A New Beginning.

Even though it's the second week of the New Year, I am still loving the feeling of a clean slate. Each New Year, I take a close look at my life, and I really think about the things I want for the next year. Although I have not figured out exactly what I want for 2008 - I thoroughly enjoy the feeling of "starting over."

At church on Sunday, Pastor Jackson spoke about new beginnings and how God can give us abundant blessings in our life. He spoke about the other side as well - about the "curses" of the Old Testament. However, Jesus redeemed us from those curses by becoming the ultimate sacrifice for us, and those abundant blessings come through Jesus Christ our Savior. Pastor Jackson outlined several inner challenges that keep us from experiencing our blessings - one being the "self talk." He shared a powerful passage in Luke regarding the self talk:

"Then he told them this story. 'The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!' Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! tonight you die. And your barnful of goods - who gets it?' - Luke 12:16-20 (MSG)

You have no idea the impact of this on me - I have been dealing with messages like this in my life for TOO LONG. I get so caught up in having the nicest house, money to travel, the cutest clothes, and you know what? IT DOESN'T MATTER, LENA! You see, in that passage, the man NEVER praised or thanked God for the rain, the sun, the land - all those things that he had no control over, but were instrumental in bringing a bountiful harvest. How many times have we done this in our own lives?

I have been holding onto so many things in my life lately - things from the past, and I know that I have been punishing myself for those things. Sometimes it feels like if I can make up for a horrible past with a nice car, a nice house, etc., etc., that I can "fool" everyone - including God. This is an inner struggle that has been going on in my life for the past year. It took everything for me not to break down right there and start sobbing. But then, Pastor Jackson read a passage in Romans that lifted my heart:

"With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death." - Romans 8:1-2 (MSG)

Pastor Jackson gave us a list of devotionals, if you will, to do this week. Each day this week, I have looked at this list - and I encourage each of you to look at this list as well - I truly believe that this is going to have a PHENOMENAL impact on my life, and it can on yours, too.

1. What are the messages you hear most frequently in your life?
2. Are they ENTIRELY true?
3. Is it something that has an influence over me? What are the spiritual implications?
4. Is there anything that is apart from God's best? If so, REPENT and RENOUNCE.
5. FORGIVE anyone that you need to forgive.
6. FORGIVE YOURSELF.*
7. Ask God to begin to help you see yourself from God's perspective.

*As a part of number 6, I plan to share my testimony with you all over the next couple of days. It's not going to be pretty, and I don't plan to sugar coat it, but if I can reach one person through my life story, then it will be worth it. Writing is extremely therapeutic for me, and I know this will work wonders in my life.

I would ask that each of you would pray for me during this week of self-reflection.
Blessings!

NEW hair!

I got a few inches cut off, and I love it! My hair grows really fast, so every few months, I do something different with it! Here are before and after pictures....

Before my haircut...

And AFTER...

It's a little "poofy" now that it's shorter, so that will take some getting used to, but overall, I love it! In other news, I just uploaded 250 pictures from my camera (FINALLY), so I'll be posting some pictures from Christmas and other events!

Hope you're enjoying your Friday :)

New year, new blog!

Ha, I'm trying something different with the blog...what do you think? I'm just playing around, and who knows how long this one will stay?

Going along with the upgrades for the new year, I'm getting my hair cut tonight, and I CANNOT wait! I'll for sure post before and after pictures, although I'll tell you...it's going to be quite a change!

Brad and I are working to organize everything - my next stop tonight is the office closet and our laundry room! I know Brad is getting sick of me organizing everything, but I just can't stop myself!

I hope y'all are enjoying the New Year! I know the Warnocks are :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TESSA!

Today is Tessa's 6th birthday! Happy Birthday, Tessa!

She is my cousin, and I cannot believe that she is turning 6 today! It seems like yesterday when I went to visit her when she was a sweet precious baby!

I love you, Tessa, and I hope you have a fabulous birthday!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope that each of you had a wonderful New Year's Day! I am back to work today and feeling extremely motivated and empowered for 2008!


Brad and I spent our New Year's Eve with my parents and old friends, Rita and Warren. We enjoyed lots of appetizers and played our favorite game, Balderdash, until the wee hours of the morning! It was such a good time! Alas, I did not have my camera, and I did not get a single picture :(


We took all our Christmas decorations down yesterday, put them away ORGANIZED and labeled clearly, and gave the house a good clean! I don't think I'll get all the glitter up for a while, though!

2007 was a wonderful year for the Warnocks...I've seen lots of people doing this on their blogs, so here is a recap of 2007:

We started 2007 with a BANG! Brad and Lena were both fortunate to get amazing jobs after graduating college. In January, Brad started in deposit operations at MidSouth Bank, and Lena began as a Communications Assistant at United Way.

During the months of February - April, we spent most of our time planning the wedding and going to the many different showers and parties that dear friends threw for us. In March, Lena got the best birthday present ever, a job promotion at United Way! To celebrate 4 years of college and a new job promotion, on Friday, April 13th (scary, huh?), Lena got her first NEW car, a VW jetta!

May was a whirlwind of wedding events, and we finally became Mr. and Mrs. Warnock on May 19th, 2007!

We enjoyed at week-long honeymoon in Charleston, South Carolina (which we plan to re-visit for our 1 year anniversary!)

We came back from our wedded bliss and tried to make our little rental house a HOME. Lena was given another promotion at work, Director of Marketing and Special Events!

We began our search for a new home in August, and in October, Lena and Brad found their dream home on Wagon Trail! On November 10th, they closed on their new home and began moving in!

November and December were spent traveling to see our families and spend time with loved ones! Our first Christmas as a married couple was wonderful, and we are looking toward many more!

Here's to 2008!

Back to the daily grind...

Today is my first day back to work after the holidays, and to tell you the truth, it's not so bad! As I was driving to work this morning, I felt as if I hadn't been to work in weeks. Christmas was just perfect this year - I have TONS of pictures and lots of details to share, but that will have to come later!

This time after Christmas right before the New Year, is always a weird time for me. I always get a little depressed about Christmas being over - I hate to take down all the decorations and go back to "regular" stuff. There's just something so magical about the holidays. Tomorrow, Brad and I will take all the decorations down, and I'm DETERMINED to do it in an organized manner - I even have a little plan for each room. So, I'll be making a few trips to Wally World to get some tubs to keep everything organized. I always like to think what it will be like to take everything out next year - what will 2008 be like for the Warnocks? Will our lives be completely different next year? Will our lives be much the same? Gasp, will there be a future little Warnock? (Don't you wish you knew....) :) Anyways, those are the things I think about while I take down the decorations and put them away for next year.

I have been thinking a lot about what I want for 2008 - not resolutions, though. What are the things I am going to COMMIT to do? That's for another day....do you have any plans/hopes/dreams for 2008 - please tell me about them so I can pray for you! I hope you all have a blessed New Year!

Blessings :)

WELCOME Christmas Vacation :)

At 5 p.m., I will OFFICIALLY begin my Christmas vacation, and I will not have to return to work until December 31st!!

And this girl CANNOT wait!

I have a busy evening running around town finishing up a few things before I meet The Write Impression gals at 7 for our Christmas dinner. We're going to a FABULOUS place, too...MAGIANO'S!!!! Whoo hoo! I'm so excited!

Tomorrow morning, Brad and I will be hitting the road for Georgia to spend an early Christmas with his family! We've got a few things to do on Sunday when we get back, so we will not stop for one second!

On Christmas Eve, we will visit my dad's side of the family in Columbia, come back for Christmas Eve service at church, then head over to my house for appetizers and a veg out time before the craziness on Christmas morning!

Christmas morning is something I always look forward to...we'll visit my aunt and uncle's house so that Tessa and Tye can open all of their gifts from Santa. We'll have an early Christmas dinner and exchange gifts (we draw names in my family). Sometime in that mix, Brad and I are going to exchange gifts - who knows when that'll happen! I'm so excited to spend time with my wonderful family!!

Cherish every moment with your family - hold the ones you love close to your heart, and thank our amazing Lord for every precious moment with them. Remember the real reason for the season, and be sure to take some time to reflect on what happened in a manger so many years ago....

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL!!!!!!!!!