Soda Pop -

I have always loved soft drinks. I don't think there is anything better than the refreshment of a cold soft drink.

I use to adore ( I mean adore) coca-cola. It was my beverage of choice then and my beverage of choice now. Yet, several years ago I stopped drinking coke when I was on a diet. I loved it so much but it was just something that I had to refrain from purchasing. So now, I never purchase coke for my house. I only enjoy a coke when I am out a restaurant or somewhere where that is the available choice.

After I made a commitment to not bring coke into my house (it has been four years now), I replaced it with drinking another beverage of choice.

I went to water first (only because of diet)

.....then Sprite Zero (okay choice but hard to find at restaurants, stores and etc.)

..... then to unsweeten tea (McDonald's only and I was still on my diet), then to McDonald's sweet tea after my diet was over(Really good but not available at home and I had to go the bathroom every five seconds)

......then to my new love - Barq's Rootbeer.

I have tried everything I can think of stop loving sodas so much. They are so bad for me but I would give up food for my glass of soda. It is an addiction and I am not sure how to give it up for good without a replacement.

I need a new beverage of choice that is available wherever I am -or- maybe I just need to be strong and learn to live on water alone! (As if..)

Challenge One - Question Eight

"What is the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different than last year?"

I have said a number of times that I love my job. I get to work in a place that I actually enjoy what I do, I work for great people, and I feel like what I do matters.

By God's grace, I want to not allow the "pain in the hiney" clients to discourage me from working diligently for the others. I get a chance to help people in one of their lowest moments in life and I get to offer encouragement to them. Kind words, professional courtesy and sincere concern is something that I strive to give. I want the people that walk away from my office to feel that my handling of their case is not in my hands but something bigger (even bigger than Darrin Mish - LOL)!

I am not suggesting that I witness to clients or tell clients anything about my faith verbally. I just want them to feel something different. I want them to experience a kindness that hopefully they know must come from above.

So, what I want to do different this year is to commit myself to praying again for my clients. I use to do and this past year I was jaded by a few and I quit. Sure, I still pray for the sweetest of client but really, it is unlikely that they are who need my kindness most.

The stories I heard in 2010 were :

- A client whose home was broken into and the intruder duck taped her to her bed and forced himself on her.
- A client whose daughter was killed and their granddaughter was seriously injured.
- A client who once owned a multi-millon dollar company and had his company;s stolen from him by his family member - leaving him insolvent.
- A client who tearfully and solemnly lost her husband to cancer after only knowing for one week of his illness.
- A client who lost her grandchild in a terrible accident and the other grandchildren were injured as well.
- A client whose husband came home from overseas as a soldier and killed himself over stress. She was 9 months pregnant.
- A client who suffers from severe depression and literally can not figure out how she can handle the day to day parts of life.
- A client who......The stories go on and on.

May God allow me to change this year not to let the stories get old. Not to let the pain of others go unnoticed.

And most importantly not to forget how blessed of a life He has graced me with to share with others. I must draw on His comfort so that my stress,my pain,my anger is never felt by others.

And as Carol Kent says "It is learning to be between a Rock and Grace place!"

Challenge ONE - Question 7

"For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?"

Out of respect for those I love, I will not list names on the blog. I don't want them to feel one ounce of condemnation from me regarding their salvation. I am just hoping that the Holy Spirit will place a burden upon their heart to seek Christ.

When family is involved, it can be very difficult. If you are reading this, a simple prayer on the behalf of my unsaved family members would be appreciated. God knows who they are!

Challenge One - Question 6

"What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?"

I am hoping that within the ladies group I can help cultivate friendships with more ladies in the church. To me, women have an amazing opporotunity to strengthen the church family. In the care of one another, the fellowship between friends and the tight bonds that women build are typically far beyond that of men!

Granted, we as women, can have the exact opposite impact on a church family. We can cause tension, create drama and make life miserable for others.

So, to me this year the most helpful way that I can strengthen my church is to strengthen my friendships and sisterhood with those within the church. Hopefully that friendship will be extended beyond those in my circle.

Sounds easy enough right? Well, as I woman I know that can open me up to be vulnerable to the pain that broken friendships can cause. I also know it can bring joy beyond words for the precious time spent with girlfriends.

Challenge One - Question 5

"What is the single biggest time-waster in your life and what are you going to do about it this year?"

Define "time-waster"?

Seriously, I am a little scared to ansewr this question honestly because I don't want to consider my time on facebook as a time-waster. I keep up with family, interact with friends of the past and present, and actually remind myself of important events and dates on facebook. So, if I am going to put facebook out of my list of "time-wasters" for now....

Other than facebook, I guess that it would be watching tv. It is gratifying to sit down to escape a day with the entertainment of tv. BUT, I am not ready to give that up or do anything about it.

We are on question 5 and this is already stepping on "comfort toes", if you know what I mean!!!

I think I am going to have to come back to this question later once I determine what I feel is a "time-waster" for me or maybe I could just forget this question exist and save time?

Challenge One - Question Four

"In which spiritual discipline do you want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?"

I am excited about the opprotunity to participate in the collective reading of the bible in 2011 with our church. As I learn more, I want to increase my conversation with God in my prayer life. I want talk with God more intimiately and openly. I want to ask questions and learn to wait for his response!

Challenge One- Question Three

"What is the single most important thing that you could to do to improve the quality of your family life this year?"

Taking the time to STOP & LISTEN! I get so busy with life, work, chores and etc. that I find myself talking to my kids and husband and not with them. I want to spend this year enjoying who they are from their perspective.