a video blog....because i said i would

pushing the boundaries...

...my boundaries, anyway.
looking back at 2009, i had a great year overall. a lot of fun times and making memories moments. it's almost like i took the year off just to play. it was exactly what i needed but in 2010 i want to take my life to a new dimension of living.

• physically - getting serious about my health; eating and exercise. setting hard goals and pushing the limits...
• spiritually - stop putting off Bible Study and reading materials and spending quality time praying and fasting. i want to make these things a priority and challenge myself to mature in my relationship with God.
• relationships - i really like having just a few close friends that i trust and play with...but i also want to allow the friends i don't get to spend a lot of time with to get to know me in a new and different way. so, i am going to begin video blogs. i am still trying to figure out what that will look like but i only have a couple days if i want to start the year out doing it, so it may be a trial and error kind of thing...
• education and future - going back to school is going to be hard. i want to be careful not to let the challenge and difficulty deter me but instead manage my time and push through it and work hard to accomplish and finish it.
• financially - i just want to be a good steward of what God gives me.
• work - i love working behind the scenes but i want to get out of my comfort zone and teach more and be in front of groups more often.

i want to stop saying "i can't" or "that's just not me". i want to push MY boundaries and change my world...!

looking back...

before moving into 2010, i thought i would look back at my 2009 goals...

• go deep sea fishing; yes, in june during my family's summer vacation. the video and pics are posted on my facebook.


• take 1 spontaneous road trip every month; not every month but i did take several; charleston, charlotte, jekyll island, atlanta, greenville, myrtle beach, maggie's valley...


• save $; yes, but then i spent it


• spend more time with family; i think so, but i should've been more specific in order to measure this.


• smile more; i don't know...i think so.


• parachute from a plane; on hold for now. waiting for my fun friend...


• cook more; eat less fast food; uh, nope


• exercise more; again, should've been more specific in order to measure this, but i'd say no i didn't excerise more but i did exercise.


• write a song; there are some lyrics in my head, but the song is still unwritten.


• journal or blog once a week; not one blog all year, but i facebooked ALL the time.


• relax more; i don't know...


• return to china; yes, in october with my dad and daughter and 4 others.


• try something new at least once a month; possibly, but not likely. didn't remember to make note...


• buy new bedroom furniture; no


• redecorate the living room; yes, well i started anyway. still in process of finishing.


• give up soft drinks; at least 3 times...


• lead my girls and their best friends through 2 bible studies; no, but thankful they are both involved in small group bible studies at church.


• sing karaoke; too scared


• participate in the marine corps ultimate challenge 2009 mud run; nope, my friend dissed me...


• take more pictures/video; most definitely


• continue to build off of last year lessons...developing my gifts and sticking to the things i do well; yes, but it got a little boring...so in 2010, i am...

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES

2009

i am happy and excited to welcome a new year! as a whole i want to concentrate on my family and friendships...but some personal goals for my year include:

• go deep sea fishing
• take 1 spontaneous road trip every month
• save $
• spend more time with family
• smile more
• parachute from a plane
• cook more; eat less fast food
• exercise more
• write a song
• journal or blog once a week
• relax more
• return to china
• try something new at least once a month
• buy new bedroom furniture
• redecorate the living room
• give up soft drinks
• lead my girls and their best friends through 2 bible studies
• sing karaoke
• participate in the marine corps ultimate challenge 2009 mud run
• take more pictures/video
• continue to build off of last year lessons...developing my gifts and sticking to the things i do well
• my verse for this year is proverbs 16:9 (message); "We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it." 
• my word of the year; able

2008...

in no particular order and not an exhaustive list, but here are a few memories...

• went to isreal; walked where jesus walked…will never read God’s word the same again...
  
• went on my first date in almost 20 yrs…
  
• hired a personal trainer…
  
• saddened by the loss of certain friendships…surprised by unexpected change in another…other friendships grew stronger…made new friends…reacquainted with old friends…still best friends with childhood friend of 30 yrs…
  
• challenged by the responsibility of raising 2 teenage daughters as a single mom...
  
• mother survived breast cancer...
  
• father developed parkinsins disease...
  
• took a couple of group ballroom dance lessons...
• went to china…climbed the great wall…floated down the yellow river…helped distribute over 50,000 bibles…
  
• i love my job...
  
• was sometimes overwhelmed and emotional trying to “find myself” and my purpose…
  
• cried a lot…
• reaffirmed that I work best behind the scenes…planning, directing and taking care of event details…
  
• ended the year 7 lbs heavier than I began…am ok with it...
  
• hate being alone but love my privacy; trying to find the balance...
  
• daughter got her drivers permit...
  
• still $ broke...
  
• filmed travis barkers last performance on video before his plane crashed the same night…
  
• feel like I am missing something in my life…
  
• gave myself bangs! trying to grow them out again…
  
• favorite memories all involve water, or a boat and always friends...and shadow hand puppets!!
  
• had to get reading glasses..
• shot a handgun for the first time in 20 years...
• there's this jeep incident and a golf cart adventure; no details...
• laughed a lot...
• there's soooo much more i am leaving out, but...

2009...coming soon

my escape day...

        

this day God reminded me to relax and live in the moment...one day at a time. he reminded me that he loves me and he takes care of all my needs (can you believe i needed to be reminded of that??!!) 

more china...

back row: left to right - brother drung (a church volunteer and our driver...for another blog!), pastor greg, and ben (our interpreter). front row: left to right - sister li, cristi, kathleen (our team leader from california), me, and sister shung.

this was my distribution team. after traveling hundreds of miles together in a van for hours and days to places 99% of foreigners will never go, it is no wonder why it was an emotional goodbye. two different languages were never a barrier to complete the task given to us. these chinese church leaders watched over us, prayed for us, led us, inspired us and modeled for us what true servanthood looks like. i look forward to seeing these brothers and sisters again...one day.