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Monday, January 3, 2011

It's a New Day er I mean Year





Happy New Year Everyone ♥ Can you even believe it's January and 2010 is GONE!?!?!






WE had such a great week with my Honey at home and the kids out of school. Spent time with Rylee, Got to go see my Nana and eat at one of the best chili houses in America!! Fred & Reds is a TINY whole in the wall restaraunt. It has a U shaped barstool seating that holds about 10 on the sides and 6 across the end. When you walk in, you scan the bar to see who looks close to being done and you literally stand behind them til they are done and get up. If you walk in with a group, don't count on sitting together because the chances are very unlikely that you will! At times you will run into nice people who notice you are with someone and might just offer to scoot down one or two depending on how many are in your group and how many just got up! But the FOOD!! OH my! Spaghetti Red ~ Spaghetti or some may know it as "three way" spaghetti with chili! YUM! The restaurant started in 1923 but moved to its current location back in 1943 and hasn't changed much since then! When either of my parents would go home to visit their parents we would almost ALWAYS end up in Joplin having lunch @ Fred & Reds! So of course, in honor of my Daddy we had to go! My 90 yr. old nana sat up @ the bar, had herself a burger and enjoyed it as much as we did. I can remember going with her parents ~ My wonderful and oh how I miss them ~ Great grandparents "Mama Fay and Floyd" Truly, I have been going since I was a just a wee one ;) It brings such wonderful memories and the food well, it is DIVINE!

We got all our decorations taken down and the Christmas lights will be off the house today. We went to a movie, shopped (had to spend some of the gift cards ya know!) slept in, stayed up late! We "raced into the New Year" on New Years Eve. As the week ended and the year came to a close, we spent some time reflecting on this past year and sharing our hearts with one another as we look ahead to what God has in store for 2011.

Yes, I could share a long list of Resolutions.....but in the end it really isn't what I want to accomplish. It is what God wants to accomplish through me. So as we begin this year I pray that all I do will bring Glory & Honor to the Lord. That no matter what, in my trials and in my victories, they were God ordained. As Jesus said in Matthew 26 beginning in V.24

Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

"Don't be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You'll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn't pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.
"

Bless you all my Friends! Happy New Year ~ I can't wait to see what God has in Store!

13 comments:

Sandy

Loren, this is very similar to what I just read in the Journey devotion and what I am pursuing for 2011. Thank you so much for this great post! Glad you had a great past week. I did, too. I wish you a very blessed 2011, my friend!

Unknown

What a beautiful share. TY

Pop over for our lovely CSN GIVEAWAY!

Have a beautiful New Year ~
TTFN ~
Hugs, Marydon

George

This sounds like a great place to eat. I'm not sure if or when we'll ever get out that way, but I'll remember it if we do. It obviously holds great memories for you and your family.

Jeanine

Happy New Year! Great post to start off 2011! Looking forward to visiting with you again this year!
Peace, simplicity and joy to your day!
Jeanine

Charlotte

Sounds like you got the new year off to a great start, Loren. That Fred's & Reds sounds like a place I would love.
Blessings for a wonderful New Year.
Charlotte

Sue

As always Lorin I am truly blessed by your thoughts, and like you it's hard for me to believe another year has come and gone.And I too am very excited at what God has in store for me this year. I look forward to taking this journey with you, Thank you for sharing God, your family and life with us.May the Lord continue to bring many blessings to you and your family.
HUgs, Sue

Jenna

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I am already loving yours! How cool that there is another Jenna out there with a heart for adoption...I wish I would have been paying enough attention when I was that young for God to grab my heart like that! We are only at the beginning of our adoption journey and already God is showing us so much.
I love Karen Kingsbury and Francine Rivers as well! Do you have any other recommendations from Francine...I have read Redeeming Love (wonderful) and the Mark of the Lion series.
Blessing to you!
Jenna

Darcie

It is something to think that 2010 is gone, and not only a new year but a new decade has begun. I too know why we are such good friends...your heart is towards your Heavenly Father, and every time I read a post from you I notice that. May 2011 allow God to accomplish in us both what He desires.

Love you too my friend.

Anonymous

Hi Loren, Sounds like a grand time shared together. I wish you and your family a very blessed 2011. Love to each of you.

bp

Happy New Year to you! That's a neat picture! I'm glad you had a nice holiday. God bless you. I'm so glad to be able to be back in the blogging habit again!

Diana Ferguson

Special times with special people!!! Loved your post. Happy New Year!!

Girly Muse

Sounds like a magnificent week! I'd like some of that chili, please! And the thought of your 90 year old Nana sitting up at the bar is such a dear mental picture! Love that.

Powerful scripture and so fitting for going into the New Year! Many wonderful things to contemplate and prayer toward in that word.

Love you! Wishing you the best year ever!!!

jayayceeblog

Happy New Year to you and your wonderful family. Next thing on my list is getting those Christmas decorations down and packed away!!!

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