The Schmidt Gang

This Christmas we were all so blessed. Dawn & her family are now living back here in Texas, Lindsay & David got engaged, Kyle got recently got his Aggie ring and we had almost all our family together! (I'll have to photoshop Michael in...he works tooooo hard). He was there for the later festivities. We've had quite the challenges over the past 18 months and it was nice to get together for a much bigger & joyous occassion, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! We all need to remember that we are to always lay all our burdens at HIS feet and PRAISE HIM for all the joys/wonders in our lives. HE will/does handle all we turn over to HIM. Today as we drove up to our church the message on our sign read 'God gives us storms to remind us that HE too provides us shelter'. Boy is that what I needed to see. HE will provide the shelter our family needs during all the storms we are faced with.

I have to admit that this year is the first year in my 35 years of life that material gifts that I received meant very little to me. As I sat there at the different places we went and opening up each gift, I was happy, but not the deep internal happiness that say a kid might experience. Not that I wasn't grateful for them, I just know that there is so much more to life that brings me joy and happiness in my soul than "things." I've always known this, I just for the first time felt it within me.

This year my New Year's resolution is that I never take for granted any moment with any family or friend. It could all go away in a minute. I resolve to find that balance between what I HAVE to do to take care of my family (work) and what I WANT to do with them to create many memories. May all of you have a blessed year!