If you are outside looking in at our family, you would probably think that at the top of our priorities of 2009 is to get this sleeping child pictured below out of our bed and into her own! But it is not. In fact, lately I've been feeling very liberated about raising my child in a way that is different than what the rest of our society considers normal or best. I mean, just think of all the times that following the less traveled path is the wiser choice. What comes to mind most often is Jesus telling us to make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because few rather than many are actually saved. Now, I'm not trying to compare the significance of salvation to where my child sleeps, but I'm keeping in mind that blending in with the way the world practices is not necessarily the best idea. So for now, I will sleep nose to nose with this sleeping beauty with her arm around my neck and squeezing a tight fistful of my hair so that I can't escape, because that is what feels best for us. Although, I'm sure sometime in 2009 (probably the later part) she will start sleeping on her own :)
Last year, my New Year's resolution was to keep the house a little more tidy. Honestly, I don't think I made any better of a housewife in 2008 than I did the year before when I worked full time. Poor Levon. He had much higher standards before I got ahold of him. He used to be so organized just like his mom, but now after being badly influenced by me for 9 years, he is not quite the same. He leaves piles of clothes on the floor, shoes stacked up by the door, and even thanked me for vacuuming a couple of times because he mistaked lines in the carpet from the rocking chair for vacuum tracks! No, really our house isn't that bad. I'm just not as organized and as much of a clean freak as some. So, I made this year's resolution a little more manageable and am trying to keep our bedroom dresser cleared off. As Levon put it, it is a shame for something that nice and expensive to be covered in makeup and junk, and he is right :)
As for my more serious resolutions, I have already made a good start digging deeper into the Bible thanks to a great study guide from my sister. It is a good one for me because it deals with breaking free from bondage and the Lord knows I need help in that area, especially how much I worry about Jocelyn. I don't know any Christian who doesn't need to grow closer to God, so this is something I will be working toward. Also, this year I strive to become more of the Christian wife and mother God intended me to be. I love learning about my God-given role, but fail at it every day. Thankfully, I was given a patient husband!
Last, but not least, I resolve to respond to people with confidence and not defensiveness. If, in fact, I believe what I am doing is best for my family, then this should be no problem. I could go on and on about ways I want to improve myself and things that I could do better, but these are the things I'm focused on first and foremost.
Levon seems to be confident that I will able to stay home with Jocelyn for at least 2009. We are taking it one year at a time it seems since last year at this time he could promise me 2008. I don't know what better way I could start off this year than hearing that news. I love my life just as it is...it is way better than I ever could have imagined it. I'm so glad that God is in control!
It is no suprise that over the 6 Christmas celebrations, Jocelyn learned the word open, which came out "opa"! Here are some other new words that she has been saying lately since the last time I listed out her words a of couple months ago.
