Resolutions…2013

Resolutions…2013

Every year I make resolutions and every year, I seem to fall short of finishing them all. This year, I think I did okay. But not as well as I had planned of course because even now I can’t remember all of them. I tried to stay constituent by blogging about it, but I think I only managed to do about half. I remember that I wanted to read more books, grow closer to God, pay off more of my college debt, and…I can’t remember the rest.

Here they are from last year (http://musingsmadebymandy.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-looking-forward.html)

Here are some of my goals/resolutions for 2013:

• Read more (fiction and classics)
• Memorize Scripture
• Read my Bible and do a Bible study
• Try one new thing each month
• Pay off my college debt
• Complete MEPS
• Continue to be politically active
• Journal (prayer journal)

So how did I do? Well, I guess not as bad as I thought I had done.

• Yes I did read more. Read more (fiction and classics)
• I did not really do this. There was a few attempts, but not as well as I wanted to.  Memorize Scripture
• I was also bad at being consistent and I didn’t get to do a Bible Study. Read my Bible and do a Bible study
• Hmmm…Can’t say that I did something new each month, but I did a few new things this year. Maybe I will have to share some of them. Try one new thing each month
• Still working on this one, but getting closer! Pay off my college debt
• Graduated and got to go to D.C. as well! Complete MEPS
• Very much so! Can’t wait to see what happens next. Continue to be politically active
• On and Off. Journal (prayer journal)

So should I make New Year resolutions this year? I probably will. I enjoy thinking of challenging things. Before we ring the New Year in, I want to do some praying and ask what God wants of me this year. I want to grow closer to Him and in all I do, do it for Him. I pray that as you think of this coming year that you will also put Christ first. All to His glory!

Decemeber 2013

It has been so crazy lately. It seems as though I have either been working, finishing up Christmas stuff (shopping, helping cook and clean), or doing some other random stuff. Since Thanksgiving, the days have seemed to have filled up quite quickly. Right after Thanksgiving, my mom, sister, and I volunteered at some local mansions (yes, mansions!) in our town for their “Christmas at the Mansions”. Then the next weekend, my best friend from childhood got married and I was able to be a part of her special day. After we got home from the wedding activities, we then helped with a fundraiser for a candidate that is running for Governor. This weekend we had one of our family Christmases. This one was for my Dad’s side of the family.

After that family Christmas, we came back to our house and my brother’s family was staying with us. My nephew was playing with his new toys and a funny story came from it…

My 4 year old nephew received a transformer dinosaur that he was absolutely thrilled about. He went on and on about it. Then he said to me, “I have never seen a real dinosaur”. And he kind of went on about it and I was just thinking “of course not”. Then I thought maybe he was saying he had missed seeing them at the zoo (they had the robotic dinosaurs there for a while and my nieces and nephew thought they were real. But then he went on to explain why he had never seen the dinosaurs before. It was because “They had just “stinked” so much that they are not around anymore”. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that they may not have smelled bad, but that they were extinct. It was so funny, but he was completely serious about it. He truly believed that there are no dinosaurs anymore because they just “stinked” too bad!

Days 5, 6, & 7 - Christmas Picture Challenge

The last few day have been busy and I wasn't sure what to post for some of the challenges since we don't have our Christmas decorations up yet. Then yesterday, my mom, sister, and I volunteered at Linden Hills. Linden Hills is an estate with 2 mansions on it. This time of they year, they have what they call Christmas in Mansions. They have them all decorated for Christmas and it is beautiful! So below are a few pictures from our time there yesterday.

5. Santa

If you look closely on this vanity, there is a Santa. 

6. Stockings

7. Snow 

The mansions!

This is the house we volunteered in yesterday. 

See how deep the snow is??? We have over a foot of snow. 

For more information about Linden Hills, check out their website: http://www.linden-hill.org

Day 4 of the Christmas Picture Challenge

Day 4 - Traditions

We have many different holiday traditions, but here is just one of them! 

Every year, during the month of December (usually sometime after Thanksgiving) we watch some of our favorite Christmas movies and also try some new ones! There are a lot of fun Christmas movies out there and a lot of them are clean, family-friendly ones! I think that is part of the reason why I love them so much (besides the fact that I just love Christmas)! 

Below is a picture of two of the Christmas movies I have watched every year since I can remember. I think we may need to get new copies soon, these are still on VHS! (My favorite of these is Miracle on 34th Street. The other one pictured is Prancer).

Day 3 - Christmas Picture Challenge

Today I am supposed to post a picture of gifts. I don't know about you, but I think if is a little early for that. So instead I decided I would post this quote I saw on Pinterest the other day. It is about the real gift of Christmas!

Christmas Picture Challenge - Day 2

Day 2 is decorations. We don't have any Cheistmas decorations up yet, but we do still have some fall decorations up...and we got a lot of snow today so I thought I'd share pictures of those 2 things!

Christmas Picture Challenge - Day 1

Hello Everyone!

I can't believe it is already December 1st! Since it is countdown time until Christmas, I have decide I would take this picture challenge that I saw on Facebook and post one picture each day leading up to the Holiday!

Hope you enjoy!

Here is what you are supposed to post each day if you want to join in the fun!

And for Day 1 - Lights!

(This is the star we have on our house. You can't see it well, but there is a picture of the nativity in the middle. I love this star and we have had it as long as I can remember!)