Finally!!! 2008 In Review

I have finally gotten around to putting together the year in review slide show for 2008. God has taught me some valuable lessons again this year, although this time, I see a different thread of consistency running through the pictures that I was drawn to, and the song that just kept coming back to my mind - to represent where we began 2008, and where we are at now.

2008 began in a new community, a new full time job for me, a new company for Barry, and a whole new world for Matthew. At first, I found myself striving to change all that. I convinced myself that I would start to enjoy each day once I had figured out a way to go back to school, to finish my education and then land the job of my dreams. Perhaps every moment would be filled with joy once Matt was in school, and he felt a bit more settled, instead of still being the "new" kid at day care. What I'm getting at here, folks, is that I kept putting my life on hold - I fell into that trap of thinking that once the next goal had been met, once that bill was paid off or that course was finished or all those appointments were over, whatever it may be that took over the horizon - the "thing" that needed to be overcome....once that is finished, or out of the way...then I'll really enjoy my days. I'll be happy and I'll stop worrying about the things that I haven't done, and I'll enjoy the abundant and full life that God has blessed me with.

There will always be something that could steal my joy - but reality is - right now my life is going by...and it will not wait for me to reach my next goal. If I don't fly a kite with Matthew today...I'll blink my eyes and he'll be past the age of wanting to fly kites. I must enjoy taking him to the dentist, and helping him with his homework, because even the difficulties and the struggles and the things that we wish we could change, are part of living life today. It is these little, mundane, seemingly "get it over with and then move on" things that make up our days. Not every day will be filled with breathtaking experiences. But we can take deep breaths and enjoy even the simplest, quietest, or most frustrating moment each and every day.

So, I chose this song because it speaks exactly about these things. It talks about loving, about crying, about sunrises and freshly cut grass....and how these are the things that we are really living and experiencing.

What I would like to leave you with, is just the encouragement to experience today - whether it is filled with great joy or great pain, or great mediocrity. At the end of the day, my prayer is that you will feel as though you lived it, and didn't just wait for it to end.

Much love,

Laura

P.S.
I need comments.

According to Matt Part II

Matthew is walking out of the TV room.

Matt: "Just walk away, Matthew, just walk away."

Me: "Matt, what's going on? What are you walking away from?"

Matt: "It's Johnny Test. I just don't like what the twins are doing. I'm alright Mom...just walk away, I learned that at school."

Johnny Test is a cartoon. The twins are his older genius scientist sisters who frequently test their hilarious experiments on Johnny (and his faithful sidekick - "dog," the dog).

Happy Friday everyone!

According to Matt

The other night, Matt hew and I were in the car, waiting for Barry to join us.

From the backseat, I hear this little voice tell me. "Mommy. Your hair is a little bit crazy at the back."

Of course it was tossled at the back. I had been cleaning and doing laundry all day.

"Mom...you know those commercials who have ladies in them...and their hair is all nice and smooth all the time? That's what you need to get. That will make your hair all better. Okay mom? That's the stuff."

What a little rat.