A New Year!

So it is a new year, with hope in my heart that this year is going to be better then last year. The year 2008 brought a lot of blessings, excitement and heartache. I am grateful for those blessings and trials. As I reflect on those and the loss of loved ones, and surgeries and sweet service rendered I am grateful. As those of you who know me, know it is hard for me to ADMIT I need help, I love to give service and to help others and lighten their load, but so hard to accept it. I wonder if that is why some of these things this passed year happened was to teach me it is OK, and that others need blessings too. First hard thing was asking my parents to come and help out while I had my kidney removed, then all the outpouring love that I received was so overwhelming and hard for me to accept. I know I couldn't have done it without all the love and prayers. I also learned this year the outpouring love of the savior, and that though times are rough he doesn't leave you alone, when I thought I couldn't handle another moment is when I knew he was carrying me like the poem Footprints. Josh's surgery was another time that I noticed unconditional love from my ward, friends and family. Even though I don't have family here in Nebraska I have never felt alone. I have been blessed with sisters that give me smiles and encouragement even when they don't know I need it, and that is what keeps my head up and me ready for the next task. With Ed in the bishopric and trying to handle 5 kids (one of which wants to run up and sit on the stand with Ed and humiliate me with screaming and crying) I struggle at times and wonder why I endure Sundays, but I know I need the uplift that I receive when I walk through those Chapel Doors. I am grateful for the lessons this year has brought and the realization that I am not nor should be above being served and that I need to let others serve me, which is still a hard thing for me, but I am learning.
With the New year I am looking forward and wanting to do better, both physically, mentally and spiritually. I know that if I do not exercise my body then I am shut down mentally and spiritually. I need to exercise all of them in order for my life to be in harmony. So I am starting my new year off with a positive look that even if and when things come at full force I will battle the storms and I will be prepared in all areas.
We spent New Years eve as a family, ate too much food, laughed a lot and played games, we toasted the new year at midnight then off to bed, was really grateful to be with my family and enjoy one another. Was shocked that even Alycia age 4 and Tyler age 6 lasted till midnight, there's a first. New Years day was enjoyable, Ed had the day off and we enjoyed playing more games, eating food and laughing. We did encounter one bump in our day and that was my car died. Guess kids had left the doors open one too many times and the battery was dead couldn't be recharged. So after spending GULP $90 on a new battery we are up and running again. I know we have new obstacles coming, but I am praying that I will have a good attitude and take it as they come. I hope that all of you have a great start to the new year and that we can all turn to the savior, and let him help us in our lives. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL !!