Just a few resolutions for 2008

I was talking to a friend recently who laughed when I told her that I stay up every year to wait on the million-dollar ball to drop in Times Square. I am not sure exactly what about the new year excites me, but I think it is just the feeling that you can start fresh and new. Part of that is making resolutions.

I know, I know--when you make resolutions you usually only keep them for a few days at best. But I am determined that this year is going to be different. A few weeks ago, Dan and I discussed some goals we have as a family and some personal goals.

Here are my top 10 goals for 2008:

1. I will drink water every night at dinner.
2. I will only eat out twice a week (which is great for the bank and the figure!).
3. I will let those close to me know how important they are by remembering to send birthday cards (I remember birthdays pretty well but ALWAYS forget the cards).
4. I will watch less TV...this will be easy because we are getting rid of cable.
5. I will pay attention to how much I am spending on gasoline. One of the pastors at our church told us that he had overspent $1000 in three years because he was not going to the most price-efficient station.
6. We will have game night at least once a week.
7. We will have date night at least once a month.
8. We will attend one church service a week (starting in February).
9. We will serve at one church service a week.
10. I will keep my resolutions this year. :)

So far, we are doing pretty well. I guess only time will tell how well we do.

2007 Christmas through pictures

As the old saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." So enjoy the novella of our 2007 Christmas. Emma and Liam at Papoo and Gigi's house. Emma got this cute pretend banana split in her stocking. She opened it, tried to take a bite, and then said, "It not working." (this is what she says when something doesn't do what she wants it to.) I am convinced that she wanted it to be REAL ice cream. It was pretty cute!

Emma got this stroller from Mama Jean. I am certain this was on her top 5 list of favorite gifts from 2007.

This is a picture from my PawPaw's house. And yes, this is how it looks every year. With 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild, what else can you expect?

This is Emma at Mommy D and Grandpaw's house. She was much more interested in playing the "finger, finger" (that is what she calls any piano or keyboard) than she was in opening gifts.

Emma and "Schlecky" (Lexie, my little sister) winding down by watching some "Bear Bears" (Care Bears).

Tis the season...

...for lots of parties, school programs, and more parties! Here are some great pictures of the goings-on of the Delaney clan:

1. Emma's school program--very cute. We couldn't really see her well, but another mom told me that she was one of the only children singing. At one time, she even screamed with excitement over the jingle bells. She definitely takes after her Mommy when it comes to being in front of crowds!

2. Our small group party! Here is a picture of me with the girls...I love these ladies!

3. Happy Birthday, Jesus! Party--we had a great time with the Kinneys and the Pages as we celebrated Jesus' birthday!
4. Home Groups Celebration--Home groups are home small groups for the 3rd-5th graders at our church. We call them home groups as to not confuse them with the small groups we have on weekends. We decided to go to ride go karts on quite possibly the coldest day EVER! :)

5. The Seahorses' Class Party--What's more fun than a group of two-year-olds on a playground in the middle of December? I can think of a lot of things, really...but the party was still lots of fun!

And to think--we still have four stops to make for Christmas. What an exhausting time! But when you're spending it with people whom you love and care about, do you even notice?

Thursday Thirteen (a day late)

13 Highs and Lows since I last blogged

1. I had an awesome "girls' weekend" with some ladies from church as we went to Atlanta to check out a Children's Ministry event (high).
2. I came back to turn in my notice that I will be leaving my position at Seacoast at the end of January (high/low, depending on when you ask me).
3. I had a great Thanksgiving with my family, and made sweet potato souffle for the first time (high).
4. I did not get to spend a lot of time with my dad's family (low).
5. We decorated our house for Christmas (high).
6. Dan started his new job and absolutely loves it (high).
7. We finished most of our Christmas shopping (high).
8. None of it is wrapped yet (low).
9. And now we are really broke (low).
10. But Dan makes a lot more at his new job, so hopefully we'll be able to recuperate some of that (high).
11. We have been watching Christmas movies--they always put me in a good mood (high).
12. My uncle died last week. It is so hard to see your family go through such a deep tragedy and want nothing more than to be able to take the pain away from them (low...really low).
13. The whole situation has made me realize what I feel like God has been telling me for a few weeks--that is what Christmas is all about. It's about God having such intense love for us and compassion on us that He would give us the gift of His Son. I was reminded that while we all like to think of the sweet first Christmas with the angels, the shepherds, and the wise men, that it was really about God coming to fight the very real and very powerful satan--who wants nothing more than to get a hold of our hearts and minds. But God loves us and wants the best for us and gave us the best gift that He could have given us.

Christmas in November

If there is one thing I get excited about, it's Christmas! As I think back to my childhood, most of the best memories I have are from Christmas. It seemed like the one time of year that I could forget all of my troubles and really just enjoy the season.

So over the last few weeks, I have been getting really excited about Christmas this year! We have gotten a 3' tree for Emma, complete with Care Bear, My Little Pony, and Disney Princess ornaments. The funny thing is that Dan actually had an opinion about the ornaments we were getting for her. He said, "I don't want her to have Barbie. I just don't think that Barbie teaches little girls the right things." He's so hilarious when it comes to protecting his little girl!

I have also been listening to some wonderful Christmas music! 102.5 FM has been playing Christmas music over the weekends, and there's a great radio station that plays Christmas music all day. It's http://www.xmasmelody.com/. Fantastic station, but I have to put in my headphones when I listen to it at home. Dan can't stand it!

And even though Santa won't be visiting the Delaney house--ever--we are still hoping to make this a special Christmas for Emma. She's going to have a Happy Birthday, Jesus! Party in December. We can't wait to have all of the babies and toddlers come over and celebrate with us! We're going to play games and make an ornament and of course eat cake. Yay!

So I guess I'm one of those nerds who gets into Christmas a little too early. But how could you resist?

Edisto Trip

Here are some pictures from a great vacation. Three days of sun, 70-degree weather, and time with friends--you can't beat that! But we will try next year, as this is set to become an annual tradition.

Sometimes, you just have to get away to remember how thankful you are for your husband, your child, and your friends. God's beauty is so evident at this place, and being with people you care about makes you realize why and that you want to worship Him. But here are just a few of the reasons I praise God everyday:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. James 1:17

Princess Emma...A priceless picture

It's not very often that I get good pictures of Emma. She's naturally photogenic, but she does not like to sit still long enough to take a good picture. Here's one from yesterday, though, that is one of my new favorites!