A New Year's Resolution

    I honestly never thought I would start a blog.  I am not the most talented writer and just not the blogging type, I guess.  However, recently I have had the strongest urge to pursue this. I have considered it my New Year's Resolution.  So here goes....

    I guess in my first post I should introduce myself.  My name is Carol Ann Hangartner.  I recently got married in October to an amazing man! We are loving newlywed life and learning about each other more and more.  It has been the most wonderful experience and I feel so blessed to have him as my husband.  He is my ROCK!
     Now for the most important thing about me: I am a Christian.  I grew up in a Christian home with unbelievably loving and amazing parents.  I always knew what it meant to be a Christian--believing Jesus died on the cross for your sins and admitting you're a sinner.  I became a Christian when I was six years old.  My parents prayed with me and I remember looking at them and seeing the joy in their eyes afterwards. It was a wonderful moment.  However, if I am being completely honest, that is not the moment that I felt closest to God.
     As I grew up, I experimented a little bit and strayed away from my morals and values.  I was easily influenced by others and did not stick to what I believed in.  One day, I decided to open my bible and read a little bit about God because sadly, I had not attempted to learn who my Savior was and discover His wonderful grace and mercy.  As I started to read scripture in Psalm, I became emotional because I realized that someone loved me perfectly.  Someone has shown me grace and compassion in my life when I did not deserve any of it.  From then on, I decided to live my life for Christ alone.  I realized that I am part of this world to bring glory to HIM.  And since then, my life has drastically changed.  I have wanted to please Him in any way I can.  My main goal is show His love and compassion to others.  I mess up every day but I know God loves me no matter what.  So this is what my blog is about.  I realize that some people reading this may have grown up believing what the world tells them about God...which let's face it....the world does NOT make God sound like your best friend.  The world sometimes makes God seem like a selfish and hateful being.  I hope by reading this and hearing some of my story it will help you at least become more open minded about God. I feel his love EVERYDAY and can't imagine being without it. I want to end my first blog with probably one of the most popular bible verses.  The reason I chose this one is because I remember memorizing it as a child for church, but never realized the true meaning of it until I was older.  Hope everyone has a happy and blessed New Year!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16