Looking Back and Going Forward

It's almost 2014. Wow. Another year has come and gone. I look back and I can smile about some amazing things that happened,but I also get sad about things that did not happen. I get very sentimental around the end of every year. I think of dashed dreams,false hopes,and have many regrets. I tend to be hard on myself come the last few days of December. I think of the doors we thought would open for us that were just slammed right in our face. I think of the dreams and aspirations we had,but they never came to pass. I take it in stride and know God has the best interest and plan for our family. It's hard to accept at times, though. Letting the God of the universe orchestra my life,the big picture. It should not be hard,I mean He only created the world in just 6 days. He took dirt and made man. He took a rib and created woman. It is ridiculous that I cannot trust Him with the minuet and big details of my life. The world is a pretty big deal,so why can't I trust God with my big deals at times? It's a part of a process of learning and growing. One I am still learning.

I also think of the awesome things that happened this past year. We were able to go to the beach twice and it costs us hardly anything. We were able to go to Texas and it cost us nothing. We aren't big spenders and this was only our second year to take a vacation since the 7 years we have been married. We made memories with our boys that will never be forgotten. The year was not all full of sadness because in the dashed dreams are God's dreams,God's plans for us. How much better they are! His plans are perfect and there are without flaw! So I can take comfort in His Word and know that by allowing my dreams to slip away,He is putting new dreams into my heart and soul. How amazing! I really cannot say enough about the goodness of God. Surrendering to His will is not easy,but it is so worth it. I am a frail,flawed human and I know I will mess things up. So by surrendering it to God I have full assurance things will be just as He desires.

Closing this chapter of life,I look forward to the new year. I look forward to making more memories with our boys at home and wherever God takes us. I look forward to growing more in my faith,being stretched more,being pruned more,and being broken more. I look forward to seeing what God does in the hearts of my boys and the hearts of family, plus friends. I look forward to see what doors God closes and what doors God opens. Like the song by Darlene Czech says, I give my life to the Potter's hands. There will be bad and hard times. For without them, how would I know the goodness of God? There will be joyous,happy times too. He will give and He will take away. But I will say blessed be the name of the Lord.

If I am full of myself I have nothing to give,but if I am full of Him I have so much to give others. So I want to be broken and continually filled with the glory and light of God so I can give to others what God knows they need. I encourage you to seek God whole heartily with all that you have. Let Him take dreams of your own and replace them with what He desires. Let Him break you so He can fill you with Himself. May we be women of prayer,conviction,love,and so much more. I pray you all have a blessed last day of 2013 and have a blessed new year!

Linking up with Darlene @ Time Warp Wife for Titus 2sdays.

Happy New Year!!

It's the last day of 2012 and that is unbelievable! I love a new start to a new year. I also love Monday's! Monday is a fresh, new start to a new week. Most people hate Monday's, but I see it as another week to strive toward the mark.

I am looking forward to what God has in store for my family and I this year. He has always been so faithful and good to us. I mean really, some of the things that God has done for us, is unbelievable. He does things for us, so we may testify of His works, and then others will praise Him. We have dreams and goals, but ultimately God has the final call on it all. What are some of your dreams? Sometimes I am afraid to dream, are you? I am afraid those dreams may not come true or that they are not the ones God wants for me. My husband is a big dreamer and I'm more of the realistic type. Funny how God puts two people together and they compliment one another. We have dreams of buying a home, paying off our used SUV, and making many memories with our children. The end of the year really snuck up on me this time. I usually already have some goals written on paper and have been processing that a new year is upon me. Well, not so this year.

I pray you all have a blessed new year! Make it count. Love your husband deeply. Love your children unconditionally. Humble yourself before God and watch Him exalt you. Be a servant to your family and those around you. Having a servant's heart is important to God. I know I get caught up in selfishness all too often. Having children has really been purging some things in me and it's mainly selfishness. So may He continue to purge me, though it hurts badly.

Closing Out the Year

It is so hard to believe 2012 is almost over and in just two days we will have entered another year. It has been a trying year for myself. I've had some feminine issues that have really effected my daily life and family life. It's been a battle. It's one of those years, where you cannot wait for it to be over and begin a fresh, new one. There has also been some wonderful things happen this year to me. One thing for sure, I am blessed even in the hard things.

I always like to write down some goals for the new year and reflect on the past year. I'm a goal/list type gal. I try to keep them realistic, yet set them up a notch. If there isn't any push to do better each year you can become stagnant and lazy. I can't wait until I can sit with my boys as they grow older and talk about things they want to do different the next year. It's something I love to do with my husband also.

I rarely get quiet moments to myself. If I get them it's usually early in the morning like now, at 6:45 a.m. before getting ready for church. So here are some thoughts for my new year. I don't want it to be just another year (Last year, I purposed to live in the moment and not keep wishing for this moment or that moment to occur). I want to grow much more in the Lord. I want to be much more patient with my children and husband. I want to show them the love of Christ, even when they are driving my bonkers. I want to teach my boys more about the Lord. My heart's desire is for them to know God. Not just know who He is, but to know what He loves and wants from them. I want them to seek to please Him even at a very young age (the oldest 2 are 4.5 and 3). I want to really take eating healthy serious. We don't eat horrible, but it could be better. I want to dig into God's Word more and write it over and over on my heart. I really want to see broken relationships in our families mended and for people to forgive one another. I want my Daddy to be healed of Lyme Disease completely and his body restored back to health. I really want a home and a yard to play in with my 3 energetic boys. I want to not just say I love Jesus, but to show it by dying to self when I want nothing more than to be selfish. I want people who have no sense of who Christ is to be wrapped in the presence of God and shown what our Savior did for them. I want those in war torn countries to be safe and know God's peace. I long for my Lord to come back and take us from this filthy, scary, and cruel world more than anything.

What are some of your thoughts for the new year? Share them with me please, I would love to know your heart for the coming year!

Almost A New Year

I can't believe it is only days away from being 2011. Wow. This year has went by so slow,but at the same time went by so very fast. It was a particularly hard year for me and still has been. It's not been a worse,just hard. A lot of trials and self-discovery. That's why I said hard,not worse. Trials and finding out more about yourself are probably two of the most effective ways God can draw us to Him.

I hope to sit and write down a few goals for the new year. I have done this since 2005 and really enjoy it. I seem so scatter brained with being a young Mother of young children. Most days I just want a bath and to be able to see my floor in the apartment. Tis a season that will pass,more quickly than I realize I think.

I turned 27. My oldest son turned 2. We got a used SUV. We had snow. A dear friend and mentor passed away. I became pregnant again. My youngest turned 1. That's just some of the things that happened this past year. We made mistakes and we conquered new ground. It's all a part of living and learning. We have dreams of moving back "home" near our families,but it has to be part of God's will for us. It would truly be a miracle if this happened for us. We shall see what God has in store for us in the near future.

Some of our year in pictures! If I really think about my life,I am blessed. I am blessed more than I think I should be. I have a Savior who still calls to me even when I don't answer. I have a God who sees fit to give me things that I know I do not deserve. I have a husband who is the most amazing man God could have given me. I have 2 beautiful boys that adore me and that I adore. I have another little one on the way to hold,kiss,and sing too. Really....what do I have to complain about? Not a lot compared to what I have not to complain about. Thank You,Lord. Keep me humble. Keep me pure. Keep me focused on You and my blessings. In Jesus Name,Amen!