Before you do, let me just share a thought or two!

Yesterday I attended a new church. I am a Catholic by birth, and as I have moved around the country, I have attended many Catholic churches. I have also attended Lutheran and Presbyterian churches and all have something to offer. But I never felt at home in any of them; my life story just didn't seem to fit the mold.

So one of my New Year's resolutions was to find a church that I could feel good about. I wanted to hear positive sermons, sing gloriously happy songs, be part of a family, and walk out of the service feeling good about myself and the day to come. Not a short order, I know!

My dear Bob said to me" I know this is important to you; i have a friend who is the head of a non-denominational church here in town. They hold services in the chapel at Lake Forest College, and in the warmer weather, on our beautiful Lake Michigan beachfront". I decided to listen to him and give it a shot. (He said he would come with me, that didn't happen ). But this was for me, so off I went.

To make this part of my long story shorter - I loved it Warm and welcoming, beautiful music, non-robotic, and spiritual. I didn't want to leave and can't wait to go back next weekend. Starting off the new year on a positive note!

Okay, FINALLY back to the resolution. Part of the service yesterday was to fill out a postcard with a "one sentence" prayer of thanks or a resolution, which were then read aloud. The minister then spoke about resolutions and why so many fail.

Resolutions are wonderful things They give us something to reach for in the coming year, a goal to strive for, whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual. But the one thing we forget to do, after we have made these wonderful resolutions, is ask the next question --

How do I handle the other parts of my life that ARE GOING to get in the way? If I resolve to read the bible at noon every day, how am I going to handle the business meeting that is going to happen, the phone call that is going to come in, the co-worker or family member that is going to need my help? If I decide to exercise for an hour as soon as I get home from work, how am I going to handle the dogs/husband/kids that immediately demand my attention; how am I going to still get dinner on the table at a reasonable time?

Are you getting the picture?? it's not that we don't make GREAT resolutions; it's that we don't PLAN FOR LIFE's INTERRUPTIONS!

Isn't striving for the healthiest we can be the same? We all start out with the best of intentions, but we don't plan for LIFE to get in the way, and so we fall off the wagon, again and again.

Today I will make my list of resolutions for the new year, but this time my list will have a second, maybe a third column. That Yoga class I wanted to take on Sunday morning is at the same time as my new church service - the church service wins! The craft projects I want to finish (and the new ones I want to start) - something else is going to have to go (watching tv shows that are just a waste of precious time). Getting a new business started? Less computer time perhaps?

I have a lot to think about, but love the idea that I am setting myself up for success in the coming year and not failure.

Wishing all of you a safe New Year's eve filled with love and happiness, spilling over into the New Year!!!