We're still a little under the weather from this virus that has been kicking everyone in the vicinity's butt. But even if we weren't, I would still be spending this new year's eve night with the love of my life: 

My little bunny.

Not sure this year was everything it should've been but it has been a lesson in human flaws. God made us imperfect. He made us to need and it would be a lonely world if we tried to stand on our own so maybe it's good that we just can't. A few conversations I've had recently have come around to this: Yes, God expects obedience of us and yes, he expects us to do our best. But when we don't, when we have moments of being the humans He made us and we fall short, do we destroy His plan for us? Do we get a secondary plan, the runner-up plan? Is His perfect plan only for those who obey Him perfectly? Because that sounds perfectly impossible... not to mention cruel, which God is not. So, maybe, since God transcends time and knows when we're going to screw up before we do, perhaps... just perhaps, He not only uses our mistakes; maybe He factors them into the plan. I can't imagine God having had a more perfect plan for me than to have my son, but it took sin to get there. He knew I would fall and He didn't want me to lose out on what He had for me because of my lapse in judgement. So He used it to bless me and show me how much He loves me. And, as He always does, He made things better when they seemed worse. An old Stacie Orrico song says, "Will my weakness for an hour make me suffer for a lifetime?" And as a friend asked me that same question recently, I've decided the answer is a definite 'no'. Not that we should take advantage of that and just go around making mistakes willy-nilly. (Where does 'willy-nilly' even come from, btw??) But, when we're trying and we have a lapse, maybe, beyond the more obvious concept of redemption, we're still in the perfect plan. Maybe God's just waiting for us to give it to Him so He can help pick us up and use that lesson for something necessary. Maybe what we view as deviation is needed to actually be on track. I think His grace is bigger than we could ever imagine. And I also think we like to kick ourselves a lot more than He would want us to. In His infinite wisdom, I believe He weaves in our flaws and, yes, our mistakes and utter failures, to this complex tapestry He makes of our lives. So, this year wasn't perfect. I don't have some inspirational discourse on how amazing this past year was and how I can see how it all fell into place miraculously. But I do have faith that this imperfect year can be made perfect in God's strength and that nothing is ever wasted when you give it to the Lord. I believe I'm in my PERFECT plan and I'm looking forward to seeing where 2013 will take this little family as I attempt to be faithful... in my abundantly flawed way.

Bonne Année, tout le monde! I love you, and God does, too.

Mwah! (There's your midnight kiss in case you didn't get one;)