One Word 2013: Hope

Last year I began a new tradition of choosing One Word to focus on for the year. It's amazing to look back on how often God reminded me of that One Word. These are a few posts I wrote about JOY, but the word Joy permeated my day to day life throughout the year.

Joy: Heart & Soul of Thankful Praise

You Have Filled Me With Greater Joy

 Fresh Brewed Sunday: Count It All Joy

 Joy Dare: Week 4

As a new year begins, I am grateful that His mercies are new every morning and that there is beauty in fresh beginnings.  One of the definitions for the word new is unfamiliar and strange.  Last year, there were so many unexpected changes happening that I felt at times like I was wondering foreign lands, like Abraham as he left the land he knew for the unknown land God had promised him.

God, however, was not surprised at all by these changes.  Before I was even formed in my mother's womb, He had already written out all the days set before me.  Sit and ponder that last sentence once...because it is nothing short of amazing.

The new year looks to me like a clean slate, a blank canvas, a fresh start...but it is also a future yet unknown to me.  The unknown can be scary and overwhelming to me, but not to God.  He already knows what this year holds and He will not leave me to walk those foreign lands alone.

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This year, as I journey forward to a future I am completely unfamiliar with, I hear Him whisper softly One Word to my heart: HOPE.  And as I ponder that word, I hear the melody of a familiar hymn dancing through my mind. 

My hope is built on nothing less 

than Jesus' blood and righteousness. 

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, 

but wholly lean on Jesus' name.  

On Christ the solids rock I stand.  

All other ground is sinking sand.

As I begin to hum the tune, I think about a verse that God spoke to my heart over a year ago, in the midst of one of my hardest trials.  He reminded me of this truth over and over again, because I needed to remember that no matter how hard or scary life is, there is a hope that is more solid than even the firmest foundation on earth.  And that, my friends, is Christ alone.

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation." 

(Psalm 42:5)

I have a feeling this is One Word that will continue to change me and challenge me throughout the year as I focus on the One who alone is my hope.  

A Year of Bigger Picture Moments: 2012

 

 Photo credit: Kelly Colgan Azar

For the past week, I've spent a lot of time looking back on the past...not to relive the hard moments and dwell on the heart breaks, but to learn from the past in order to embrace and move forward in the future.

Last Sunday, we attended a church near my parent's home where the pastor was preaching on new year's resolutions. I love these truths I wrote down in my sermon notes: "Learn from your failures and celebrate your successes...Successes come from not only the knowledge of your past, and a desire, but also the willingness to be disciplined in your future."

So, I look back on the past in order to move forward in the future...and I take the lessons I've learned to continue growing and changing as I embrace another year of new beginnings.  Here are my top five Bigger Picture Moments from the past year, the ones that have challenged me in the best possible way to love and live this beautiful life I've been given.

1. Is God Really Enough?

"...There is anxiety that is a real, medical illness...but there is also anxiety that is a real, spiritual illness.  Deep in my heart there is a lie I've believed for far too long: God is not really enough for me...."

2.  My Story, HIS Story

"...This space might be about me, because it is written by me and about my life...but it is even more than that.  It is about the work that He continues to do in me..."

3. To Love Like Him

"...He knows my faults and my mess...but He also knows my heart.  He knows how I long for Him and how, no matter how much I fail, I keep running to Him with a repentant heart..."

4. Rooted & Grounded In Love

"...He whispers those three words again as the storm passes and reminds me that his love is a choice he makes day in and day out.  He knows that love is more than a feeling, more than a fleeting thought..."

5. 5 for 5: Age

"...Because as much as pictures speak a thousand words, hands are like a glimpse into the past and this photo of four generations of hands tells more of a story than any our smiling faces would..."

Linking up with Corinne and Bigger Picture Blogs as we look back on the Best of 2012 Bigger Picture Moments. 

 

A Year In Review: 2012

Dear 2012,

2011 was the year of blessings through raindrops, but you were the year of rejoicing always, no matter what trials I faced.  You brought joy in the midst of tears as I said goodbye to another grandparent.  The memories of the 28 years I was blessed to know and love my great grandma are bittersweet, but coming together as a family - her legacy - as we cared for her in her last days and celebrated her life filled me with a joy I cannot explain. 

You brought unexpected joy as my family welcomed not one, but two new little ones.  I never imagined this would be the year I would become a mom of three...or that his birth would bring healing in such a beautiful and perfect way to my heart.  I still find myself breathless when I wake up in the morning with three children smiling and calling me mommy. 

You changed me and challenged me to grow in ways I didn't expect.  I have cried and grieved and ached...but I have also laughed and rejoiced and embraced this beautiful life I've been given.  You taught me what Paul meant when he said he had learned to be content, because this has been a year of learning to find joy even in the storms. 

You have shown me that even in the storms, there are promises of rainbows on the other side...and that there is One who is not frightened and does not run away from the thunder and lightning, but holds my hand and leads me through, step by step. 

Thank you, 2012, for teaching me what joy really means...but I am ready to say goodbye and embrace the fresh start of a new year. 

So, goodbye 2012...

...and hello 2013.


 

A Year in Review: 2011

First of all, before I forget...congratulations to Barbie (my new blogging friend) for winning a Wildtree beer bread of your choice from my Three Year Blogiversary post.  I love what she said about her year: "My word for 2011 was "Constant". God is the only Constant One in my life. He never changes. This year my goal was to learn to be constant. I have been more consistent, although I still have a ways to go. Please pray that I will continue to seek Him in deeper places." You can be sure I'll be praying for you, friend! 

***

Dear 2011,

You brought me some of the hardest storms and often it felt like too much.  There were many times when I wanted to give up, but you also reminded me of hope.

You showed me that even in the storms, even when it's hard, I can still praise the One who gives me each new day.  You made me stronger, reminding me of who He made me to be and helping me find myself again.

As hard as this year has been, it has also been a blessing.  Sometimes the hardest moments are the best, because they teach me to lean fully on the Lord who is really all I need.

You reminded me of the blessings I already have: friends who pray me through the storms and love me for who I really am, a husband who never gives up on me and holds me up when I am weak, family who has seen me at my worst and still chooses to love me each day, and a doctor and counselor who really care about me and help me to see through my mess to find who I really am in Him. 

You taught me that I really am strong, that I can overcome anything by the power of His strength.  You helped me to see the beauty He created in me - that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 

So, 2011, thank you for all you have been.  I am looking forward to a new year, but grateful for the journey you have seen me through. 

Farewell, 2011.

And welcome, 2012.

Celebrating the New Year

I've gotten really behind on posting pictures, so here are our pictures from New Year's Eve and Day - finally!

New Year's Eve, we went to church for the annual New Year's Eve party.  We always have a fun time playing Pastordy (our pastor's version of Jeopardy) and watching silly skits put on by members of our church.

The kids were "helping" put away chairs after our Potluck dinner

Girl on the Go

Curt's Banjo Playin'

New Year's morning, we decided to surprise my great Grandma with a visit.  It was the first time she got to meet her newest great-great grandson, so she was so excited to see us.

Great-Great Grandma

New Year's afternoon, we went to visit my dad's family for a New Year's celebration.  Of course, the two new baby boys were the center of attention and everyone was all excited about the arrival of little miss Nina Avery that morning.

 

My aunt Sheri with our little man

My aunt Cindy and baby Isaac

Ted decided to set up the tent and tunnel my parents got Valerie for Christmas.  She was so excited to help Daddy set it up and had a blast playing with it and chasing Daddy through the tunnel.

 

 Little Pumpkin

 

Sweet Pea

Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010

I have missed blogging and keeping in touch with all my sweet blogging friends in the last week.  We had a wonderful visit with my hubby's family, but were glad to return to our quiet little home and our own beds.  Hopefully next week we can get back into a routine and I'll find more time for blogging.  Until then, we wish you all a very happy new year!  To celebrate, here are some of our favorite memories...

All I want for Christmas...is my TWO front teeth!

First taste of baby food - YUM!

Our sweet little Valentine

Valerie helped us announce the coming arrival of our newest family member

I just love celebrating my birthday with my dad!

Kelly & Ted celebrate their birthdays together too

A rare date night with my hubby ;)

I just LOVE my sisters!

Visiting Valerie's Great-Great Grandma D - WOW!  What a blessing!

My brother, Dan, became an Eagle Scout - I'm SO proud of him!

Meeting a blogging friend, Amanda, in real life for the first time - what fun!

A short, but sweet visit with a good friend who moved to Hawaii - which reminds me that I really need to just pick up the phone and give you a call already, Savanna!

The day we found out we were having a SON!

Most of the many expectant mom's at our church celebrating Amy's baby shower

Ted won his first road race

Valerie turned ONE!

Valerie enjoyed her first fireworks display at her first Timber Rattlers game

My cousin, Amanda, married her sweetheart, Branden

Our neighbor's, Tracy & Luke, finally tied the knot!

Ted's Golden Bike win on our UP trip

Visiting with my cousin, Josh, and his sweet wife, Julia, and meeting their baby boy, Eden, for the first time

Our mini-vacation with my family in Minocqua

Our whirlwind adventure to Boston so Ted could defend his Golden Bike title

Watching Ted finish 18th in the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival

36 weeks pregnant...and less than two weeks before our little man arrived - what a precious gift!

My brother, DJ, made his WORS debut

Welcoming our Little Pumpkin into the world on October 10th

Finally going home as a family of four

Valerie and Nora trick or treating together

DJ and Ted racing in the Turkey Trot Prediction Run

Thanksgiving with my dad's family - and ALL of my dad's sisters were there for the first time in a LONG time

My cousin, Randy, and his wife, Alissa, welcomed their third son, Isaac, in November

Almanzo's baby dedication at our church

Girls' Night Out with my sisters, mom, and aunt Sheri

My cousin, Stacy, and her husband, Nabil, welcomed their sweet baby girl, Nina Avery at 12:31 this morning. What a wonderful way to end the year 2009!  Congratulations Nabil & Stacy!

*I still have to download all our Christmas pictures, but I will share those as soon as possible too.*