Happy New Year!!

I am most excited as we leave 2009 behind

and enter boldly and with great faith into 2010!!

Have a safe and fabulous New Year's celebration!!

Courage...

Webster's 1828 definition of courage...

COURAGE, n. [L., the heart.] Bravery; intrepidity; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution. It is a constituent part of fortitude; but fortitude implies patience to bear continued suffering.

Courage that grows from constitution, often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it; courage which arises from a sense of duty, acts in a uniform manner.

Be strong and of good courage. Deuteronomy 31.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.

Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 56:3-4
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Hebrews 13:5-6
For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Change requires determination.

Change requires courage.

Courage isn't something we can earn.

Courage isn't something people give us.

Courage is within us.

Within. Us. All.

We must have faith.

We must trust.

I am no longer going to be afraid of what the changes will bring to the other aspects of my life.

I am going to remember that God gave me courage.

God gives me courage every day.

I just have to recognize it.

Are you ever afraid?

Do others commend your courage? Your strength?

Do you envy the courage or strength in others?

Perhaps we should emulate the traits that we envy.

determination DETERMINATION, n. 1. The act of determining or deciding. 2. Decision of a question in the mind; firm resolution; settled purpose; as, they have acquainted me with their determination. 3. Judicial decision; the ending of a controversy or suit by the judgment of a court. Justice is promoted by a speedy determination of causes, civil and criminal. 4. Absolute direction to a certain end. Remissness can by no means consist with a constant determination of the will to the greatest apparent good. 5. An ending; a putting an end to; as the determination of a will.

---

For the past several months I have known that change was necessary.

I'm a thinker. I'm a planner. I'm a type A personality.

I have come to discover that in order to be successful, there are several very necessary things.

One of these things is determination.

Determination sounds simple enough. It seems easy. But it requires a mindset that can overcome all.

Obstacles are everywhere. Obstacles can be a hinderance, but only if you let them.

Determination will require a change in my priorities.

What obstacles stand in your way?

How do you overcome them?

Do you overcome them?

Are the things that you feel are most important truly what you put first? Are they your priority?

Change...

CHANGE, v.t.

1. To cause to turn or pass from one state to another; to alter, or make different; to vary in external form, or in essence; as, to change the color or shape of a thing; to change the countenance; to change the heart or life.

Change is an interesting concept.

I have declared 2010 the year of change.

2009 was the year of chaos. Everything was out of my control.

Change is about making things different.

Change is not easy.

Change takes time.

Change takes effort.

Change takes prayer.

What changes have been laid upon your heart to make in 2010?

Sunday Blessings

Ecclesiastes 7:20

There is not a righteous man on earth

who does what is right and never sins.

Good-Bye December...

Some Bling

Stitching

and stockings

Christmas Morning joys

Finding Time for puppies

Writing letters to Santa

Decorations are out

Pajama Parties at School

Snowy Days

Proud moments

Joy

Presents for Puppies

When your grown-up babies sleep over

Ice Storms

Train Stores

Shopping

Happy Birthday Faces

Good-Bye December...

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas

Definitely a White Christmas!!

Dear Pottery Barn...

Dear Pottery Barn,

I was in need of a bit of cheer and inspiration the other day and your stores, website, and catalogs are a treasure. A treat. Eye candy.

I noticed near the bottom of some of your areas that there was a spring sneak peek. Quite sneaky Pottery Barn, but not sneaky enough for the gal who needs an escape.

I want to beg for employment at one of your stores. I would be the best employee ever. I love your store. I love your products. I would give you all my paycheck back when I purchased merchandise.

Please hire me.

I must own all of these amazing items.

And some that I have coveted for a very long time.

Sincerely, Suzann


(enjoy all these goodies I have fallen in love with from my favorite store)

Dare I say that I may give up my Starbuck's so I can afford them all. - Unless Pottery Barn actually hires me.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

I'm hunting.

I'm hunting for the perfect Gray (Grey).

My mind is spinning.

Something vintage, not contemporary or modern.

Warm, not cold.

Not too gray, not too blue.

Not too dark.

Just right.

Have you used gray in your home?

Do you have a favorite color?

Would you share?