Well its 2011 and it's strange to even type that. It looks like a year that should be far, far away in the sci-fi filled future. But alas it is what it is and life goes on! Se la vi!
I have always dreaded New Years Day because to me and many others it is the official end of the holiday season. In fact I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Christmas so much that sometimes I get sad on Christmas Eve or even the week of Christmas because I know it's almost here and then I have to wait another whole year for the most WONDERFUL time of the year! I know that must sound crazy, but it's the way God made me, so there you go :)
This year on New Years Day Rob and I decided to try to do something positive so it wouldn't feel like such a blah day for me. We sat down separately and each wrote out a bucket list for 2011. We did this instead of making resolutions that we may or may not have kept. It was very interesting and insightful to find out that we had a lot of the same things on our lists! That made us feel really close because we knew that we had a very unified marriage and we were on the same page, which is always a great place to be. We also decided that if we didn't complete our bucket lists for 2011 there would be no ridicule or guilt, we would just roll them over to 2012. Also we really tried to make everything on our lists only very positive things that we would look forward to so we would be much more likely to finish our lists.
Making the bucket lists actually had a big impact on my day and for the first time EVER I was looking forward to taking my Christmas decorations down and cleaning the house! I think it's because I was looking forward to a fresh start and a chance to do some new and exciting things that I had been putting off. I also realized that as much as I love Christmas decorations, they kind of lose their sparkle after Christmas and especially after New Years.
One thing on both of our bucket lists was to pray and read our devotion more together as a couple. We have always done it separately, but there is something really special that God does for a marriage when two are united by His Word. I look forward to this part of our day, everyday. It really gives Rob and I a chance to listen to each other and hear what is truly on our hearts when we are praying out loud in front of each other. It's definitely something that strengthens our bond and our marriage. Here is one of the books we have been reading together. Rob's Uncle Ed gave it to us for Christmas (on a side note I cannot tell you how BLESSED I am to not only have grown up in a Christian home, but to have married into one as well, I just can't begin to explain how empty my life would be without God). It's a really easy and short devotion and I highly recommend it! There are some really unique and specific prayers and exercises that you do together that are things you would never think of doing. I can promise you that if you commit to doing this with your spouse everyday, God WILL bless your home and your marriage with things you never imagined were possible.
That's all for now! I will try and keep you all updated on other things that the Gardners check off of our bucket lists this year :)
xoxo,
Amber Lea :D
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