This year I have a better appreciation of the New Year, which hasn't happened for awhile. I've enjoyed reflecting on this past year, where God has taken me, what he has shown me. And I'm even enjoying looking forward to the new year ahead, making resolutions, giving God my dreams and prayers for 2012, and opening myself up to his will for me.
2010 was marked with death and grief and sorrow, but this past year, 2011, was marked with lots of changes but most of all full of joy and celebration - a much welcome change of the seasons.
My year in review... Praising the Lord for these happenings in 2011:
~we moved to Fort Campbell (where we wanted the Army to send us!)
~we moved into the house we bought (and love!)
~we made many wonderful friends (God ordained for sure!)
~Josh didn't deploy (not initially what either of us wanted or expected, but something I'm grateful for)
~Hailey's Hope continued to serve (and two hospital NICUs at that!)
~I had a healthy pregnancy (a scary, fearful, difficult journey that God revealed himself to me through)
~I gave birth (naturally!) to our second baby...
~God gave us a healthy, beautiful, perfect baby boy, Isaac (our laughter and joy, true to his namesake!) <-- MY BIGGEST DREAM COME TRUE
~My husband and I celebrated 4 years of marriage (yippee!)
~Plus we made countless wonderful memories (strawberry picking, pumpkin picking, sight-seeing, concerts, trips, etc.)
This past year was full of many wonderful changes and blessings, and in Dave Ramsey's words, it was "better than I deserved." But the biggest events of the year were moving to another new state and making a new place our home and having Isaac. God really took me on another journey with him, all about trust and faith. He led me, his frightened child, by the hand every step of the way. I was his child withered down and beaten by 2010, but clinging on to him, barely at times as I faced many overwhelming changes at once at the beginning of the year. But God showed me he has me in the good and bad, and he is in all things, and it's okay to dream and hope, and no matter what happens he has me... and he does want good things to happen to me and that he will work all things for my good and his glory.
Looking Forward to 2012...
I'm not sure what God has in store for me in this new year, but I'm ready to face it with him. I do know that my husband will be facing a deployment to Afghanistan around August for about a year. That will be our first deployment, during which, I hate to say it, my husband will miss Isaac's first year. This of course will be another journey I'll be glad to go on with God at my side. It will be our first deployment, one we've anticipated and waited for, but it will be challenging... I have dreams and prayers for our marriage, our family, and Isaac... for myself as a wife and a mother... I'll keep those to myself, but I will admit and share that this year I hope to work more on being filled with the Spirit so I can have some of the fruits I so desperately need, like patience and self-control (especially in regards to my tendency towards negativity). On a lighter note, this year I resolve to finally bake a homemade apple pie (thankful that I have a vegan friendly amazing apple pie recipe from a friend). And on my list of 'to-do's' this year are: blog more, cook more, sew more.... Just keep being the modern housewife I suppose ?
And of course, not to be cheesy, but to really sit back and enjoy life more... I have a tendency to keep looking forward to the next thing... like I can't wait to go to college, I can't wait to get married, I can't wait to own my own house, I can't wait have a baby, I can't wait to retire, I can't wait to... you get the idea... Instead of that, this year I'm living more in the present and realizing right where I am is an awesome place that I love being... *THIS* right now is right where I want to be... Appreciating the present...
My friend Mya, shared this via email today; I thought her words were perfect and worth sharing to wrap this post up:
Where ever you are right now, whatever is happening around or inside of you, it is our prayer that you set some time aside over the next few days to really reflect on what God has done in your life over the last year and dream/plan for the year to come. We can be sure that unless we are intentional about reflecting on this life we've been given and the direction we're going, we will open our eyes some day in the future and wonder how the heck we got there and what we missed.
As you reflect on 2011 keep in mind that the Lord is fully capable and willing to work all things together for good (Romans 8:28), no matter how dire or painful or confusing they may be. We encourage you to bring those things to God and ask for His insight and wisdom so they can start to make sense (Jeremiah 33:3, James 1:5). You can stand firm on the truth that if the Lord allowed it or orchestrated it, He can (and wants to!) use it!
Blessings to you and yours in 2012
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