About those "good deeds"...

When I read this verse, it really spoke to me. I've never been one for the spotlight or one for attention. But it reminded me of a someone that I used to know.  She loved to pat herself on the back. She would constantly post about all the volunteer work she did and every time she did a "good deed." It got to the point where people would roll their eyes. 

A good deed isn't a good deed if you have to brag about it. 

It's great to do lots of volunteer work. It's okay to try to promote it somehow in order to make awareness for the cause, or to fundraise. But it's not from a good place in your heart if you have to boast. 

This year, I want to do at least one act of random kindness or good deed each week. I don't need to brag or boast, just knowing I did something for someone else makes me feel good inside. That is going to be one of my goals. 

Will you join me? 

New Year, New Me!

I absolutely adore New Years Day! I love the idea of a "clean slate." You can take all the stuff you didn't like from this past year and make a resolution to make it better. This year, I am going to write out my list of resolutions and then, a year from now, see what all I accomplished. Anyone else want to join me? 

• Get rid of the negativity! I am going to have a serious facebook and twitter clean out.  I want to start with weeding all the negative people from my life. I want to surround myself with positive, inspiring and uplifting people! (Some people I follow: Joel & Victoria Osteen, Kimberly Jones-Pothier, Joyce Meyer...etc.) Over the past two years, I have had a lot of people who I thought were friends or love ones really hurt and betray me. I want only people I trust, and positivity in my life. Overall, I want meaningful relationships in my life.
• Read my bible. I don't mean read my bible in a year, I mean study and reflect on the word. I cant tell you how many times I have read it just to quickly read what I needed for the day. I have read the whole bible. Yet, there is so much I don't remember because I didn't take my time reading it. I'd rather take my time and actually get something out of it than to read it just to say I've read it in a year.
• Get healthy! No, I'm not talking about losing weight. I don't care about how much I weigh. I want to be more mindful of what I am putting in my body. I want to transition into a much healthier lifestyle.  My sister has seriously inspired me to be grateful for my healthy body and to take care of it. 
• Be more organized. I used to be more organized when I was in school.  Then, I went a while after graduation with out a job.  I just haven't been organized since. I feel a bunch of anxiety in my life because I am constantly looking for something, or forgetting something because I didn't write it down. Enough is enough and I NEED to pull my crap together!!!
• Make goals. There are some personal things I want to accomplish real bad this year.  I want to write them down and put them out somewhere so it reminds me every day of my goals. I think I will have a much better chance of accomplishing them when I have reminders everywhere.
• Live. I am in such a rush all the time that I miss out on the little things in life.  My sister has put so much in perspective for me. I need to slow down, relax, and live. Life in the moment and simply enjoy life. 

What about you?

What are your resolutions?

I'd love to hear them!!!

Our Christmas Miracle

She wanted to hold pinkies as she slept.

The past week and a half has been one huge emotional roller coaster for me and my family. My sister has a terminal illness. She has had it since birth and it has progressively gotten worse over the years. Last Tuesday evening, we got a call. It was a hospital saying they had a set of lungs for her. By Wednesday, she was in surgery for the transplant. 

My sister and I are incredibly close. Actually, me and my whole family are close! This is by far, the most scariest thing I have ever been though in my whole entire life. Especially, when the surgeon pulled us into a private room and told us there was a complication; They nicked her artery and was having a hard time stopping the blood loss. They were finally able to stop it, and she came though the surgery amazingly! She is on the road to recovery, but she is in immense pain.  

After her surgery was over, they couldn't close her chest up right away. (In case she started bleeding again) Her chest was open for 3 days.  While in recovery, and on a ventilator, my sister knew everything that was going on around her. When I was finally able to see her, she had the nurse take my hand an place it on her heart.  That's right, her heart!!! I could see it and feel it beating in my palm. While her chest was open, they had this stuff that looked like saran wrap, wrapped around her chest cavity.  It the most amazing thing to see and feel that beautiful heart. 

While this has been the scariest week of my life, it was also the most humbling. I am a christian, I go to church, I pray to God, but to put 110% of all your faith in him and still not worry is hard! To say I feel blessed is an understatement! This whole experience has put everything in my life into perspective. It completely changes the way you look at life. Things that seemed so important before, just aren't as important anymore.  I am overwhelmed by all the love and support from my little hometown. 

This is my family's Christmas miracle!