ON THE PORCH
DECEMBER 31, 2022
NEW YEAR’S EVE
NO DOGS OR BIKES
“Sorry to bother you miss. I’m from the sheriff’s department. We’ve had some reports of your dog chasing around people on bikes.”
“I think you have the wrong house. My dog doesn’t ride a bike.”
A friend sent me a link to that short reel on FB last night, and I shared the joke with a few friends. Turns out, the joke was on me. Tanna responded with a comment about a baby being tossed into a pile of leaves, and it confused me.
Me: “Was it not a dog chasing people on bikes?”
Her: “Nope no dogs or bikes”
So, I copied and pasted the exact same link and resent it. Each time I opened that link on my phone, I got the same video. But each time she opened the same link, she got a different one…
* Granddad tossing an older baby into a huge pile of leaves, then having to dig them out
*Guy talking about ‘your mom’ texting you
*Little girl put thistles in her hair telling her mom she loved them
*Ground beef recipe
*Rumba in a guy’s apartment
What started out confusing became hilarious. Copy, paste, send, open, share new video content, repeat.
We chuckled about it and said goodnight. This morning as I was thinking about that text conversation, I wondered, “Is that how am I approaching 2023?”
Am I approaching the new year with an attitude like Tanna’s, “Let’s see where this one leads!?!” or am I copying and pasting the exact same thing I’ve always done and expecting the same result?
Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Am I willing to be proactive and put in the time and work necessary to make changes in 2023 or will I let it slide by and just react as things happen?
The Bible says to write down the revelation. If we see our ambitions in black and white, it helps our brain desire to fulfill them.
**Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. Habakkuk 2:2
2022 was a year for the books! In fact, the last few years have been life-changing for the entire world. For several years now, our lives have resembled purchasing tickets at a theme park and moving ride-to-ride without a break. We’ve had highs and lows, seasons of sorrow, months of anticipating, times of expectations, quiet times of regrouping, moments of hiding, uncontrolled chaos, bouts of busyness, weeks of celebrating, sleepless nights, and joy beyond belief, among other things… a true roller coaster of emotions.
I want to approach 2023 with an expectant heart and open hands, not with a downcast heart “just hoping to get through it.”
I don’t normally make New Year’s goals or resolutions. I get excited and gung-ho for a couple weeks, then disappoint myself mid-late January when I fall off the wagon. But this year I am making an exception.
When Sierra and I wanted to start being more intentional in our daily routines, we each picked an action to add to our morning. Now we text each other pictures each day as we accomplish those tasks. It keeps us on track. They are not huge time-consuming activities, just small actions that make a huge difference in how our days go.
Today, I am picking three things I’d like to do differently in 2023, I am writing them down and posting them publicly.
- Put my phone away and pay more attention while visiting with Benny, my kiddos, my family, and my friends. Life is passing at the speed of light, and I don’t want to miss it!!!
- Laugh at least one time per day and make at least one other person laugh each day.
- Make 100% sure those I love know beyond a shadow of a doubt how much I love them.
If you would like to decide even one thing to do differently next year and share, please feel free. Having others know our heart’s desire allows them to know how to pray and to check in once in a while. It also gives us a small level of accountability.
LORD, I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and say, “GOOD LORD IT’S MORNING!” I want to wake up saying, “GOOD MORNING, LORD!” with anticipation of what You have for me in the following months. I want to be open to changes You would like to make in me and through me. Give me a willing heart and open hands to receive and recognize Your blessings, Your kisses from the King. Strengthen me and give me the courage to do the hard things that will be asked of me in the following year. Help me grow in wisdom and knowledge and be a better wife, mom, daughter, and friend when I look back over 2023 next year. We have always prayed Luke 2:52 over our children. Today I want to pray it over myself and those reading this post. Help each of us grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. On the last day of 2023 as I am reviewing days passed as I am today, I want to say I have grown this year and am closer to You than ever. Show me where You want to use me and help make me anticipate what You’ll do in my life in the months to come. Thank You for allowing me another day to love deeply and enjoy the blessings You gift me. You are on the throne today and You’ll still be there next year. Amen
** And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52
**The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. Psalm 118:24
P.S. If you call or text and I don’t respond right away, know that I will. It might just take a little longer.
I am starting early and sharing one of Benny’s feel-good-can’t be sad song today –
HAPPY DANCE
ON THE PORCH 