to care for me, and rest in His grace and peace! (Psalm 106:24 says, "The people refused to enter the pleasant land, for they wouldn't believe His promise to care for them." So simple and profound. I've been thinking about that a lot the last half of this month - that's true of me any time I let worry or anxiety steal my peace - so I'm resolving to acknowledge God's faithful goodness and "enter the pleasant land" by resting in Him this year!)
3. Stick with the Weight Watchers program all year, tracking my food and going to meetings/weigh-ins each week!  Work out at least 180 minutes per week (45 minutes four days a week, 60 minutes three days a week, or 30 minutes six days a week).
4. Cook 25 new recipes and blog about them (20 dinners, 5 desserts, mostly healthy foods)!
5. No gossip or slander (of current or former friends) - speak truth in love and don't speak or write negatively about anyone behind their back. (This one shouldn't be difficult, but it probably will. I'd been thinking about it already, then this post was really convicting, so I want to take this far more seriously because it's important to God and to having quality relationships with mutual trust!)
6. Look for the beauty and beautiful moments in daily life, and write down at least one each day (I'm keeping a desk calendar book as a journal through this coming year).
7. Read one new book per month and blog my favorite quotes/lessons from them!

"Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." ~Carl Bard

I'm printing this list out on Monday, and I'm firmly determined to follow through with it. Anything else I accomplish will just be icing on the cake! =)

* God may give me an additional focus word along the way, but right now, my "word" for 2016 is BEAUTY. My heart's desire is to appreciate the beauty of God and His creation & all the beautiful moments in daily life, as well as developing and embracing "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" through this coming year. Matt Chandler spoke of God's Word as a refining fire that gradually burns away everything impure and leaves only the pure gold of God's image inside us. I love that, and I want to continue walking with Him and being transformed into His beautiful image!!

Verse for 2016:  "You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."  ~I Peter 3:4

And that's it. That's everything!
Happy New Year, friends!! =)

2015 Recap!

My focus words for this year have been "BALANCE" and "STRENGTH."  With God's grace and help, I have grown in both areas... more balanced emotions and eating habits, and stronger in body, soul, and spirit. It's been a long and winding journey, which is pretty true of every year, but at the moment, I feel a lot of peace with God, myself, and others... and joy about where I am and how far I've come! :)

Memorable 2015 highlights include:

JANUARY - Celebrating Mom's 60th B-day, Garth Brooks concert with LB, Parenthood marathon, first trip to Cuppies & Joe, Beth's Thessalonians study with the women's LG & embracing God's work in the "remix!"

FEBRUARY - Celebrating Jaceman's 3rd b-day, Rach's 29th, and my 31st; Super Bowl party at Jeff's; dating JSA; Thunder game suite with the M&D, Bill & Jill, and Laura; taking pics for Anthony's birthday balloon release!

MARCH - Took the 31-Day blog challenge... some of my favorite posts from this year! :) Hosted a fun girls' night with LB, Sarah, Tiffany, and Angie!

APRIL - Chose to obey God in a major health decision; FBC Carnival face painting; Easter Sunday lunch at JEM's; Started FT personal training with Melissa; Gave T&C their b-day cards at their soccer game; Movie night and "Pounds pounds challenge" at GareBear's! :)

MAY - Jenks Food Truck Festival & helping LB with her "Dad Project;" Fun outdoor dinner and game night at JEM's; crazy rain storms (and emotional struggles to go with it); got my AC replaced; "Ghetto Memorial Day cookout" at the Wilsons!

JUNE - Began really focusing on becoming strong in body, soul, and spirit; swimming at JB's with the fam and Kristin & Diesel; proudly watching J&K as ring bearer and flower girl at Emily's wedding!

JULY - Nancy's awesome photobooth for July 4th; celebrating Sarah's B-day, Chet's B-day, and Diesel's 1st B-day; cleaning my closet out; finally joining Planet Fitness!

AUGUST - Cooking dinner for LB & Tiffany (on my own for the first time); Kyndal's 2nd B-day; JB's to swim with LB and Sarah + Bravo and Johnnie's for dinner; Catalyst Conference (Andy Stanley and Craig) with Dad and Charlene!

SEPTEMBER - Labor Day weekend road trip (Pops & JB's pool & Teds with the gang); Cinderella & lasagna rolls at Sarah's; Michael & Baylee's wedding; Mom helping me decorate for fall; being rejected by SNU; the monkey bread incident at Sarah's!

OCTOBER - Tulsa Fair with Tiffany & Angie; JEM's 35th b-day; Caravan with TK, Jenna, & Sarah; Florida trip with friends for Universal Studios & Disney World; Chet's "Muffins & Monograms" event!

NOVEMBER - Melting Pot fun; 7-year Friendiversary with LB; McAlister's lunch with Chet; joined Weight Watchers on the 12th; fun Thanksgiving with Mom's fam and Dad's fam!

DECEMBER - LB's B-day; Sam n' Ella's road trip; celebrated 25 years as a Christian; double 7-year friendiversary with Chet and Sarah; Babah & Grandad's generosity on Christmas Eve; helping Mom and Dad unpack and organize after their move; being 25 pounds down in under two months; taking some time off work from 12-23-15 to 1-4-16! :)

I'm especially thankful for 25 years as a Christian and for my seven years of friendship with Laura, Chet, and Sarah!  

I keep seeing this little saying on Facebook... 

...and I'm very aware that several friendships never cross that mark, which makes me all the more grateful for those that do.  I'm thankful for God's grace and the way He takes care of me, and I'm feeling hopeful about the new year!  (One more post to write before we get there.) :)

Movin' On Up ;-)

Here are a few pics of Mom and Dad's new place, just for fun! :)

The fancy doors that took FOREVER to arrive. The windows open, as you can see here. This was on the super rainy day!

Living room with ginormous TV and normal big screen TV above, in case they need to watch the news and sports at once (but never a movie)! lol

Kitchen table area off the edge of the living room. Their wood floors turned out really nice, and I love the golf course view out back! :)

The painted ceiling in the living room!

The stained glass M from 9121... and the girlfranz little pen so they don't scare Rylee and Reagan! lol

They seem cozy enough in there! :)  ...Despite Josh putting up the mesh lining all around the bottom of their backyard fence, Bellsy Bells escaped today... but once again, a neighbor found her and rang our doorbell to see if we were missing a dog! #thankfulforthat #allthreetimes

Kitchen with giant fridge and two ovens and microwaves!

Master bathroom shower

Computer room shelves

Entryway - love the tile here!

My room, a/k/a "Kyndal's room!"  And Reagan with her tilty head! :)

My bathroom :)

Rylee fell asleep in the dead dog position. lol

Mom is known for being meticulous, but this was a new level... We cut out newspaper and wrapping paper to match the size of each picture, writing the names of the athletes on them, then tried several different layouts on the wall before she finally decided on this one! lol  #exhausting

It turned out good, and I'm glad she's happy with it now, though! :)

Mini-scare yesterday when K-Faith and T-man were playing and she fell off the couch and hit the back of her head on the rug over the wood floor... she cried hard for quite a while and was mad at T-man, but she was back to her normal self by the time we saw the doctor.  Here are the kids in the waiting room at ERgent care.

T-man felt terrible that she got hurt, so Rach was comforting him and making sure he knew no one was mad at him...

Rach: "It's not your fault, T. It was just an accident. Everyone knows you didn't mean to do it. People have accidents all the time..."

Carter: "Yeah, Bubba. Some people even have accidents where they kill someone!"

Me:  "Grrrrreat addition to this conversation." lol

Very glad Miss K-Faith is okay and back to her sweet n' sassy self! :)

In other news, I reached my goal of losing 25 pounds before the New Year!!!  Get excited! =) More to come next year.

Recap & Resolutions post tomorrow!!

Memory Monday ~ Nostalgiaville

We all know I love to reminisce, and it's been so much fun going through some old scrapbooks, calendars, and saved memorabilia as I'm helping my parents move!

...First off, Mom loaned me these calendars for a while -- she wrote in them almost daily for the first couple years of my life and Rach's life, and I have LOVED going through it. (I come by my love for documenting life honestly. lol)  Every "first" of any sort is written down and noted here... and it's awesome to read about what was going on in my parents' lives and the lives of our family friends around the the time I was born. From Marilyn and Georgia being pregnant with Michael and Brandon to Debbie Wallace at the hospital having Ty to Grandad Doc's injury to Dad's State Farm school and Mom's court reporting life, it's all fascinating to me! Mom was 29 when she had me and 31 when she had Rach, so it's been fun getting to connect with who she was when she was my age! :) And reading about how much she and Dad and Grandad and Babah loved and delighted in me right from the start is heartwarming and good for my soul. :) (insert heart emoticon - I'm always sad I can't use those on blogger)

In that same file were some old Mother's Day and Father's Day cards from me and Rach that they'd saved... this one from Rach was my favorite! "Dear Mom, Sometimes it seems like I'm not nice..." lol

Mom is the opposite of a pack-rat, typically being practical and getting rid of things you would think would be sentimental to her. So imagine my surprise (and mild disgust) when I found that she had saved all our baby teeth and written the date and story on the envelopes! lol Who knew!?

This was an old church program from Meadowood where Mom and Dad were the Chairmen of some committee. Their picture being right there on the first page surprised me - I'd never seen this before! :)

(I looked through one of Mom's old scrapbooks at night when we were done for the day. The light in the room where I sleep is a pink light, so the next few pics look a bit orange. lol)
This = precious. Grandad's card for breaking, training, and showing horses! Short and simple. lol

Mom's pic as the Salutatorian of Channing High School (1973). :)

Precious.

Not sure what this pic was for, but she looks really pretty here!

In more recent years, here is a card Aunt Nancy sent Rach after her mugging ordeal... note Rach's pink shoes and big earrings, and the knife and baseball cap on the mugger. lol

I really adore this card!! So great! I'm going to incorporate little drawings into my cards more often now. lol

This = my elementary-school age prize-winning calligraphy at the OKC State Fair... I think there was one other person entered. lol  (This was a cover we put over the children's version of Little Women, which I'm now re-reading. Such a great story!!)

Old pics from Olan Mills, plus a random Glamour Shot thrown in from when I was 16 and had tried to cut my own bangs. #epicfail

Mom and Rach and I were talking about how Jace's hair is starting to get darker.  It's so weird how that happens... here I am at age 2, and the next picture down is me at age 4... quite the hair color change!!

I remember Chet saying he was blond as a child also. I kinda hope J&K stay mostly blond, but we'll see what happens! :)

Here is a super-awkward short story I wrote for school at age 6. lol  We found one of my 1st Grade notebooks in with a pile of mostly trash, so we saved it from the rubble. lol

I love that I spelled wolf "woof," and that I labeled our hero, Ann, as the brave girl for hitting a "woof" with a brick, not being scared of an owl, and chasing off some bees... Proving that insects have been my nemesis from a very young age. lol

We also found several transcripts from Mom's Jury Trials, including a carbon copy from 1977 and this murder trial from 1980. I like that we both worked at the good ol' Grady County Court House for a bit!

I made a box for myself to take home full of some old pictures, frames, etc. from my high school days.  I love this one from Eric's costume party where I came as Legally Blonde's Elle Woods and Casey and Jason were the SNL Spartan Cheerleaders!

Speaking of... I've actually done pretty well over Christmas, all things considered. I used all my flex points this past week, but did not go over them. YAY!  At last count, I had lost 21 pounds. I'm planning to weigh in on Wednesday this week, thanks to sucky weather and me still being in MWC.  I'm not sure I'll make it to 25 by the New Year, but I'll be close and proud of myself either way!!

Dad made chili last night and it was pretty awesome!!  It always feels appropriate on a cold wintery night.  Here I am in the theater recliner chair taking a break and having some tasty chili, watching the Thunder game with Mom and Dad. :) I also got to watch my two fav Harry Potter movies last night (Order of the Phoenix & Deathly Hallows Pt. 2)! #winning

Rach bought these for me to try, and I gotta say she was right about them being awesome!  A great chocolate snack that's about half the points of other chocolate bars on this new plan!! #score :)

Tomorrow, I may try to do a post with pics of Mom and Dad's new place... it's coming along really well! =)  There's been a lot of looking forward and looking back during the move, which is appropriate right around the New Year anyway. (Goals post on Wednesday - eek, so much to write about in this season!) 

Quick Side Note & Final Memory for Today:  On this day two years ago, we drove down to Texas to get these two adorable flufflepuffs, Sam and Ella Belle!! :)

 I got to sleep in today, then ate breakfast looking out at the snowy golf course view in my parents' backyard.  I love home, and I love winter!  My heart is full, and I'm feeling very thankful for God's grace and for the many little and big things He's used to speak to my heart and bring me joy this week!!

"But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread Your protection over them, that all who love Your name may be filled with joy!"  ~Psalm 5:11 

25 Years Together

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.

He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding... Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan... 

Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else--not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with Himself."

~Ephesians 1:3-23

Today marks 25 years since I became a Christian... my born-again birthday, or the anniversary of the day I was adopted as God's child!  On Sunday, December 27, 1990, my mother led me to Christ.  I was six years old and had several questions about something I had heard in the sermon at church that morning. I was beginning to understand the concept of sin and needing a Savior, but not quite clear on how it all worked.  Mom got her Bible out - The Living Bible with the green cover - and she slowly walked me through "the Romans road," explaining the Scriptures on my level as we went along. At that point, thanks to growing up in a Christian home, I was already familiar with prayer and had strong childlike faith that God would always listen and hear me, even if I didn't pray out loud.  Mom told me that I could pray after her or pray alone in my own words to God, and being the introvert I am, I chose the second option, feeling that it would be more real and special having the moment just be me and God. I went into the bedroom Rachael and I shared and got on my knees beside our purple canopy bed, confessed my sin, and asked Jesus to "come into my heart" and be my Lord and Savior... 

"In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it!"

~John 1:4-5

#favoritehymn

Looking back right now, I feel SO thankful...

For the unique story God has written for me that is still unfolding, and for the opportunity to live a life that brings Him glory and makes an eternal difference. I praise God for His grace and kindness to me, for His gift of eternal life and salvation.  I'm infinitely thankful for the kingdom hope I have in Jesus - the hope that anchors my soul through every trial here. I'm resting in His promise to never reject or abandon His children. I am grateful to feel alive and full of joy and hope today... humbled and thankful for every time He has pulled me out of the pit of darkness and despair, calling me over and over again out of darkness and into His light. I am thankful to be loved and chosen and deeply, personally understood!  Thankful that He never gives up on me and has not let me give up on myself.  Thankful that He sees and cares about my heart, every single time.  I feel in awe of His holiness and power; certain of His goodness in all seasons. I love that I'll never be done getting to know Him - there is always more to learn and discover.  But at the same time, He is a gentle God who makes Himself known and enables little children to understand His love and receive His gift of salvation. My walk with Him has been a long journey, full of ups and downs and some confusing turns, but He has been my faithful God through all of it. The God who was and is and is to come... He is my everything, and I adore Him!

"So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness... God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago!"

~Ephesians 2:7-10

Not something we earn or deserve, but an eternally significant, life-altering gracious gift from God!!

(Side note: God knows us very personally, so He knows that dates and numbers are important to me... I'm thankful not only that Mom led me to Christ, but also that she wrote the story on this date in our 1990 tear-off calendar and scrapbooked it. God made sure that she preserved the exact date and that I came across it in time to celebrate this 25-year Anniversary of my salvation and union with Him!!  I love that.)

"No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand.

'Til He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ, I'll stand!"

Christmas 2015

Merry day-after-Christmas!  Someone posted a cheesy "Only 364 days till Christmas!!" meme on Facebook this morning, but it's actually 365 since 2016 is a Leap Year... the rarity of Leap Years makes me happy. :) It needs to be celebrated appropriately when the 29th gets here!

Anyway, here is a picture-filled Christmas recap:

CHRISTMAS EVE

Rach and Jaceman before our Christmas Eve dinner at El Chico's with Mom's fam!

Sister Pic! :)

Jace in his Flash mask talking to Grandad about his "I Heart Grandad" shirt, or as he phrased it, "It says, 'Dear Grandad, I love you!'" :)

Missy K showing off her shirt since Jace's was getting lots of attention. Could she be any cuter!?

Silly faces!!

Jaceman leading our table in prayer.  "Hey, everyone, stop eating!!  We have to pray!" lol

Kyndal Faith peeking during the prayer (and me doing the same to snap a photo!)

The cousins - me, Rach, Blake, and Emily!

Ready to open our traditional De-Icer gift from Grandad and Babah...

They attached a big surprise bonus gift with this one... which meant a lot and was very generous!

Love this - Blake hugging Babah and Rach getting ready to hug Grandad. :)

Me hugging Grandad!

Me trying on Kyndal's cowgirl hat and Josh wearing a light-up necklace! lol

Presh. Face.

JB sporting a new look! lol

Grandad being adorable!

J & T-man pretending to be dogs. lol Never a dull moment!

Eileen's sugar cookies = awesomesauce!

Family Group Pic!!

Babah and Grandad with their great-grandkids! :)

And now with their grandkids!

J and K with Bampa! =)

Grandad and Babah were looking through all the pics, and he quietly said, "Oh, I wish we'd gotten one of them all holding their checks." So I told Mom that and we got this shot right before the Parrish fam had to go!

Celebration shot! lol

CHRISTMAS MORNING

Josh and Jaceman eating pancakes! Josh made pancakes, bacon, eggs, biscuits & gravy for us for breakfast at their place! :)

Jace's morning prayer: "Thank You for Dad and for Chas and, umm..."

Josh: "Momma"

Jace: "And for Momma!" lol

So random and funny! (Chas is my cousin Emily's husband.)

Miss K playing with her new doll, courtesy of their generous neighbor, Danny! :)

I just love this picture.

She had to put on shoes to match her doll!  So CUTE. 

Love them so much!!

My fav Christmas day pic this year!

Nancy wasn't feeling well, so we skipped the traditional dinner with Dad's family on Christmas day.  So it was more low-key than normal, but still a good day.  After our breakfast at the Parrishes, Dad and I saw a movie, then I went for a walk/jog around the neighborhood (to get one last workout in before the weather turned bad), then the three of us had dinner at home and unpacked boxes and organized some stuff at Mom and Dad's new place (which has been fantastic - they moved on the 17th and I think everyone is happy to have their own space again - even me and the girlfranz when we come to visit). Here's where I'm sleeping - they're calling it "Kyndal's room," but the teenage girl style pink polka dot sheets, heart blanket and throw pillow, and paisley bedspread feels right for me even now! :)

We're making fast progress, but there's definitely still a lot to do.  Building a house and moving is all such a process!!  I am loving the reminiscing and finding little treasures, though!! More on that on Monday!

I'm off to watch TV and rest a bit. :) Hope you had a great Christmas, too!