New Year and Everything That Comes With It
Happy New Year. Welcome to 2009. Last year is gone and there are only 365 days until 2010. I have never been one to make New Year's Resolutions, but have have decided to set some goals for my life that I would like to work on this year. But before I start this year I would like to look back over the past year and hit some highlights.
2008 started of a little tough, Spencer my best friend, headed off to marine corps boot camp two weeks into the year with the promise that he would still be able to be my best man at my wedding, that same week I had to have some major dental work done and Renae had her wallet and computer stolen from her while she was at work. Latter in February we had a scare, as Renae thought she might of had an infection in her feet, but fortunately it turned out to be nothing. In March my parents visited during spring break and we went to visit Disneyland. On April 30, 2008 I graduated from college. I began working at Bethel Baptist School soon after graduation and God quickly lead me to an apartment in Garden Grove about 5 miles from Bethel. On June 14, 2008, the love of my life became Mrs Renae Ashton. Oh, and Spencer was able to make it to the wedding, barely. I spent the summer working with the summer school program at Bethel and in September I began teaching 5th grade. Renae and I are doing very well having just celebrated our 6 month aniversary of our wedding, we definatly enjoy married life. For Thanksgiving we spent at Renae's parents and Christmas with mine. It was nice to have my whole family together for almost a week.
Well that was last year... So this year what will be different? What will be the same?
I have decided to set some goals some will be public, others private. I hope that this will help me keep focused on the important things so here is a list of my public goals:
- Grow in my relationship with God
- Grow in my relationship with Renae
- Read my Bible all the way through this year
- Become consistent at journaling
- See at least one unbeliever come to know Christ
- Loose 10-15 pounds
- Stop being a procrastinator
- Read at least 4 Miscellaneous books
- Visit 2 MLB stadiums that I have not been to yet.
- Watch the SF Giants win the World Series.
So I think that will be my list. So although I have never been one to make New Year's Resolutions it appears that I have just done so.
hold nthing back.
Christmas Pictures
So here are some recent pictures of the last few days and our Christmas celebrations. Nearly 100 pictures. I hope you enjoy.
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Photos Courtesy of Nea's Heart.
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!
I am sitting in my parents house, enjoy spending time with my family. There are nine of us here right now: my parents, John, Mary, Melissa, Daniel, Ruth, Renae and I. We have plans for the next couples days to go visit grandparents, take pictures, playing games, etc. I am so thankful for being able to spend time with my family. I would like to wish all of you a Merry Christmas. Let me know what you are doing for Christmas.
Dinner For Two
Sunday December 14 was Renae and my six month anniversary. We decided to go out for dinner but to wait until Monday night to do it. In the mail, earlier in November, we received a coupon to TGI Fridays that would give us a dinner for $30. The dinner for two would include two house salads, two entree's and a dessert to share. Beverages were extra. So we decided to go and use the coupon.
The salads were very good, it even came with a bread stick. For our entree's Renae orders the bar b que bacon cheddar sliders with fries, and I order the 12 oz. Champion New York Strip Steak (medium). We both enjoyed our meals thoroughly. Then came time for dessert... a sizzling apple pie a la mode. It came out on a hot iron skillet where the brown sugar glaze was sizzling, the ice cream atop the apple pie drizzled with caramel and just in case the was a bowl of caramel to add at any time. It was amazingly delicious. Renae and I devoured it, and will no doubt be back just to have the dessert again.
So if you are going to TGI Friday's and are wondering if you should get dessert. Don't think about it, just order the sizzling apple pie a la mode.
Elementary Christmas Program Pictures
So these are the pictures from last night Christmas Program. The students did a wonderful job. Some of the pictures are a little blurry becuase the camera sometimes does not focus correctly in the dark. But you can get an idea of what went on. In the first few pictures are twelve of my fourteen students. (Two of the boys were not able to come.) I hope you enjoy the pictures let me know what you think.
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hold nothing back
Elementary Christmas Program
Tonight is Bethel Baptist School's Elementary Christmas Program. My fifth grade class is excited about the performance. One of my students is doing a violin duet with Mrs. Davidson (the school music teacher), and two of my students have narration parts during the program. Practice went well today and I am looking forward to seeing them perform well. The entire will be singing 4 songs with the 3rd-6th grade class, and the girl in my class will be singing another song with the sixth grade girls. Renae will be taking pictures; so I'll have some pictures up soon. I'll be manning my post back at the soundboard, cheering on my class.
Christmas List
So I feel a little selfish posting a Christmas wish list. I'm understand Christmas is more than just receiving presents; it's more than just giving presents. Christmas is about redemption, it is a celebration of Jesus birth, who came to redeem humanity from sin.
However since an aspect of how we celebrate Christmas is exchanging gifts, and since some people have been asking what I would like; I feel that this is the easiest way to let others know what I would like.
1. Journal
2. Dress Shirts
3. T-shirts
4. iTunes Cards
5. Books by John Piper
6. Pocket Knife
7. BluRay DVD Player
I'm not really sure what else I should but on the list so this will be it for now.
If you comment on this post put something that you want for Christmas too; so I don't feel like the only one doing this.
Subscribe to comments test
I've heard from a few of my readers that they would like to be notified when someone else comments after them on a post. So I went on a search for a plug in to do it and have come up with one to test. let me know if you like it and if it works for you, subscribe to the comment of this post and lets see what happens.
Thankful for Safety
So I realized once again today how thankful I am for God's protection and safety. Earlier in my day my status was that I was tired of traffic. I was.
Renae and I were on our way to Chino Hills to get her allergy shots (usually a 25 minute drive). We hadn't been on the free all that long today before we came across the the first accident we saw, a truck was flipped upside down on the other side of the freeway. Our side of the freeway was crawling at 5 mph as we approached the accident, and once we passed it it increase to between 10-20 mph. We continued at that pass for another 25 or so minutes before we were passed most of the traffic and were going almost to the speed limit. (Oh and that whole time we were in the carpool lane). Once we made it up to the place to get her shots we decided we didn't want to jump back on the freeway to sit in the opposite traffic (which was worse), so we went and walked around Target. After that we left and got back on the freeway hoping the traffic was gone. We'll the flipped over truck was, but there were two other accidents - a downed motorcycle in the carpool lane and another accident off to the shoulder. That is when I thought to myself how thankful I am for God's protection.
I have as of this month had my lisence for 5 years. I worked for Enterprise Rent-a-Car for over 2 years where my main responsiblity was transporting cars, I have had my share of close calls, but thankful to not have a single accident. That was until 11 months ago yesterday when I got cut off and a van scraped my front fender and then took off. The hit and run incident was not my fault so it doesn't count for anything. So in five years I have not had a single ticket or at fault accident, so I think it is worth my time to thank God right now for his safety and protection.
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Hold Nothing Back
34 days
It is 37 days 'till Christmas. 36 until I get to see my niece Melissa, oh yeah and John and Mary. In 34 days Renae and I will travel up to San Francisco to spend Christmas with my parents. I will be the first time in a while that we will spend Christmas together, and the first time since the wedding that we will all be together. My parents are excited, This last weekend my mom sent each of us a survey to fill out asking about favorite beverages, meal, christmas movies, songs, decorations, things to do, etc. In fact, Melissa was supposed to fill one out too, and she is only 1, I guess my sister taught her to read and write early. They are really looking forward to having everyone over; and all of the kids are looking forward to being with them. I know I am.