my word & goals for 2013

My word for 2013.


"Rejoice always..."  (I Thessalonians 5:16)

"We are treated as imposters, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything."  (II Corinthians 6:8-10)

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice."  (Philippians 4:4)

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the resurrection of Jesus Christ."  (I Peter 1:6-7) 

I want to be a woman who rejoices in all things.  Especially the little things. It's easy to get excited over big opportunities and changes, but it's much harder for me to rejoice in the mundane things of everyday life.  This, though, is what I'm learning:  There is beauty in mundane, just as there is beauty in big things; there is beauty in the ordinary, the simple, the daily just as there is in the opportunity, the occasion.  I want to be a woman who celebrates that beauty, rejoices in all aspects and seasons of life.  I will celebrate it through words and photos.  I will celebrate it over late-night Skype calls and across coffee- stained Starbucks' tables.  I will celebrate it with traditions, family squeezed around too-small tables, and sisters laughing loudly.  Days when I spend too many hours over school, and days when I laugh at 2am with friends.  Watching rain roll down windows, reading books in front of the fireplace, memorizing the drive to the lake, so I always know how long it will be until we arrive.  Friends I have here - who I talk and laugh with every week - and friends who live miles away - who I miss terribly.  Sibling laughter, wrestling with the boys (and losing), sting pong (it hurts, badly), and even the half hour it takes us to decide on a movie.  There is so much to rejoice in.

As well as rejoicing, there are a few simple things I want to do this year:
+ learn the difference between taking and making photographs
+ love more
+ overcome fears
+ be creative and create
+ do everything with as much passion as I do the things I love      

And I will rejoice in this:  that though I have nothing, I have it all, and though I am treated as an imposter, what I have is true (II Corinthians 6).  Because Jesus Christ, He came and took my life, making it into something much greater, much more beautiful, much more honest and real and alive than I ever could have made it on my own.  In that I will rejoice.  Though I will celebrate the little things of this life, I will rejoice in the biggest thing I ever could be given.  Redemption.  Grace.  Love.  Mercy.  Forgiveness.  Joy.  Life.  There is so much in this life to rejoice in.  I'm doing that this year.

christmas time

It might be that it's 40 degrees and the ground is bare, or the fact that I spent a grand total of 24 hours in airports and airplanes yesterday, but it just doesn't feel like Christmas this year.  Oh, and it could be that fact that my family just gained four more bodies and doubled in noise.    

 There are so many things going through my mind that it's hard to focus on Christmas.  When you spend the week before Christmas in a place where people are just trying to survive rather than celebrate extravagantly for a month, Christmas loses its magic.  I love what Carlotta said "It's not about feeling merry and bright -- it's about the quiet anticipation of the birth of our Savior, who humbled himself to be born of a virgin, who died the death of a criminal on a cross."  

 I'm not a huge fan of change.  I love home and its steadiness.  Now that its been shaken, traditions have to be taught...and relearned.  Maybe that's the hardest part for me - changing traditions that have always been a part of me, of my family.

 Tonight, as the whole (and I mean whole) family sat in church - taking up the entire row - I began to feel Christmas.  The words of the songs, the reminders of the true meaning, helped me to refocus.

 Oh, sure, I'm excited for the presents.  Who wouldn't be?  In fact, as soon as I finish this post, I'll crank up the Christmas music and wrap presents.  (OK, so I'm a little late.  I have a good excuse.)

 The Four are home and life's about to change, but Christmas - and its namesake - are steady.  Where would we be if He wasn't?

Merry Christmas!

thoughts

"I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.  That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been..."  Ecclesiastes 3:14-15

the little moments

I love the little moments in life.  The things that are forgotten like the snap of a finger, the blink of an eye, or a box on the calendar.  

Too often, those little things go unnoticed.  I tend to spend my days focused on school and school alone.  Try to finish before dinner.  Get good grades.  Write a beautiful paper.  That's important - I know that. 

But what about those times when my baby sister is begging me to play with her?  Because, she's not going to be little for very long.  And what about that time when I just need to immerse myself in the sound of the wind blowing, birds singing, and leaves falling?  

I was reminded of these things this weekend.  On Saturday, I spent the day with a wonderful friend.  We played soccer together.  (And won, I might add.)  When I returned home, my family was gardening.  The last of the vegetables have been picked, and the sweet potatoes that have been harvested are waiting for some hungry chef to transform them into a sweet meal.  

In order to grant the birthday girl's wish, we played a game we call Chopped.  My family has an obsession with the Food Network Channel - so much so that we now hold our own Chopped competition which we modified from the show.  (If you haven't seen it, you need to.)  Four brave little souls concocted desserts from five secret ingredients that my mom and I found.  I'll let you imagine what you get when oatmeal, green tea, cinnamon chips, apple pie filling, and sweet potatoes are mixed.  

On Sunday, I arose with excitement.  My church has just built a new sanctuary to accommodate its ever growing member count.  Yesterday was the first service in that new building.  As prayers and praises were being lifted up in a place that seemed so new, yet so familiar, I experienced a renewed love and appreciation for my church.  Some people cannot understand how a church of 3500 can be so close and Christ-focused, but we are.  And it is a simply stunning thing to witness.

Today.  Another school week.  Another Monday.  Instead of dreading it, dragging my feet through it, I attempted to look for the little things, and I found them.  Conversations with friends, laughing at the most random things, even enjoying Latin class.  Those are the things I love.

And even as the rain poured this afternoon and we were told that the power had been out for five hours because of work being done, I still found joy.  The silence when no dishwasher is running or oven heating is beautiful and so very rare.  And I cherished it.

The little moments.  The things we so often forget, and so often forget to be grateful for.  What were some moments you have cherished this weekend?

learning.

learning to be a better sister

learning how to listen to them, love them in a way that leads them to respond

learning every detail of a Star Wars movie or a tap dance move

And you know what?  I want to know about those things.

learning to be a better daughter.

learning that sometimes, the best thing to do, is the thing you don't want to do.

learning what it takes to raise a family and care for a home.

And you know what?  I can't wait to be a mom.

learning to be a better friend.

learning that phonecalls have to be made, and dates have to be set.

learning to listen, and care, and feel.

And you know what?  I don't do that often enough.

learning to be a better child.

learning that He wants to hear from me, He wants to know my feelings.

learning that it's hard to be the girl He wants me to be.

learning that I have what it takes to be that girl.

And you know what?  So do you.