just for fun

I feel like life has been a little heavy lately...

Okay, a LOT heavy...

big major questions and life altering answers...

not just in my family but in families all around us...

But I know that God promises abundant blessings on His people...

so, just a little bit of fun for you (and a major photo dump)...

 When you "blog" like I do, you get around to posting Halloween pictures in January... whatev.  Our Pocahontas had so much fun this year!

 Thank you, Chick-fil-A, for chicken tortilla soup and (on good tummy days) salad with your berry balsamic dressing.  Please keep these around forever.  Please?

 Once a week, I have the absolute privilege to volunteer with Lazarus Ministries at City of Refuge.  I get to play with the cutest kiddos while their mommas learn foundational financial concepts.  If you need to get plugged in with an amazing organization, contact Lazarus.  They are doing amazing things in our city!

 Okay, ya'll... this stuff is super addictive.  Maybe it's because Noonday Collection was started as an adoption fundraiser (and that speaks to this momma's heart) or maybe it's because their sole purpose is to help mommas around the world create pathways out of poverty for their own families... or maybe it's because their jewelry and accessories are just to die for beautiful... Whatever the case, I cannot get enough.  I wholeheartedly believe in what they are doing and holy cow do I love this jewelry!  Don't worry friends, I'll be having another trunk show soon!  **Spring Line debuts February 20th!**

 Again, because I'm an awesome bloggger (ha!), here's a picture of my sweet family... cutting down our Christmas tree!  It was a first for me but it was lots of fun!  You know it's gonna be a good time when you drive up and they literally hand you a saw through the window of your car!  :-)  This will be a tradition from here on out!  Very Clark Griswold... without the giant roots... or crazed squirrel... or Cousin Eddie. 

 My girl at a Georgia Tech football game this fall!  She was so thrilled that a real, live "chee-lee-dah" let her hold the big, gold pom pom!  It is always a fun family time on the Flats! 

And from the Chick-fil-A Christmas Open House... my sweet girl in Mr. Cathy's office... such an amazing family and incredible company to work for.  We are so thankful. 

Okay... hopefully those put a smile on your face... and if not, well... shop Noonday Collection's sale for some awesome deals right now!

one year

It really is amazing what a difference one year can make! 

It was nearly one year ago that my baby stopped sleeping in her baby crib.

It was nearly one year ago that my girl had some scary health issues that landed us in the CHOA ER not once but twice in a matter of weeks.

It was nearly one year ago that we (more me than we but that's another post for another day anyway...) decided I would take a "part time", short term job.

It's been just over a year since my hubby had his first ever surgery.

It's been nearly a year since I was introduced to Jen Hatmaker.  (not literally... just her books and way of thinking...  I did actually meet her this past September... and I ugly cried... not my proudest moment.)

It's been about a year since I started listening to that whisper in my heart.  God was trying to get my attention.  It took about a year.  I'm hard headed.  :-)

My word for this year - wait - comes after a year of running... even racing... toward what I thought was right and good.

My intentions were well meaning but it was still I and ME instead of Him. 

Learning to lean into His will daily is difficult for this planner.  I like a full calendar of events and plans and To Do's but I'm learning that slowing down in order to listen... that's most important. 

"But what if God's will was never intended to be found?  In fact, what if it was never hidden from us in the first place?  What if God the Father has not sent his children on a cosmic Easter egg hunt to discover his will while he sits back in heaven saying, 'You're getting colder... warmer... colder...'?  And what if searching for God's will like this actually misses the entire point of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus?"

from Follow Me by David Platt

 

I think this is what my waiting looks like this year... becoming more a disciple of Jesus and less Easter egg hunting for "God's will".

 

So, more of HIM... less of me... and in this time of waiting, I will choose His will daily... die to self...  love others... serve others...

 

"I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."  Luke 1:38

 





One word for 2014

Happy 2014!  I hope your new year is off to a great start!

We had such wonderful holidays this year!  I don't know that they were really any different than years past but they were just perfect!  I was sad to take down our tree (or rather watch my hubby take down the tree) and pack it all away.  But now, it's a brand new year...

So all over the blogosphere I've seen people writing about their "Word for 2014".  Have you seen this?  So many posts about "rely" or "simplify" or any other admirable verb or adjective...  But of course, it got me thinking... 

Could I boil down all that I'm praying for and thinking about 2014 to just one word?

I honestly didn't think I could.  You see, I have a tendency to use LOTS of words so getting down to one seemed like a big task. 

But then, after much praying for God's will for this year and dwelling on His words and listening to wise and godly women... It hit me.

Wait.

That's my word for 2014.  Nothing super special or earth shattering for most but waiting for me is not my gift. 

Waiting means for me that truly not MY will but His be done... in my life... in my home... in my plans... in my marriage... in my family... in my hopes and dreams and prayers...

The word "wait" shows up all throughout scripture.  People were constantly waiting... for a sign... for a word... for instruction... for healing... for a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes... for an empty tomb.

They didn't always like waiting but they waited anyway.  And I feel the same way.  I don't like to wait.  I am not naturally a patient person (about most things) so waiting is difficult. 

But I feel so strongly that this is what the Lord is asking me to do in this season of my life.  Wait. 

Psalm 5:3 says "In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly."

I can wait expectantly.  The Lord knows my heart.  He knows my deepest desires and I continually lay them at His feet and wait expectantly. 

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14

"Lord I wait for You; You will answer Lord my God."  Psalm 38:15

But I do not believe that God asks us to wait without hope of an answer.  Without hope of the end to the time of waiting.  Without hope. 

So maybe I couldn't boil it down to one word... maybe it's two... wait and hope.

Praying and waiting expectantly for all that God will do in 2014.  For me, my family as well as you and yours. 

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."  Romans 8:25