My Word for 2014: THRIVE

Happy New Year friends! 

A new year always brings a new slate. The anticipation of new things to come. When the year comes to an end naturally it has me thinking and reflecting on the new year. Last year my word was PEACE, 2012 was a year of changes for our family and I was looking for peace and calmness in all areas of our life. I also was looking forward to building a home in our new house. As I look back on 2013 I see how we did just that. 

But 2013 was also a hard year for me emotionally. I became a mom of two little ones. I had a baby that only recently after his one year birthday began sleeping through the night. It was a hard year for me personally dealing with friendships. I've struggled to find priority in what to share in this space, and how to make sense of major transitions in my life.

I've spent a lot of time in prayer just me and the Lord figuring out who I am in the face of all of this transition. What kind of mom am I to be? Where do I go in this new season of life? Who does God want me to be in this new season? 

As I started to work things through in prayer + in my quiet time I started to see just where God has me in this season. He began to bring a new freshness in my perspective that changed my heart. 

This year I want to Thrive.

I want to thrive in being a mother. For much of this past year I have felt like just take it one day at a time, when I don't know what to do. Being a mom is tough work. When I left my full time job outside the home to stay at home with my kiddos I had no idea how hard that would be for me when all I ever wanted to do was be at home. But after working two and a half years outside the home it was more of a transition for me than I realized it would be. At times I've felt like a failure, other times I felt like mom of the year. Most of 2013 I felt like I was floundering and only doing the bare minimum in getting things done. It may not have always seemed that way on the outside but on the inside that's where I was at. 

When I get overwhelmed or unsure I tend to retreat inward. I tend to get very introspective and not really tell anyone else what's going on, or what I'm feeling until I know what to do with those feelings or make sense of them. I started flooding my life and filling my life with things that didn't matter instead of taking a look at the feelings and things that did. I felt like at times I was barely scraping the bottom.

I want to thrive and not just survive in being the best wife I can be. In figuring out what commitments I need to let go of in order to thrive in other areas of my life. I've always been good at seeing what takes up my time and what I need to let go of. That is not always an easy process but throughout much of 2013 I filtered through a lot of things. I find myself now needing to simplify and make some decisions and ultimately let some things so to free myself and make room for other new things. 

I have new ideas on where I want to take my business + this blog and I can't wait to share them. Taking comfort in God's peace and assurance during this time. I hope to re focus this year and what my life looks like now in this current season. Here's a few verses I'm repeating to myself and keeping on my mind. 

They will thrive like watered grass, like willows on the river bank. Isaiah 44:4 NLT

But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God's unfailing love. Psalms 52:8 NLT

Do you have a word for 2014? If so, I'd love to hear about it. Leave it in the comments below or leave the link to your post where you talk about it. I'd love to read your stories. 

To read more about other words in past years; 2013, 2012, 2011 To follow along with me in my journey I will be using the #thrive2014 on Instagram & Twitter.

Peace. My Word for 2013

In 2012 I challenged myself to have JOY. You can read more about that here.  2012 was a great year, so many exciting things happened. We took on a lot towards the end of 2012 with being pregnant with our second child, to house hunting and buying a home, having a baby just 9 days before Christmas it was a whirlwind, and certainly full of JOY, and lots of opportunities where my JOY was tested, and situations where I had to choose to be JOYFUL and have an attitude of JOY.

The end of 2012 was quite chaotic for our family, not bad but we just had so much going on. We took on a lot and it kinda went by like a blur. Looking towards 2013 there are some things on the horizon for us. Things I am excited about, things we're looking forward to, and a few things that could leave anyone anxious about. But, as the last few weeks of 2012 came and went God has given me an overwhelming sense of peace over everything.

A peace that surpasses all understanding.

A sense that even though I'm entering new territory as a mom of two, I feel a sense of peace that HE will guide me and give me all the right tools to be a great mom and make this transition from one to two.

Some goals for 2013;

Create a peaceful home. Moving into a new home this year I am determined to create peace in our home, and make it a sanctuary for us to come home to. A place of rest and peace.

Find a peaceful balance in mothering two young children.


Create an atmosphere of peace in all my relationships, not that there isn't already but for me personally there are somethings/emotions that I need to let go of in order to have more peace in these relationships.

I'm excited for what 2013 will bring, and this word gives me something to focus on for the year. A little bit of a reminder & guide for what I want this year to be.

How about you? Are there any words you're focusing on this year? Any goals you want to meet? Share them with me in the comments below.

Wishing all of you a blessed year ahead!

{JOY}

Last year I challenged myself to simplify. I wanted to focus on one word for the year and live that out in the everyday. Last year I worked hard to accomplish the goals I set out to focus on for the year, and I know I'm better for it. Our family is better for it as well.

In thinking and praying about my word for 2012 I really felt a stirring in my heart about the word JOY!

At the start of last year our church closed down without notice, it was a sudden change to our lives and in our ministry. There was a lot of confusion that surround this decision we had no control over. When the church closed, Orion and I knew that we'd be OK regardless of what had happened or the emotions surrounding this decision.

That event led us on a journey of trying to figure out what was next for us? We moved to Arizona two years ago to take a job at that church, and now that it was closed it left us answering the question of what's next?

I'll be honest and say that the last year was very hard for me in the regard of not feeling "settled." There was an un easy feeling in me most of the time feeling like I couldn't really unpack our bags here so to speak because I was unsure of whether or not this would be our forever home.

I know that it might sound weird to some, but for me we've experienced so much transition in our lives since 2008 that I am just ready to be in a place long term.

No more moving. I want to create a home somewhere for my family and enjoy this life.

In the last six months I've really been evaluating myself, my heart and my emotions. I realized that I was trying to find my happiness in the circumstances instead of finding JOY in where ever the Lord has us at the time.

Happiness is based on good things happening to us.

JOY is eternal! Knowing that no matter what happens or doesn't happen;

The Joy of the Lord is our strength. Neh. 8:10 (NIV)



Source: moneysavingmom.com via Andrea on Pinterest

This year the word I want to focus my heart and life on is JOY!

Choosing JOY in every circumstance. Choosing to find the JOY in everyday things and not be so caught up in what does or doesn't happen.

Find JOY in my relationship with the Lord knowing it is and always has been enough.

I know that when I am focused on eternal things, and joyful towards others they catch it too. It makes a difference in me, in my home, and in others.

I wanted to choose a Bible verse for the year to go along with my word for 2012, I choose this verse:

Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

It really sums up in every single way how I am feeling, and how I want to live this out. No matter what this year I want to choose JOY.

Be filled with JOY.

Take it with me.

Enjoy this life and the journey that God has us on.

Today I want to challenge you to take a look and see how you could be more joyful in your own life.

Maybe it's towards others.

Maybe your children or spouse.

Maybe you're going through a hard time and you need to choose to be JOYFUL in your circumstances. Change your attitude and choose JOY today. 

*************

{Simplify}

A couple weeks back I was challenged when I read this post from one of my favorite bloggers. Challenged to take a look at the year and challenge myself with reflection, and choose 1 word to describe the year, to bring purpose for the year, to make a difference in my own life little by little.

2010, brought with it much change. Many joys like the birth of our first baby. And lots of other challenges we had to face and look straight in the eye and make the most of situations that were not of our own choosing. Some where along the way things got messy, out of order, haywire if you will. I've spent the last couple weeks praying and seeking what God would want to teach us and mostly ME about the season of life we walked through last year. I am convinced that God cares more about how we react to situations more than the situation itself.

It's how we respond that defines our character, and challenges us, and brings us closer to the Savior or takes us farther away.

This year in thinking about one word for the year, my word:

Simplify

Growing up I used to think being simple, meant boring or un original. But now I realize that there's peace in the simplicity of knowing exactly who you are, and where God has you for the season of life he has you in. I am no stranger to change, our family, marriage and personal lives have seen more change in these last three years than we ever could have imagined. I've realized that as one season ends, another begins and God continues to open doors along the way.

This year I want to challenge myself to simplify in every area.

Simplify my relationship with the Lord, reading, studding and praying about where he wants us to be. Not making it complicated or putting pressure and letting my flesh want to control things. But, just waiting and hearing from God. Having the peace to know that he has us right where he wants us to be.

Simplifying my home. I talked about before about getting rid of clutter and one of my goals for the year was to clear out the things that we don't need or use and get back to basics. I don't want to have stuff, just to have it. I want every thing I bring in to have purpose and something we love.

Simplifying my marriage and personal life. Some where along the way the chaos of the last year, all the changes and situations we've been through Orion and I haven't made the time for each other. Date nights have taken a back seat. This year I want to date my husband again, and get back into a routine of regular date nights and spending intentional time together. I also want us to have regular family days or nights. I feel like this is really important now as we become a family and begin patterns for a healthy family and home life.

Orion and I are facing yet another transition in life, while we pray through this time and seek the Lord my prayer is that God "simply" speaks to us and gives us his peace during this time. That we don't make hearing God's voice to complicated and that he will show us where we're to be. 

Even though this time is confusing, sad, and not what we expected I know that God is with us and we have peace in that. 

This year I want to simply enjoy all that God has blessed us with. 

Enjoy each other. Grow closer to him. 

Grow closer in love with each other. 

Simply Be.