Growth and Maintenence.

As I've said in some previous posts, 2012 was not a friend to many of my loved ones. It was a painful year that won't be missed. But while there were many aches, pains and tears, we know that EVERY thing is a gift from above and thankfully there were some sweet blessings sprinkled throughout, making 2012 tolerable while wading through the muck.

My prayer and goals for 2013 is not of anything specific. Frankly, I'm too tired to think of specific goals and resolutions, so I will stick with 2 themes. Growth and maintenance. Growing my family. Growing in the Lord. Growing in patience. Growing in understanding. And maintaining all of that. I want to keep, grow and maintain all of the blessings I have been given and that's it. Maintain my home. Maintain patience. Maintain relationships. Maintain myself.

 I'm praying that 2013 is full of wonderful things for you and your family! And I know that mine is sure to have an exciting start and I can't wait! Happy New Year!

Whirlwind...

 So that's it! Christmas has once again come and gone. And like the last few years, I always end up feeling exhausted beyond what I could ever imagine and yet, still wishing I had been able to do more. I need to figure out the perfect balance between making the most of Christmas while not practically killing myself to achieve it. Maybe that will be my goal for next year.

It was a sweet time, but a busy time over the last few days. Starting with hosting a rehearsal dinner for a dear friend,  his bride and 40 of their closest friends and family, 

 attending their beautiful wedding, 

and going to my family's Christmas party and being visited by a very eccentric and hairy Santa while singing carols.

Followed by finding non-existent time on Christmas Eve, in the rain, waiting in line for over an hour, to finally see Santa. Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute for the 3rd Christmas in a row.

We spent Christmas Eve at my mom's and it was truly a special time. My little brother was surprised with the gift of a lifetime and I am so glad we got to be there to share in such a special moment. He had a verrrry long, tough year and I can't think of a better way to end it than with the same eccentric Santa...and a Mustang!

 Later that evening was my 2nd annual Christmas Eve PJ party with my little sisters,

 followed by Santa dropping off the loot!

We enjoyed Christmas breakfast with egg and hashbrown casserole, baked oatmeal, blueberries and cream, cinnamon roll monkey bread and a family favorite: orange julius! 

 

We ended the day by hosting my husbands side of the family for dinner and a great time of visiting and laughing.

It was every bit of a Christmas Marathon that I am STILL recovering from and being almost 9 months pregnant definitely added to the challenge! I will be spending the next few days cleaning, packing all of the lights and ornaments away until next year and I will begin to focus on getting my nest ready for when my baby bird decides to hatch! I hope your Christmas was filled with family, food and the joy that comes with the blessed season! I'll be back soon with my goals for 2013.

Perspective...

 I had started a post earlier last week about how this Christmas season is just flying by and even though I thought I put less on my plate to make more time for enjoying my family and all the fun that accompanies this season, my plate has seemed to fill right back up. I wrote about how my stress was building, how ticked off I have been about our local radio station not playing Christmas music this year and how I just wasn't feeling as "cheery" as I hoped I would. And then yesterday happened. The unthinkable acts that played out in Connecticut really put things into perspective for me and have grieved my soul.

I first heard about the news of an elementary school shooting as I was wrapping presents for my boy. I immediately thought about those 20 mommas who were probably doing the same when they got word. These mommas have been thoughtfully picking out what presents their babies would love and enjoy in just a few days. These mommas were thinking of the new things their little elf on the shelf would do that night that would make their babies smile. These mommas were getting ready for their babies to come home from school for the weekend when their world was shaken. I can't even begin to imagine. My heart is broken. I am ashamed that I ever allowed myself to feel overwhelmed with all that I have to do, all the presents I have to wrap, all of the food I have to buy and prepare. No, I will count it all as joy!! I have gained some perspective. I will rejoice in the blessings that the Lord has graciously bestowed on my family, I will hug my boy a little tighter and I will pray for these grieving families. I will pray for strength for these mommas whose lives...and Christmases for the rest of time have been forever changed. I can't fathom the depths of their pain but I will be praying for peace and comfort for these 20 mommas and their families. Hug your babies, be thankful for the gift of life and all of the busyness that comes along with it and may it never be taken for granted.

2012: They Were the Best of Times, They Were the Worst of Times.

 As 2012 draws to a close I think this is the time of year that most people reflect on the past year and begin anticipating the coming one. While my little family has been blessed beyond measure with the news of a coming baby girl, a new job for my husband and many other sweet blessings sprinkled throughout, there have also been some painfully difficult times this year that have left the family around me licking deep wounds that are not easily healed. Ugly wounds that will leave scars. And like Paul says in Romans we need to "rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep". Unfortunately, there has been an abundance of weeping in 2012. And come New Years Eve, 2012 will be getting a big 'ol "good riddance, and don't let the door hit 'ya on the way out" from most of my family.  I pray that 2013 will bring about a salve to those nasty wounds. I pray that they won't fester and the Lord will provide healing, comfort and restoration to those I love so dearly. I am reminded of the passage in James 1 that says “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” and it's not a matter of IF we are faced with various trials but WHEN. We will be faced with tough times and through it I pray that it will produce a faith that endures. And I am fervently praying that 2013 will be a faith filled year.
I know that this time of year can be an extremely difficult for many people, and if that is true for you, know that this time of year is so much more than a historical event. It's about the birth of a Savior. A Savior who came to offer rest to the weary (Matt.11:28) and a hope for the future (Jer 29:11) to those who take refuge in Him. Take refuge. Run to him and taste and see that He is good and those who seek after Him lack no good thing (Ps 34). That is my prayer for you.

" And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”