It Changed My Life

That girl deep in thought is Taylor Swift for anyone who doesn't know... I can't assume everyone knows who she is because last month while I was eating lunch with Libby at school, she was doing one of those "fortune teller" things- that we used to call "Cooty Catchers"- and my "fortune" was that Taylor Swift was thinking about me. I responded, "I didn't even know that he knows who I am". Which was met with laughs of hilarity by Libby and her 5th grade friends. :-) "Mo-oooom! She's a girl!" Oh. So I'm not up on pop culture. I think that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Fast forward to New Years Eve, as we were watching the ball drop in Times Square (on TV), Taylor was hostessing along with Ryan Secrest and the Jonas Brothers and during the magical first moments of 2009 when the confetti was falling from the sky and the party horns were being blown and the mood was festive, Taylor said of it all, "This is so... life changing".

Life changing?!! Really? Wow. And in our corner of the world, we all laughed at her and I wanted to ask, "Tell me, Taylor, how does a New Years' Eve party change your life?" No, really. I'd like to know. If her life was changing, I honestly would like to know how. All that really changed in my life was that I now have to remember to write 2009 instead of 2008. And what is the changing of a year, really, when you think about it? Nothing more than going from one minute to the next. A reminder that time is passing.

Since then I have entertained myself by repeating her words to myself, "Oh, this is so life changing!!!" about any good little thing that happens and I laugh.

But it has made me stop and think about things in my life that really have changed it. Topping my list are things like moving out of my parents' house, graduating from high school and college, getting married, the births of my children (particularly the first), moving to Maryland, moving to Alabama.... and then smaller things like books I have read, conversations I have had, sermons I have heard, friends I have made... these things have certainly changed my life in subtle and substantial ways.

But what about the magical moment 2009 years ago (give or take a few) when Jesus made it possible for me to be united with Him forever? And it happened on a "hill far away" on an "old rugged cross" and it was an ugly thing on earth and the only confetti and rock music was in heaven. (I'm taking liberties here). I read this quote on someone's Facebook profile and I love it....

Jesus knows me, this I love. :-)

And I know that Jesus knows me and I know that this MUST have changed my life but I have been asking myself how. How is my life different because of Jesus than it would be without him? This is a hard question for people like me who were raised in the church. But one that is good to ask. That "life change" should be clear in every decision I make, every hour I spend, every towel I fold, every meal I cook for someone else, every meal I receive (thank you!!!), every time I am tempted to complain about my sore back, every nose I wipe, every math problem I help with, every carpool I drive... even when it seems mundane and even when I lose my temper and even when I so often choose the wrong thing... still I hope that overall my life shows that I realize I am not the same. I am different because Jesus knows me.

Oops!

Too bad Bobby and Kelly didn't have this warning sign posted on their stairs yesterday.... as I was coming down, in my crocheted slippers, carrying the baby... because at some point, my feet slipped out from under me and I landed flat on my back on the stairs! Kennedy's okay and I fractured a rib (along with bruising and straining several muscles), but am actually feeling somewhat better today.... or maybe that's the narcotics speaking! :-) Pray for me!!

Happy 11th Birthday Libby!!

Eleven years ago this morning, after four hours of intense labor (and 9 months of intense pregnancy), God blessed us with a sweet baby girl, Elizabeth Brooke Newman. In the blinking of our eye, she has grown into a beautiful, sweet, smart 11 year old. Here is a look at her through the years....

( Bang trim courtesy of big sister Sarah)

Libby today with her friends Alaina and Shelby:

Second Post of the Day to make up for lost time

Sarah found a new picture for my mantel yesterday at Michael's (we weren't shopping for mantel pictures, but I like it).... my living room & furniture are a weird shade of brown... and I used to be adding a pinkish accent color (or trying to), but now I am switching more to a red and getting rid of the pink. The red sort-of ties in the kitchen, which is yellows, greens and reds. I am using all of these decorating terms loosely since I am not much of a decorator, really... I just do what I like. Here is what I have come up with:

Predators Game

Last weekend Jacob (and some friends from his hockey team) got to skate on the ice and shoot at the goal at the first intermission of the Nashville Predators (vs. the Calgary Flames) game. They also served us lunch before the game. The Predators lost the game- but if you have never been to a pro hockey game, and you don't mind hearing the occasional bad (but not awful) word, I highly recommend it! It was alot of fun. Here he is during his professional hockey debut:

My New Bracelet

Well, I'm back to counting Weight Watchers points (on day 5!) and so far so good. I thought about posting my weight loss goal on here, but decided that is too personal! :-) Suffice it to say- I have alot of pounds to lose. And if I am really good and don't give up counting points at the end of January like I did last year- I should reach my goal by the end of May! In the meantime, Weight Watchers sells bracelets that you can use for counting your points. You wear the bracelet all day and whenever you use points, you move the charm the same number of beads. This seems alot easier to me than keeping written logs as I have done in the past. And I decided I could definitely use my recently-acquired beading skills to make my own and save ALOT of money... below is the first one I came up with this morning. I used beads I had available (which wasn't many) and the only charm I had, which was a cross... which I think is a good thing because it will help me to remember who is really in control of my life.... and (hint hint) it's not FOOD. :-) I like the idea of having a few of these in different colors to match what I am wearing each day!

Holidays Are Over!!!

I am so glad the holidays are over- now I just have to take down my Christmas tree and do the 20 loads of laundry we generated while away this past week. I usually take the tree down on Christmas day, so I don't have to face it when I get back from traveling, but this year we left earlier than usual.

The kids had their annual Christmas Eve recital for us (only they had it on the 23rd). They played the piano, sang, read "The Night Before Christmas" and had a nativity skit:

Once in Michigan, we left the children with their grandparents and went with my sister and her husband to a cabin in Northern Michigan for the weekend... we had a great time. Here is the snow we found on the back porch when we got there:

And the view from the front window:

After the first day and squeezing in a mile of skiing before it got dark, the next day it rained and was 50 degrees!! No skiing that day, so we had plenty of time for games and stuff. The cabin had a nice pool table that got lots of use:

The next day was cold and snowy again. Tim and David getting ready to ski:


Me & Melis:

All of us having a cup of hot chocolate in between skiing "sessions":

Melissa, how many games did the Lions win this season?!! Ha ha.

My mom after watching the girls all weekend:

My mom and dad, sister and the girls, plus me- a happy family.

Back and Tim's parent's house in Ohio....Sarah playing with the DS with her cousin Paul:


Libby and sweet little Erika:

Jacob and Paul (a handful when they're together- actually, a handful when they're not together):

All of the cousins with (Tim's) Grandma Frank who will be 94 in 2 weeks:

Now, I have to get back to the laundry.....