My "Bests" for 2012!

Looking back on the year that has passed and anticipating a new year is always exciting. But sometimes when I look back I see only the hard things that happened and forget the good things. I was reading a blog I subscribe to and the writer of the blog asked its readers to list their “Bests” for 2012. In remembering the “bests” you end the year on a positive note and take an “attitude of gratitude” into the New Year. I started considering what some of my “bests” would be and decided to share them with you.

Best song – It is hard to choose one so I will go with “10,000 Reasons” by Matt

            Redman and “Not For A Moment” by Vertical Church and Meredith

            Andrews

Best new food – Rice chips and rice crackers

Best new habit – I eliminated gluten, dairy, corn, soy, and refined sugar from my

            diet. It has made a huge difference!

Best books – Again there are two. The devotional book, “Jesus Calling” by Sarah

            Young and “Life of the Beloved” by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Best thing I am learning – That my trying really, really hard does not get me any

 closer to where I think I want to be. I am learning to relax and let go.

Best thing about my husband – He loves to cook and many nights has dinner ready

            when I get home from work. (There are lots of good things about my

husband, so this is just one of the “best” things!)

Best event – Reconciling with my husband

Best DVD – While not a cinematic classic I think my favorite DVD this year was

            “Larry Crowne,” starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. Not only does it have

            some awesome ELO songs, but I identified with his struggles and situations.

 

Best movie in the theater – So, I don’t go see very many movies in the

            theater, but one that was special for many personal reasons was “The Hunger

            Games.” I loved the story and saw it with my husband, daughter and her

            “friend” Paul. Paul is now Katheryne’s boyfriend and soon - May 2013, will

            become Katheryne’s husband. (It is not official yet.) And the second which

            is the most amazing movie I have seen, maybe ever, is “Les Miserables’” with

            Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. The music was breathtaking!!

Best weekend – I participated in a Koinonia weekend this fall and it was the best

            thing I have done in a while. I laughed, I cried, I ate way too much and

            found a place where it was safe to talk about my hurts. Most importantly,

            I realized I am not alone in my brokenness.

Best Christmas Album – Each year I pick an album and listen to it over and over

again – this year it was “How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas” by Downhere.

Best new album – “All Things Possible” by Mark Schultz

Best new recipes – I started making my own protein bars with vegan protein

            powder, gluten-free Rice Krispies, almond butter and agave nectar –

            yummy!! And Beef Stroganoff thickened with gluten-free Bisquik and

            almond milk and served over Quinoa pasta! (Actually, my husband

            makes it!)

These are just a few of my “bests” but I hope they help you to think of some “bests” of your own. And as you enter the New Year, may your eyes be open to the small blessings that are part of every day, may you choose to forgive those who wrong you, and when life is hard – may you always choose joy!