MY BED BUDDY

Beings that Kenidi and I had the H1N1 virus together, we've become quite the little bed buddies together. She hasn't left my side since her illness began which was almost two weeks ago. Even though she is better, she has stayed right by my side as I ride out what is left of my journey with it. (which is hopefully not much) Every now and again I'll look over at her and just stare at her as she watches TV aside me. I've caught myself thanking God for this little bed buddy of mine and how much she adores her Mommy. She is literally stuck to me at the hip. God help her when she has to return to school next Tuesday. Actually...God help me. :)

I am so excited about the fact that this is the New Year. TwentyTen is what I plan to refer to it as. (instead of two thousand ten) Reason being...I want to make this year twenty times better than a score of ten could ever be. I am so stoked about all of the plans God has in store for our family. This past year was a rough one but as always, we saw our way thru it only by way of Gods grace. I'm excited about our new lives here in Naples, Florida. My new business here next to the sea. My new photography classes I'll be teaching/adding onto this year. The kids new sports teams. New friends that we've made here. And the list goes on and on. God has always been so very good to us - even when we weren't reciprocating that to him. This past year leading up to today was no different. He still carries us in the palm of his hand. We are his children. Just as Kenidi is my daughter, I am his. For that...I am grateful. I am excited. I am me because of all the things I can do thru him. And in the end, when a fellow, dear, sweet, blogger friend mentioned coming up with a word for us to live by in 2010, I decided I needed two words instead of just one. As you all know, I'm not one to follow the rules much. My two words that will be privately tattooed across my two wrists baring wings - one word for each wrist - as my hands go to sink my head into them during those dark days/hours that we are sure to experience in TwentyTen...the words..."Abundant Courage." Two very small words that mean such HUGE things..."Abundant Courage." (wished from another photographer acquaintance on Twitter for the New Year) Because I'm "His" daughter, I know he is showering me with "abundant courage" as I crossed the thresh hold into TwentyTen last night. I cannot wait for New Years Eve 2011 - just so that I can look back and see where all that "abundant courage" via those wings - by way of Gods grace - allowed me to go. Many of the goals I'm after for myself this year will take an exceeding amount of "abundant courage." I've been given that courage by God. And it started today. January, 1st - TwentyTen! This date is significant today but will be VERY significant to me in the distant future, I'm sure.

So...as I lay here, recovering from this eventful illness, and watch my gorgeous daughter bat those stunning eyelashes beside me, I pray that she too will one day have "abundant courage" as she walks beside God while attempting to tackle and attain her life goals. I pray that she knows him so well that she can lay in bed with her own children someday, laughing about being bed buddies, all the while thanking God for his enormous amount of grace, blessings, restoration, and the ability to turn her fears into abundant and overwhelming amounts of courage. Happy TwentyTen peeps. THIS is going to be "MY" year. I pray you will make it "yours" too!

xoxo, Angie