1. My husband is a saint. No really. You should meet him. He is the template for the kind of guy I hope & pray our girls will marry. He has a dry sense of humor that he uses at all the right moments, yet listens and gives great advice. He will let me hide behind him when needed, he will take the fall, he will stand back when he knows it's my turn to fly, he will hold me, he will wipe away my tears (both happy and sad), his talent is unparalleled, he is the strongest man of God I have ever met and yet will never tell you about any of these qualities….humility and integrity he lives out but never announces. See? A saint. I have grown to love him even more this year (if that were even possible).
2. Friends are like a box of chocolates. All completely different but completely necessary for different events, moods, deep talks and laughing. Every girl needs a variety of friends with different perspectives and personalities to hang out with for a myriad of reasons. Some will keep you grounded. Some will let you dream and some will dream with you. And, heck, every girl needs all of that, right? Oh, and consider getting rid of the bad ones for you...who likes the flakey coconut ones? Yuck.
3. Forgivness is choice. Period. People can wrong you. People can hurt you. People can say words that cut deep into the core of who you are. But at the end of the day forgiveness is a choice and to choose not to forgive only hurts you. So,just forgive.
4. You can't fix the world. This lesson may spill over into 2014 and beyond. Oh, the balance in wanting to change the world while realizing when it is time to let go because it is well beyond what you can do. It’s alright to keep learning this. It means you want to help...just know the balance and the lines not to cross.
5. Eat more carbs. Exercise it off. Count calories again the next day and splurge a bit again….and repeat (oh, and this is done best with a friend).
6. Find something to laugh about at least once a day. And give yourself permission to not be perfect but let it go from time to time. Some rules are meant to be broken.
7. Yes, you can start something big without a person giving you permission. You can be a world changer and nobody but God gives you definition or permission to do so. Another man is just that…another man or woman. Only God alone has the plans for your life seek Him for that and nobody else. Not everyone is going to understand your actions…that's alright…you have to answer to God not the naysayers of the world anyways. God defends. Let Him do that while you walk out what He tells you to do.
8. Protect your child's innocence even when all the other parents are saying something is alright….go with your gut if you feel that it isn't! Remember in jr high when all the kids would tell you, well everybody's doing it? Did you listen? No? Good for you, repeat and teach your kids that kind tenascity and resolve. Yes? Well, nows the time to redeem yourself and teach your kids they don't have to listen to peer pressure….God gave you those little kids as gifts, protect them and their innocence with your life. It's your main job. Do it like there is a huge bonus on the line. Because there is. It's called their eternity.
9. While on the topic of kids. Love God in front of them. Love your spouse in front of them. Not with your words necessarily, but rather with your life and actions. Kids listen better with their eyes. You can impact and inspire them without ever saying a word. They are watching and doing what they see play out in front of them at home not what they are told.
10. Love unconditionally. Love deeply even when others aren't looking or when nobody understands your reasoning, show love anyways. Give your life to something you believe in. Give to others. Allow yourself to feel your pain, and heal, then feel others pain enough to share the hope given to you by God that not all is lost but rather there will be joy again in the morning. Sometimes things are learned best during your darkest hours only to share what you've learned in the morning.
Rinse and repeat in 2014.
