We're embarking on new experiences with new mindsets and new attitudes. Some of the old things pack their bags to follow us into the New Year but find themselves being held up at the door as they have become obsolete items on the threshold of our lives.

I have just surfaced from beneath the warmth of my covers and out of the cloud of sickness to impart these meaningful words over my life and hopefully over yours...

There are things awaiting us on this big adventure. Things happen...we get sick...we get into a mood...we fall down, to get up to fall down again and lay flat on our backs staring up at the ceiling, the sky, the spinning ceiling fan or the birds flying overhead chirping their laughter at our failures....

But we get up, we brush ourselves off, clean ourselves up and keep it moving. We're only down for the moment, not forever.

I learned something this year, already. I learned that for as much as I am good on my own – I am tons better around other people. My holiday blues were staved off this year – mainly because I surrounded myself by my family and I was in familial heaven. I had fun, I laughed, I joked, I got serious when needed and I relaxed. Oh my gosh, I relaxed so much...it was awesome.

The day after Christmas I developed a cough that wouldn't go away and New Year's Eve the sickness kicked into full gear. It was a bunch of nastiness and asthma on top of that. It made life sucky but I live and amazingly...breathe! I am feeling much better now and ...AND...I have not had a cigarette since Christmas Eve. I feel good and haven't craved one at all. Also, I haven't craved any sweets either which is weird! I'm usually all over the chocolate treats but I haven't been wanting any. It's got to be the sickness lol Or maybe this is just a little jump off to healthier practices???

Yeah, I laughed too and then went into a coughing fit. LOL I don't know. Could be or maybe it's just that my appetite and things are suffering due to this little illness. I'm good though. I had a couple of small York peppermint patties earlier just to see if I still have taste buds and I do. My diet lately has been liquids and very little solids but today I had some fried chicken and was able to keep it in me. I do feel much better which makes me happy.

I do have wonderful news.

Before the sickness there was a lot of busy work. I entered an anthology that will be released this year and it looks awesome.

I'm going to be posting more about it here a little later but I'm super excited about this!

Also, my young adult ministry is doing some awesome community work soon. We are pretty much just waiting for me to get better so that we can get it going. It won't be long. I'm actually doing a lot better than I sound. My coughs sound horrible but I do feel a lot better than I have been. So I'm looking forward to these things.

Last but not least –

I would like to say – you guys are wonderful and beautiful human beings. You deserve every kindness, every bit of love and every blessing. Thank you for being my friends this past year and sticking with me through this year. I love you greatly for it.

That's all I have for today – I have some other things that I want to try to tackle before bedtime. So many blessings upon you all.

Bless your hearts, your bodies, and your lives. Live the greatest life you can live, be the best person you can be and love to the fullest extent of your existence. Don't forget to be a blessing to others – just as others have shown your love, peace and kindness – do the same for them. Last but not least, if you haven't already, Thank God for the life you are living. Be a blessing to the Lord as well.