This morning I read all the blogs (Weeks 1-51) and couldn’t believe the topics we covered together. All the holidays, my surgery, the election, remembering our fallen heroes, my retirement, birthdays…you were with me as I lived life and I thank you so much!

I also want to thank Mark for staying up with me on those nights when I struggled to make my self-imposed Saturday deadline. XOXO

I hope I made you smile when you read about my own exploits; that you had your own epiphany as you read a shared scripture; and you spent a few private moments with God.

I admit, a few tears have rolled down my cheeks as I write this last blog. I know God is faithful, and he’ll be orchestrating my next assignment. But, we never want to let go of something good, do we? Even when we know something better is just around the corner.

Jesus said, “I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12).”

My prayer for all of us is that we embrace what God has for us, that we continue to lean on one another as we live life, and that we accomplish great deeds through our actions.

This isn’t good-bye…it’s see you soon!

As a mother, I always think I should have praised my children more, supported them more, spent more time with them—and there are days when I feel like a failure as a mother. I wonder if Mary, the mother of Jesus, ever felt the same way?

We begin Mary’s entrance into motherhood in a barn because there was no room for her in an inn. Mary was a teenager when she gave birth to the Savior of the World. She probably had no clue how to care for an infant. Haven’t we all been unsure of how to hold our little newborn treasures? Or how to feed them? Or change their diapers?

When Jesus was twelve, his family traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When they were traveling home, Mary and Joseph realized that Jesus wasn’t with them. They traveled back to Jerusalem and searched for three days until they found him in the temple (Luke 2:41-52). Can you imagine how Mary felt at this moment? Elation at finding him safe, angry that he had stayed behind without permission. Haven’t we all felt that momentary flutter in our hearts when we thought we’d lost our child in a store? I can remember that scenario all too well.

Jesus demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit through miracles and his sermons, but his family didn’t believe in him. In Mark 3:21, the scripture says, “When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” Mary knew exactly who Jesus was, yet in her mind, I believe, she thought he was still her little boy. There were times when my children were spreading their wings and testing the water, and I didn’t trust in them. I wanted to keep them safe, I wanted to keep them close, but that’s not God’s plan for them. Can you relate to Mary?

We finally see Mary as a witness to the crucifixion (John 19:26). I can’t begin to imagine how she felt, seeing her first born son be tortured and crucified. Mary must have remembered nursing her son, playing with him, losing him in Jerusalem, and failing to believe in him. I see Mary as a woman just like me and you—with all the love in her heart and all the failings we suffer. Today, as we celebrate Jesus’s birthday, I’d like to celebrate Mary, too. She teaches us that we’re not perfect mothers, just loving ones.

As I drove down Bullard Avenue today, going about 50 miles per hour, a jaywalker sauntered into my lane. I started to brake and thought, get out of the way you idiot! He finally picked up his pace when he realized there was heavy traffic headed right for him.

I don’t know what happens during the Christmas season. It seems to bring out the worst in people—especially me. I lose my patience, I want beautiful clothes and jewelry I can’t afford, and my attitude is mainly about me. I have to fight against this all December. No one ever claimed that being a Christian was easy!

In Luke 14:27, Jesus said, “And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Fighting my own predilections and desires are my cross and sometimes it is damn heavy.

There are days that I want to throw Christianity out the window and just think about myself and my family. But then I think about my life before Christ and my life after Christ, and I definitely choose the latter.

We all carry a cross, but we don’t have to carry it alone. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

This month in particular I need to remember these wise words. I need rest for my soul. If I have that, then I don’t need anything else. And the next time I see a jaywalker in my path, I’ll be a little more patient and humble.

I’ve had an opportunity to watch some of my grandchildren in action…Kaylee playing basketball, Ayden tumbling, and Noah mastering video games without reading a word of instruction. I can see their fine minds, flexibility, quickness—I can actually see them learning new skills or improving on the ones they have. They have the whole world available to them, where nothing is impossible to access or learn.

I long to run and jump with my grandchildren, or to share a winning strategy to defeat a virtual foe. But the reality is my children and grandchildren are climbing the mountain, and I’m on my downhill slide. So, what legacy can I leave my loved ones that matter?

At this point in my life, I realize the best legacy I could leave my family is to share my Christian faith. If the idiom, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” then I should be showing them the fruit of the spirit by exhibiting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

What does that mean? It means that I should be kind when I’m talking about someone, patient when I’m waiting in the grocery line, or generous if I see someone who needs a helping hand.

I’m reminded of Deuteronomy 6:5-7, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

What do I hope for? To have children and grandchildren who love God and have a personal relationship with him, to be genuine, and have a heart for people. Am I asking for too much? I don’t think so.

(I won’t be taping a video segment for this week)

Ah, the Christmas songs, the frantic shoppers, the crazy drivers, the sensation of money slipping through my fingers—these are all signs that the Christmas season has begun. During this time of year, I can sometimes feel overwhelmed and empty inside. And shouldn’t this be the happiest time of year when we celebrate our Savior’s birth?

I thought this year would be different because I have more free time on my hands since my retirement. But I still find myself scouring the ads, developing strategies to attack my Christmas shopping, and worrying about finding the perfect gifts that my family will love.

This morning during my Bible study, I ran across this sentence taken from THE ARMOR OF GOD by Priscilla Shirer, “The vacuum within our hearts can only be occupied by the one thing for which it was created: relationship and intimacy with God.” This sentence flew off the page and hit me on the head.

Sometimes I forget that God created me. He hardwired me to desire a relationship with him. And when I begin to feel empty inside, that’s code for I’m not spending enough time with God. During this time of year, I need to remember that it isn’t all about shopping for that perfect present, it’s about appreciating and being thankful for the present God gave the world—Jesus Christ.

So as I go about my business like Santa’s elf this month, the following two verses are going to help put things into perspective:

• Philippians 4:6 – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

• Colossians 3:15 – “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

As I put these verses into practice, I plan to be a patient driver, a courteous shopper, and I thankful daughter. Can anyone relate?

Sorry for the poor quality of the footage! I couldn’t edit my video.

One of my priorities after retirement was to get physically fit. Although I’d just had shoulder surgery, I still wanted to be toned and able to keep up with my grandchildren. The week after my last day of work, I joined the local gym and started a Zumba class. Now…that’s fun. But recently I started to work with weights and exercise with a personal trainer, and that isn’t so much fun. After years of sitting behind a desk, my joints and muscles are screaming from the new exertion and strain I’m placing on these old bones.

Another one of my priorities was to study the bible. Not just reading a chapter a day to get through some sort of reading plan, but to read it and truly understand its meaning. Reading the fun parts of the Bible is a little like Zumba. It’s fun, I like the characters I’m introduced to, and after the initial workout I’m feeling good—like I really accomplished something. But my muscles aren’t screaming in protest.

So a few weeks ago I pulled out a book a friend loaned me, LIVING BY THE BOOK. I equate this book to a set of 10 pound weights that I hope will stretch my spiritual muscles and leave me sore for a few days, but eventually stronger in my understanding of the Bible.

Don’t we all do things we don’t want to do but know it’s good for us? So why should our spiritual lives be any different?

I want my grandchildren to remember their Mimi by my tenacity to finish what I start. I want to be a toned, muscled grandma with a spiritual side to her equal to none. I believe I have the tools to accomplish this, I just have to make the commitment to use them.

Can anyone relate?

(It’s been a fun-filled Thanksgiving weekend, my video will be posted tomorrow)

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week! A lot has happened in my life since our last Thanksgiving; I have much to be thankful for.

Mark and I have started to plan our menu—from appetizers to dessert. And our goal is to make this a memorable occasion for our family to enjoy. With Phillip living in Bakersfield, and everyone’s hectic life, it’s difficult to get the entire family together. Maybe that’s why Thanksgiving is such an important holiday for Americans. It gives us an excuse to be extravagant with our fellowship and meal.

Sometimes family celebrations can be stressful. Especially if we’re preparing the meal. But this year I plan to enjoy the moment. I want to give our family the best, but I don’t want to be so busy that I don’t appreciate everyone’s company or THANKFUL for each and every moment on this day.

As I sat down to write, I remembered Psalm 23 (one of my favorites in the Bible). Did you know that God is preparing a table for us? In verses 5-6 it says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine God’s table before you. I imagine huge candelabras with real wax candles, gold plates, silver goblets, platters of delicacies, and fine wine x 100. This is God’s table, and he never does anything less than “over the top.”

So, as I celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to thank God for giving me my family and friends. I want to thank God for giving me my home and possessions. But most of all I want to remember that God gave us Jesus so that we could dwell in God’s house forever.

I hope you all have the best Thanksgiving ever! Enjoy your family and friends and take a moment to savor the holiday.

There are so many self-help books on the market today. I just did a search on Amazon and there were 854,861 results in the self-help category. Imagine almost 1 million books on how to “fix” ourselves.

Sometimes I feel like I’ve dropped the ball in my own life and before I came to Christ, I bought my fair share of self-help books. I didn’t know (at the time) that I needed only one book to “fix” my life—the one and only Bible. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17:  “Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” I have an instruction at my finger tips and sometimes I take it for granted.

If I’m honest with myself, I may have another 30 good years to live, and there’s so much I want in my life. I feel like I need to start speaking awesome things into my life and I’d like some company. Some of you might feel silly doing this, but here are some reasons why it’s so important to speak God’s word over our lives:

• All scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• What we speak is a reflection of our heart (Matthew 12:34)
• Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17)
• God watches over his word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12)

I feel it’s so important that I’m making a promise to you—I promise to speak God’s word over my life every morning until January 1, 2017. If you choose to join me, here are a few declarations to get us started:

• I am God’s daughter and a co-heir with Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 6:18, Romans 8:17)
• I am blessed to be a blessing (2 Corinthians 9:8)
• I have the spirit of power, of love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)
• I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
• I am healed (Isaiah 53:5, Exodus 15:26).
• I am destined to live in victory (Romans 5:17)
• The works of my hands will be blessed (Deuteronomy 2:7)

How’s that for starters? Just writing this gave me goosebumps. There is power in speaking God’s word. Join me and give it a try!

Our church has been listening to a video series by Craig Groeschel on “Making Change.”  The four major topics in the video series is: less is more, stress is bad, giving is good, and tomorrow matters. This has really hit home, and I’ve been asking myself a lot of questions this week.

I was a shopping addict, and I still struggle with wanting what I really don’t need or can’t afford. I mean, do I really need a Michael Kors handbag, five pairs of Lucky jeans, and make-up that would feed a child in a third world country for a month?

I think my need for more comes from a place where I had no money to buy anything. At one point in my life I wore my maternity clothes well after I gave birth to Phillip, because I didn’t have money to buy regular clothes. And I probably stood, just like Scarlet O’Hara, with my fist raised to the heavens saying, “I’ll never go without regular clothes again!”

When Mark and I start to talk about a household budget, I go into a tailspin. A budget means accountability, planning, sacrifice—all the words I don’t want to deal with. But then I go to our instruction manual, and the first scripture I remember is: 1 Timothy 6:10 which says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

And then, this morning, I was studying James. In James 4:1-3, the bible says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

A few months ago, I was talking with a girlfriend who is a lot wiser than I am. I shared that I was praying for a writing career that would allow me to travel around the world (with Mark). She said, “Be careful what you pray for, because God just might send you around the world doing missionary work.” I thought, that wasn’t what I had in mind. I wanted to travel the world in first class accommodations!

So, this week I’ve been asking myself, “How much is enough?” God has given me a lot of resources: a beautiful home, jewelry, clothes, the entire “American Dream.” This week I’ll be evaluating my desires and making some attitude adjustments to be in alignment for God’s best in my life. In the end, God, family, friends, and health are most important and I don’t want to lose sight of that. Can anyone relate?

I’m on vacation this week in Cancun, and as I walked the beach yesterday, I thought about all the regrets in my life. But this time, rather than lament about wrong choices and missed opportunities, I thought about God and what Jesus did for me at the cross.

Living with regret is dishonoring to my loved ones and to God. I look back at my life and think of alternative choices I could have made, but I wouldn’t have everything I have today: my family, my husband, my friends, and my church.

I thought, what does my instruction manual say about regret?

• John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I come that they have life and have it abundantly.
• Proverbs 3:6 – In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
• Genesis 50:20 – As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
• Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good for those who love him, who have been called to his purpose.

Some people live their whole life living with regret, but I’m not going to be one of them. I choose to live my life looking forward, and not dwelling in the past. Does anyone care to join me?

(I will post my video tomorrow if the sun is shining)