Gratitude Friday: New Year's Edition...

We are home and basically our trip can be summed up in one sentence which was uttered by Fanny when our server at the fancy steak house asked her what kind of cheese she would like on her cheeseburger (yes, a cheeseburger at a steak house):

"The normal kind."

And there you have it.

We had "the normal kind" of trip to Vegas.

Based on the number of families we saw, I suspect most folks do exactly what we did. Saw a show we hadn't previously DVR'd, ate some really good food we did not have to cook, slept in a bed we didn't have to make, took a bath in a tub we didn't have to clean and wore some fancy clothes we never have any where to wear them to otherwise.

Pictures will be forthcoming as soon as Fanny and Mr. Pack upload them to Facebook so I can steal them to post here.

As I think back on our 2010, I am humbled by the way the Lord has changed my focus. Some of that is thanks to a mission focused church who earnestly wants to reach out in love. Some of that is thanks to our dear friends Mrs. Eartha and Posty who challenge us with their life. Some of that is thanks to the wonderful studies we have done in Sunday School. Some of that is thanks to the reading and research I have done. And some of that is thanks to my daughter who has shown me a new kind of love.

But ultimately, that is all thanks to my Savior. He provided all of that. And it worked.

I'm not a big fan of New Year's Resolutions. I tend to live by the Rule of Nike. "Just do it".

Want to lose some weight? Just do it.

Want to read the Bible through? Just do it.

Want to clean out a few closets? Just do it.

Stop with all the reasons why you can't (aka EXCUSES) and just make it happen.

With that in mind, I have decided 2011 will be the Year of Real.

It's time for me to get real about who the Lord is, who I am and where He needs me to be. And it's time for me to Just Do It and stop with the excuses why I can't do that.

My prayer this past year was that He show me people through His eyes. He has answered that prayer (hugely) and I need to do something about it. But right now I am nothing but a mess of emotions. A bundle of energy. A load of questions. He has to show me how He needs me to serve.

Some of the ministries I feel led to are pretty obvious. We are starting an infertility support group at our church. I really do not need a lightening bolt to hit me to know I need to be involved with that. It's a given.

I know I need to serve my husband and daughter more. All my self-centeredness gets in the way of putting their needs ahead of my own. Not every time because heavens, Pumpkin grins at me and I am all about loving on her. But there are a slew of nights I make onesies instead of spending time with Chris. Why? That darn onesie is not more important than my marriage but yet I let my drive to finish a project get in the way.

I know I need to dedicate myself to better preparation and prayer for our Sunday School class. The Lord called us to teach and somehow an hour on Saturday night doesn't seem like enough time to really give the class, not to mention, God our best.

There are other ministries I feel drawn to but I need to make sure that comes from the Lord and not my own need to control or lead or even receive praise from others.

I'm starting 2011 reading No Other Gods both with our ladies Bible study and with my SIL through her blog Bible study. I'm already about half-way through and hello. I have some heart work to do. Seriously.

So while our Vegas trip might have been the normal kind, this blog and prayerfully my life will not be the normal kind. I hope I will look back on 2011 as the year I just did it and finally let God take hold and lead completely.

What do you have plans to do in 2011?

Much love to you all. Happy New Year!