familybush.com

So far, so good on the new year’s resolutions.  I know, I know. I’m only two weeks into the year, but so far I’m feeling pretty good about the way things are going.

I fasted one day this month. I chose the traditional style of going without food. It was good. I mean, it was terrible, but it was good in that I learned some stuff. But, dang!, I got so hungry and irritable. I guess I’m a wuss when it comes to missing a meal.

I’ve been sending out (via the famous index card) sentences from the Bible. Maybe you got one?

Blogging I am. No problems there.

Also, we are working on adding at least one member to the Bush family this year. We’ll keep you updated on that!

Resolutions I need to get to work on: marathon, memorizing colossians, getting to know a family member.

How are yours going?

[in digital and analogue]

Get out from behind the screens. By screens I mean TV and computer. I really don’t watch television except for sports. So, I’m going to try to cut back on my espn intake (this was suggested by the girls). Also, I waste way to much time on pointless internet browsing. If I’m not doing something purposeful, I’m closing the screen.

Mail out some truth and encouragement. Snail mail is making a come back. I will send at least one index card on which I have scribbled a sentence from the Bible per week to whoever pops in my head (maybe you).

Write write write. Let my thoughts and worries and prayers and frustrations spill onto paper. With a gifted B&N card I bought a new journal. I will fill it up this year. Maybe I’ll fill two. Write (at least a little) every day.

Be fruitful. It’s about time we got to obeying this oldest of all commandments. I resolve to increase the size of the Bush family by at least one this year.

Run a marathon. San Diego. Maybe.

Read to Sophia on a daily basis. It’s good for her and me. Besides, maybe it will help her overcome her green crayon addiction.

Memorize Colossians. The Message version. Let it transform me. Let it take root and become my paradigm for life. Let it be my rhythm for life.

Fast from something twice a month. Let myself be challenged and moved by it. The fast will last from sunup to sundown. Food, speech, electricity, work, internet, human contact, etc. The possibilities are endless really. This one should be a blast.

Participate in significant celebration. Let celebration become worship to God. Thanksgiving and Christmas last year changed me because I looked at them in a whole new way. I want to take it even farther this year, rethinking Easter, birthdays, and other significant dates.

Get to know my family. I’ll spend some time this year getting to know a family member that I really don’t know at all. I’m not sure who yet. But, I have quite a few cousins, aunts and uncles that I haven’t seen in . . . well, maybe ever.

Cultivate my marriage. Weekend getaways. Breakfast in bed. Dreaming about future over coffee. I’ll be spending some extra time this year connecting with my wife. (This will probably also help with resolution # 4)

Keep blogging. I’ve been blogging for years, but am just now realizing the potential it has for community, inspiration, and encouragement.

Give until it hurts. Let our abundance be a blessing to others. IJM. Compassion. Kiva. WorldVision.

Co-create. Use what I have (and would normally throw away) to make something useful or beautiful or both.

My challenge was this: Keep 6 pregnant teens awake until midnight. Normally, keeping teenagers up that late isn’t a problem, but when you add trimesters into the equation, they start dropping like flies at 10pm. Solution? Monopoly. That’s right. The classic board game that never ends. I personally welcomed the new year with hotels on the purple ones. That’s got to be a good sign for the coming year.

Note: Resolutions coming soon. I’m just a little behind.

It was so good to see all our friends in Arkadelphia New Year’s weekend. We ate, talked, played charades, burned Christmas trees . . .

The guys played a round of golf at the illustrious Caddo Creek course. 2 man scramble. D.B. and I didn’t win, but I did break my six iron on a tree trunk.

We leave for Richmond tomorrow morning. 8:57 on Delta, I think. We are ready. Almost. We’re spending today packing and trying to get all our ducks in somewhat of a row.

Merry Christmas everybody! It’s over, but I’m sure I didn’t get to tell some of you. We spent Christmas day in the LSU Med Center in Shreveport, LA. Some of Amanda’s cousins were in an accident due to the ice just prior to the holidays. This holiday is extra special. I guess because we are about to leave.

We want all our family to know that we do love them even though we are (geographically) leaving them.

We’re leaving in about 2 weeks. We’re excited and sad.

We’re spending New Year’s in Arkadelphia with our best friends in the whole world. We’re really excited about that.