Happy New Year~Prayer for 2017

I stumbled upon this prayer by Shelly Faust, and just had to share it with you my dear readers.  May God bless each of you today and in the coming year.  Happy 2017!

2016 Year End Reflection and Highlights~

Tomorrow will be the start of yet another new year.  I remember thinking time stood still when my girls were younger. "What"? you say.  Trust me, those of you who are parents (or have dealt with young children) will understand.  You know, the days when the kids are fussin', fightin', dad's out of town, dinner has yet to be served...and all you want is for it to be their bed time. And bed time is HOURS away!!

Well, now that they are older so am I but we're not talking about me it seems time just flies by..."the days are long but the years are short".  So much truth to that!

While I haven't blogged as much as I had planned/wanted to in 2016, I posted when I felt led to.  Big difference.  I had chosen the word intentional back in January of 2013 as my word for the year, rather than a long list of resolutions that would go out the window a week or so later.  It's been a work in progress, but I really think after the events of the past two years that I have been better about being in the moment.  Isn't that really what it's all about?

I will however share my top posts for 2016.  A couple surprised me.  I expected several of the recipes we shared to rank in the top 10, you people do love your food as do we, but one in particular resonated with a lot of you and drew a lot of attention.

Without further ado...

Top 10 from 2016

10. Sweet and Sticky Chicken

9. Paleo Short Ribs with Garlic and Rosemary

8. Hello September

7. Paleo Mexican Casserole

6. Blueberry Brisket

5. Checking In and Where We Are

4. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

3. Pray for our Teacher and Back to School

2. Merry Christmas 2016 and Santa's Prayer

1. Ikea Lack Hack-Blog Hack by Daughter

My very talented oldest daughter is a girl who knows how to use power tools y'all!!!  The Ikea Lack Hack was one of her first projects and it has drawn attention time and time again, here on the blog and on Pinterest.  And, in case you missed it on IG or FB, here is her latest creation...

She created this beautiful porch swing for my hubby and I for Christmas.  For as long as she can remember (we are talking since she was old enough to understand what a swing was), I have begged, pleaded, nagged, asked for one.  It was worth waiting 20 plus years for this one, hand crafted by my daughter's own two hands!! hubby you will be off the hook once it's hung, pun intended

We also learned in the process that even though they are 23 and 26 (I didn't say almost 27 Elie ;-), they still are in cahoots with each other and can keep a secret from their dad and I :-0

To my fellow friends and bloggers who have stuck with me through this past year, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I look forward to seeing what's in store for everyone in 2017, and pray God blesses each of you and your precious families. 

Happy New Year, and My Word for 2015~

Happiest of New Years to each of you!  I pray each of you is blessed beyond measure in the year to come.

Years ago, I would make a list of resolutions like many do prior to the New Year.  And like most, they lasted all of about a month or two (if that long).  So, a few years back I decided to pick just one thing, a word, to concentrate my efforts on.  Past words have included simplify, intentional, and "be" still.

This year's word is THINK.

Think...why yes, we all have to think. I know.

¹think

 verb \ˈthiŋk\

: to believe that something is true, that a particular situation exists, that something will happen, etc.

: to have an opinion about someone or something

: to form or have (a particular thought) in your mind

But, it is much more than that.

This year I want to really think...

Think carefully.
Think positively.
Think before speaking.
Think before acting.
Think before judging.
Think outside the box.

Blessings for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year my friends!!  May God Bless you richly in 2015!!

2014~Be Still

New Year's Eve, already???

The older I get, or what I really should say is, the older our girls get...the faster time seems to go by.

2013 brought a lot of the same, and then some very big changes as well.

For the past several years, I have chosen just one word for the New Year.  In years past, I would make the long list of resolutions like most only to find that by mid-January I already felt like a complete failure.  So, I decided to be a little easier on myself. One simple word.

I realized last year that several of the "BIG" changes we all experienced in our lives came after we took time to stop and listen, to just be STILL.

After listening to ourselves, our hearts, our bodies, we made several changes.  Our oldest left a good paying job to pursue her dream of being a teacher, the youngest and I finally decided to quit taking our doctor's word for our health issues as the final say and found new doctors whom diagnosed many of the things we had already "known".  And in a rare, quiet moment over the Thanksgiving holiday...I took the time to listen to a gentle nudge from God...and because of that a little boy was diagnosed before any long term damage to his heart was done.

I chose to be "STILL" this year because I have found everything else just follows suit.  When I take the time to calm my heart, my mind, my body...the other things that normally would be on the "list" fall into place.  I am a better person, I am happier, I am more focused, I am more mindful of what I say and do, I am more prayerful, I am more intentional, I am healthier, and the list continues.

"The Lord will fight for you, you only need be still."  Exodus 14:14

Thank you for following along on this journey with me.  I love reading your comments and following along on your blogs as well.

Wishing you all a Happy and Safe New Year, and many blessings for 2014!

Word for 2013~Intentional

For the past several years, rather than write out a long list of resolutions that I know I most likely will not keep, I have chosen one word that I feel encompasses what I would like to accomplish or see in my life.

For 2011, I chose the word Simplify.  And, we did.  Quite a bit.  We rid our home of unnecessary objects, things that took up space, that we no longer used, loved or felt had a place in our current lives.  And, we continue to weed out every so often so that things don't get out of hand.  And, truth be told...it feels REALLY good to give things that we are no longer in need of or using to charity.  Knowing someone else is maybe able to receive the things they NEED, but could not afford to go out and buy. (even if that someone is my child, the recent college graduate)

2012, I chose the word Quality.  This came after a year of simplifying.  We decided to chose quality over quantity, rather than several cheaper sweaters, in several different colors, all of which would shrink after a couple washings and sit in a drawer...buy 1 or 2 quality ones that would get worn repeatedly.  Our time with our girls is limited now that they are older, one on her own and working now and the other in college.  Making the time we spend together with them quality time, regardless of whether it is a text, 10 minute phone call, or a visit home.

This year's word...

Live life on purpose, with a meaning.  I recently studied the book "A Life God Rewards", something that stuck with me that was discussed amongst our group and in the series was, Living for the Line NOT the Dot!  That visual has stuck with me.  So many times we are caught up in the here and now and forget about the future, our eternal future.  So I am choosing this year to be more intentional, more deliberate.

Blessings to each of you in 2013!!

My Word for 2012~

As I mentioned the other day, I am NOT a fan of New Year's Resolutions.  Last year I decided that I would pick one word to sum up what I would like to work on/accomplish in the new year.  Last year's word was SIMPLIFY.

I gave this year's word a lot of thought.  Many rolled around in my head before I chose the one I thought would fit best. 

This year's word is the perfect predecessor to last year's word...the word I chose...

Yup, I chose the word quality. 

After simplifying last year, I realized that if I had focused a bit more on quality (rather than quantity in most instances), I wouldn't have had as much to simplify to begin with.

I want to focus on quality time with my family, as the girls have gotten older the amount of time I get to spend with each lessens with each day...I want that time to be quality time.

I want to spend quality time with my hubby...all too soon we will be spending a lot more time together, and I want to be connected.

I want to have quality relationships with my friends, taking the time to call them each week, be involved in their lives no matter how busy I am or they are.

I want to spend quality time in the Word, as I know He has a plan for this year.

I want to be surrounded with quality things, things I took the time to think about, truly need, rather than bought on a whim or because it was the latest trend.  How many of those went out the door when simplifying last year? too many to count!

I want to take the time to nourish my body with quality food, good for me food, rather than run through the drive thru because it's easy.

I want to focus on Quality versus Quantity!!!

I've found if I focus on just one thing, something that effects different areas of my life just the same...it is easier for me to keep my resolution.

What will you be focusing on this New Year?

New Year's Resolutions~

When I read this cartoon, it put a smile on my face.  I am not one to make New Year's resolutions...why? because I learned a long time ago that they just set me up for failure.  I learned in life there are some things I can control, and others I can't...and those others on occassion tended to come sweeping in and cause my resolutions to go right out the door!

I tried something new last New Year.  I decided to pick ONE SINGLE WORD to focus on for the upcoming year.  Something that would effect my life as well as my family's in a positive way.  The word I chose was SIMPLIFY.  And, I am proud to say I feel like we accomplished that in many ways. 

So this year, I will be choosing a new word to focus on...just one word.  I have a few rolling around in my head and plan to pick one by tomorrow so that I can begin focusing on it Sunday.  I'll let you all know what I chose next week.

In the meantime...I pray everyone has a Blessed and Safe New Year's Eve!!  I have so enjoyed getting to know each of you this past year and look forward to seeing what you all have up your sleeves for 2012!!!