January.

I have been fearful of January for months.  I schemed a plan to fight January blues with fresh flowers, no Facebook, a knitting project, healthier(-ish;) eating, and plenty of good reads on hand. This weekend we got some fresh air with a night away and a walk in the woods. As it turns out, this has been a pretty refreshing month.  I love January for the way it directs us toward learning from the past and hoping for the future.

For all the thoughts of change that flood my mind this time of year….I am enjoying this succinct and wonderful perspective:

'I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; 
but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am."
-John Newton

Moments.

After a wonderful, wonderful holiday, our little family has been creeping into the new year at a sheepish pace….think: medicine galore, doctor visits, sleepless nights, & lots of family time.

I found some moments to put together a little look into our 2013 and thought I would share.  Chaff and grain abound, but these photos help me remember that there are things that will pass away and things that will last forever….a million ordinary moments, a God that is working something eternal.

Here's to another wonderful, ordinary year…..

New.

Well, hello 'ole blog.  Happy New Year.  2013 has been slow & steady so far.....


...lots of wonderful, glorious, chilling, beautiful sunlight.

...cycles of laundry, lighting the stove, getting little feet in little shoes, dispersing another round of cough medicine, lamp-lit rooms with bedtime stories and cuddling for prayer, making lists, staying home.

I love these weeks that sing of hope for the future and faith for change.  Freshly-cracked books, ambitious little dreams....

And how all this forward-looking can only bring recollections of that dreadful day on the cross that makes any hope real or any change possible.
How all of the good really is all of grace.

For me, ambition looks like....
- getting my kids dressed earlier and being more organized with our days
- reading more books this year than last year
- actually setting the table, making more side dishes and less one-pot meals
-making a little more space and time for creativity
-saying 'yes' to my husband's ideas without hesitations
- serving and surprising others
-planning creative family nights

I am hoping this year is a year of 'post-survival-mode.'  Taking time to go the extra mile.  Spending myself to gain much, because.....

'There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.”  Prov 11:24

I want to write this verse on my soul.  And spend and spend and spend....scatter, scatter, scatter.

I am averse to scattering.  But I'm glad Christ died for scattering-averse sinners.....

Amen? Amen.

Backwards and Forwards.

Here's my attempt to put down some of the thoughts floating around in my mind as we step into the new year.....things that stick out to me about 2011, and things I hope to be more inclined to in 2012.

Strength for today.....bright hope for tomorrow.

Twenty-Twelve.

We rang in the new year with a fire going, great company, great food, & great conversation. Then, we woke up and celebrated the sabbath and the new year at church......being reminded of the great gospel, which covers all our many failures despite our best resolutions.

What a wonderful holiday season this has been! I'll be back to share more soon, but for now we are still enjoying the break and our family.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!