I suspect a judge forced my husband’s sister to return them and fleeing to another city did nothing for her cause.

1.  Go on an adult vacation: Preferably an island–any island! I went to Cancun and had a nice time

2.  Have my baby boy potty trained: He will be 21 months then. Not quite, but he is almost there

3.  Make time to pursue my hobbies: I did start a personal style blog

4.  Decide if I want to attend law school No, I’ll stick to the education industry.

5.  Find a place of worship

6.  Find a great, simple recipe for mac and cheese Thanks to Suzanne, half and half, and cooking creme

7.  A serious relationship: I am lonely: I am dating someone

8.  Make a pink champagne cake Very rich and decadent!

9.  Start/finish my a scrapbook for my mother: I haven’t even started!

10. Gain 10 pounds: In my opinion there is a such thing as being too thin: Hasn’t happened yet

11.  Have a family vacation somewhere where there is a beach–Australia maybe: Maybe next year!

12.  Compliment/encourage someone at least once a day

13.  Pray more

14.  Keep a resilient attitude I think I am pretty good at this, I am still standing.

15.  Read at least 10 good books that are not work related: The Help, Priceless Inspirations, Living Beyond Your Feelings: Controlling Emotions So  They Don’t Control You

16.  Manage my time more efficiently

17. Stop and smell the roses

18.  Develop a plan for my debts No plan, I just started paying what I could pay, lol

19.  Be grateful for the smALL things

20.  Consciously choose to forgive those who have hurt me

21.  Finish the Old Testament: 24 more books to go

22.  Take a class–likely pertaining to my career

23.  Cook whatever I want to eat: I’m back to trying different recipes

24.  Start an online business I opened a store on Esty if that counts, however, I haven’t sold anything yet.

25.  Organize the garage I did, but now it needs organizing again, lol

26.  Create a formal will: Shame on me that I don’t have this done by now!

27.  Save more, spend less

28.  Stop using retail as therapy

29.  Exercise patience

30.  Stop taking everything to heart: I’m about 50% better

31.  Laugh more: Sometimes I am such a wet blanket

32.  Be more creative with my wardrobe

33.  Spend twice as much more QUALITY time with my kids: I have gotten better at this, now I just need to find mutual activities that can be enjoyed by my toddler and teenager. It feels soooo weird that I have a teenager!

34. ?

Image via Wikipedia

With Christmas fast approaching, I’ve been wanting to hear some of my favorite carols. They include:

1. The Little Drummer Boy-I really love this one for its message! The little drummer boy had nothing extravagant to bring to the baby Messiah other than his drumming talent. Beautiful.

2. Silent Night (Temptations version)-Love this one, especially the falsetto part. This was also a favorite of my grandmother’s.

3. All I Want For Christmas Is You (Mariah Carey)-I love this song! It’s so catchy.

4. The Greatest Time of Year (Ally and AJ)-Cute, fun, and festive!

5. Let It Snow (Boys II Men)-I love this rendition as well. It sounds so pretty.

6. The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole)-Just classic

7. This Christmas (Donny Hathaway)-So intimate and soulful

8. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (Brenda Lee)-Fun and festive

9. What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas Time? (The Emotions)-Sentimental yet realistic

10.) White Christmas (Bing Crosby)-Because white Christmas’ are the best ones!

What do you want to hear?

He might make you know man shall not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3

I love Sunbeam’s holiday advertising company. It’s so true! Be blessed!

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Life is like a puzzle I like to tell myself. When you are putting it together, it often looks like it will never amount to anything, especially so when it  large or provides few clues on piecing it together.

Case in point: I had a photo turned into a puzzle, and because I was being cheap, I did not order the tin that would have displayed the picture on the outside. So when putting it together, I grew frustrated because I had nothing to reference and could not find the original picture snapped on a  Hawaiian beach.

The backdrop was simply sand, sky, and sea–which made it very hard to decipher one piece from another.  I quickly decided that the company  must have gotten the puzzle all wrong, it truly did not APPEAR that it could form a legitimate image.  I finally  located the picture on my computer and worked from there. Slowly I made progress.

It wasn’t until I was virtually finished with it a few days later that I knew a picture existed. I was so excited to have the puzzle done except for one piece that I could not find. Strangely, I did not panic. I was sure it would turn up somewhere. And it did in the strangest of places.  The missing piece was on the bathroom floor!

I recalled this experience today and decided to keep a puzzle piece in my purse as a reminder.  The piece serves to remind me that everything happens as it should, and once every piece is all in place, the picture will be complete. And make sense.

Moral of my story: Have faith!