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? 

Top 5 of the Week

1. Happy New Year! This year, we rang in the New Year with my sister in the hospital! We are so thankful to for her donor.  Because of their selfless act, my sister can spend many more New Years with us!

2. Organizing- I started off the new year cleaning and organizing! This is only 1/10th of my whole makeup collection! I have way too much.  I threw out the old, and giving away the good products I don't use. 

3. Calendar- I found this awesome calendar at Hobby Lobby. I love anything positive or inspirational! I am trying to surround myself in positivity this year.

4. Hat- I absolutely adore my new hat from Target! It was $19.99 and I got it for 25% off with my cartwheel app!

5. Devotional- I like my new Devotional for this year. Unfortunately, this one doesn't have 366! As I was writing in important dates on my new calendar, I realized this year is leap year!

How was your week?

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!!!

Top 5 Of The Week

1. Christmas. As you have read before in Our Christmas Miracle post, we were beyond excited to spend this Christmas with my sister. So blessed God has given her a new life! We spent the majority of the day in the hospital, but hey, we were all together!!! That was all that mattered!!! She has had a few really good days this week. We are so thankful for that! Nothing I love more than seeing that beautiful smile on her face!

2. I am soooo in love with these leggings my bestie got me for Christmas!!!! Super comfy too!

3. Ugh! I saw it. It made the boyfriend very happy so that's all that mattered!

4. I now have Sirius.  I am loving it! I listen to 128-Joel Osteen, 117-HLN on weekends and evenings to listen to Forensic Files, (I know, I am a huge nerd!) And occasionally 184 for current hits and sometimes christian praise music. 

5. We went on a road trip today, and since we missed church today, we listened to Joel Osteen. I just love him! He is so full of inspiration!!! He inspired me and gave me a little hope on a situation that I am at a crossroads at this point in my life. 

Book Review: Leaving Time

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

Goodreads Synopsis:

For over a decade, Jenna Metcalf obsesses on her vanished mom Alice. Jenna searches online, rereads journals of the scientist who studied grief among elephants. Two unlikely allies are Serenity Jones, psychic for missing people who doubts her gift, and Virgil Stanhope, jaded PI who originally investigated cases of Alice and her colleague. Hard questions and answers.

My thoughts:

I have always liked elephants, but this book really goes into detail about them.  I learned so much about them, I love them even more than I did before! This book was so good.  It is one of those books that catches you off guard at the end and you shake your head wondering if you've read that right. This has to be by far, my favorite Jodi Picoult novel yet! 

Have you read it? 

What did you think?

I would love to hear from you!!!