2016's Word: Embrace

This past year was the first time I had decided to use a simple word to hold fast to, a cornerstone for the year so to speak. There were moments I was able to practice the art of being reserved and only speaking when necessary; other times, word vomit was the name of the game. But overall, I wanted 2015 to be a year of learning how to guard my heart with Truth and Love.

 

There were moments throughout the year where I wondered if I was guarding my heart too much, and not allowing myself to feel in relationships with certain folks. I decided it was wise to continue to guard my heart in such a manner, and looking back now, I'm so glad I did.

 

I wanted 2016 to be a little bit different though. For the upcoming year, I want to practice the EMBRACING change.
 

 

For some reason, I can just feel change on the horizon. Whether it's good or bad, I'm not sure. But it's as if my soul is itching and aching for those winds of change to be here now. It's almost as if He is preparing my heart for the journey ahead. Thus, the year of RESERVING my heart made way to the year of EMBRACING the change that God will be bringing about, allowing me to be able to endure it. Survive it. Appreciate it.

 

Change may be coming to mine and Hunter's personal lives, our ministry, work, family, friends... It really could be anything at this point. No matter what, we'll always be leaning onto Him and His sovereign ways with the knowledge and faith that He is loving and good. Hunter gave an example to our students a few weeks ago about what change feels like:

 

"We're like iron, hot in the fire, and God is the blacksmith. He's heating us up, allowing us to go through change, feeling the burn and pain. Then, He pulls us out, molds us, hammers us into a new image so that we may be sharper and more efficient. Don't lose hope while you're in the fire - God's about to do something miraculous to you."

 

What are you waiting for 2016? Let's EMBRACE all that you are and all that you'll be.

Continuing on

So remember that list I started before I left for camp? The one that talked about 27 things I've learned in my {almost} 27 years of life?

 

You do? Great! Let's continue that list...

 

11:// Constructive criticism is important. That is, if it's done out of love. Sometimes it's not easy to hear the truth but if it's beneficial to all parties involved, then it's necessary for growth.

 

12:// Acting your age is so overrated. Watch kid movies, laugh at silly jokes, play pranks on your loved ones, frolic in the front yard. Live life with the innocence of a child - it makes the dark days a little brighter for all those around you.

 

13:// Budgeting is actually cool. Coming off of college with a good bit of debt attached to me + Hunter's tiny bit of debt = a nice hunk of debt for the both of us. Establishing a budget and sticking to the budget is key to kicking that debt in the buttocks. Of course, always remember to have a bit of fun.

 

14:// Going off of budgeting... Cash is KING. Seriously, you will never find somebody who hates credit cards more than I do. They are the absolute devil, credit card companies know that, and they have successfully fed the lie to people that we all need credit cards. Do yourself a favor and don't get credit cards. If you do have them such as I, cut them up.

 

15:// Honesty is the best medicine you'll offer to somebody. I feel like there are a lot of lies, fakes, and wanna-be's in our society. Honesty is very rare to come by and should be treasured, praised, and embraced more often. I'm honest (to a fault sometimes) with people when it comes to my opinions and I'm not ashamed of them. Don't forget though to show honesty with love. Honesty without love is just meanness.

 

16:// Reserved. This was my word for the year and I'm surprisingly doing better than I thought I would. I've learned to hold my tongue when necessary and to share when welcomed. Now I just need to work on my facial expressions... Those tend to get me in trouble ha!

17:// Don't expect {and wait} on people to come to you. You go to them! This was something I really struggled with in my young 20's. I just couldn't understand why I felt like I was having to do all.the.work to get up with my "friends". I've found that if you reach out to those true friends you love, they will reciprocate it. Trust me on this one.

18:// Experiences are so much more valuable than an actual gift. This irks Hunter at times because when it comes to events, such as my birthday, he'll ask, "What do you want." My response is pretty much almost always this: "Spend time with me."  You never know when you may get another chance with a person so I take experiences any day over material gifts.

19:// You don't have to have a relationship with someone to love them. Let me repeat that again because this is something I've just discovered in the last year: You don't have to have a relationship with someone to love them. Especially if it's person that you just can't jive with or your relationship/friendship is like mixing fire and gasoline. Just doesn't work my friends. You can still love someone, pray for them earnestly, and even send out "hope you're doing well" texts, and not have to have a forced relationship/friendship. Your fried nerves will thank you.

20:// Quiet time with God can be anything. Some days my quiet time looks like reading a book that forces me to meditate on Jesus. Other days it's conversations with Him in the car while I drive (yes, out loud conversations). And sometimes it's singing off key with my husband to worship songs while he plays the guitar, and allowing the words to penetrate my soul. Whatever that quiet time looks like for you, know that God loves spending it with you.

I'll wrap up next week with the remaining 7 things I've learned! I can honestly say this - God has really been too good to me in {almost} 27 years of life.

2014 in rewind

I know I've said it once, and I'll say it again, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that 2014 is quickly approaching an end. Where did this year go?? In thinking back on what all has happened this year, I couldn't help but just document and reflect on all the God has blessed us with, the good, bad, and ugly. Take a walk with me?

 

2014 was a year of marital celebrations! Hunter and I were engaged and married this year. We've had friends get engaged and/or married this year. God is so good!
 

 

2014 was a year of learning. My oh my, all the things we have learned! Hunter and I have learned the true differences between Gospel and religion, and of the folks who practice each. We have learned how to really lean on each other, and more importantly, on the strength of God's wisdom. We have watched friends and family members so casually walk out of our lives because we didn't "just go along with it all." Hunter and I are forever grateful for this time of learning, and we know we have soooo much more to learn as individuals and as a married couple. God is so good!

2014 was a year of laughter. Even with all the struggles and heartaches and down days, we still managed to laugh at the littlest things. I never want us to lose the laugh lines on our faces. God is so good!

 

2014 was a year of financial success. Between finally getting a good handle on our bills to rejoicing in the fact that my house has my name on it, it has been a dadgum relief. We still have quite a ways to go in paying off other debts but we're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. God is so good!

 

2014 was a year of reconciliation. I was able to reconcile with God my feelings of hurt, jealousy, or anger towards others who had inflicted some form of those emotions on me, or more importantly, on people I love so much. I was able to reconcile with the fact that I cannot let the sun go down on my wrath (Ephesians 4:26), and that God is sovereign in everything. I was finally able to let go of those sinful feelings in my heart. God is so good!

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I do believe I am ready for 2015. I'm not entirely sure what all it will bring but I know that I'm in good hands. And just because these babies make me laugh, I had to share some pictures with ya'll!