Wrapping It Up

With the end of the year, comes another photo book for my shelf.  I've neglected my Canon for far too long and really need to get back in the swing of using it to capture our real moments.  My phone is more compact and handy, but the quality is not the same.

The year ended with a great cooked meal, some visits from Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle, Bianca, and the baby.  The girls and I snuck away to celebrate with my best friend, Auntie Val for a little bit.

Grandma and her youngest girl

Bubba and Monroe

Did some dreaming with E while the meat smoked.

I prefer to be home on New Year's.  This year I had agreed to a desert trip, but a series of unfortunate events changed those plans and I didn't mind one bit.

New Year's Day dawned with gorgeous weather, so we decided to head outside and explore.

There were SO many deer!

It's neat that we are at a point where everyone can walk and hold their own things, and not complain too much.  We finished the hike with some Subway and football.

Later mom came by with some home made sandwiches, so we toasted the New Year together.

The next day we decided to explore a little more and took the Polaris out.  It was cold but everyone had a really good time, and that made me happy.  I might not be the most adventurous one in the group, but I do all right getting out there and having fun. . .eventually.

 There are just some things that I don't do well, and adventure in the outdoors is one of them.  However, that being said, I have a really good feeling about 2016.  With the kids being older, it is easier to get up and go.  I think we've become more balanced and are used to the addition of a fourth kid. I am softening up and easing up on my own idea of perfection and just trying to enjoy the moment, hands free, face to face, and with real live connection to the people I love most.

Part of 2015 was incredibly lonely for me.  I missed the relationship I had with my youngest brother, but God answers prayers.  I have never seen more answered than this year.  It fills my heart with joy (my word for 2015) that such beauty rose from ashes.  Through it all, joy always remained, I just had to look a little deeper.  The best parts of 2015 remain the cherished memories I have with my family...those in my four walls.  These moments were rich, deep, full, chaotic, simple, and oh so sweet.  I do not take this job of being home with them for granted.  I am so excited to see what the future holds for all of us: )  Happy New Year!

Ready. . .Set. . . FOCUS!!!!!

We are already seven days into 2014 and I feel like I haven't sat down long enough to really reflect on my plan or purpose for this new year.  A new year. . .a new year of memories to chronicle. 
A new year. . .a new word.  This year I'm feeling called to FOCUS.  Over the past several years I've been refining and simplifying and leaning into God's word and His plan for my life.  But this year, I didn't find this word.  It found me.

I've incorporated all kinds of practices that have enabled me to build my relationship with Christ which has benefitted my marriage and family greatly, but now I must focus on these relationships-- that they are God-centered and nourished by His word.  Some of what I try to do isn't always from the heart--I want it to be, I really do. . .but sometimes it's just checking something off my list of things to do and I really want that to change.


2 Focus your minds on the things above, not on things here on earth.--Colossians 3:2

"fixing our eyes on Jesus(FOCUS), the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."--Hebrews 12:2

I want to seek the joy in all that I experience day in and day out.  Life is such a gift. . .we know this and yet we still squander some of our days away.  Why??? For me, I know that I am easily distracted.  In my pursuit of holiness, knowledge, or raising kingdom kids. . .I am always seeking information; better ways of doing what we do; shortcuts, tips, ideas.  You name it, I can google it.   My phone is far too readily available to check out what's going on else where, to research information that may or may not be useful in that moment, or the many moments that follow.  But still I seek. I waste real present moments in an attempt to make things better, but the truth is I am missing out on God's best right in front of me.

Notice the blurriness of this picture?  It wasn't on purpose.  Even in reaching for my phone to capture a moment of Nessa Bessa exhibiting balance on the step--I missed the details by looking at it from behind the lens.  I didn't see the way she bit her lip until her teacher pointed it out to me.  I missed the way the curls fell around her face; how her toes dug into the soft mat, the way she raised her eyes to meet mine to make sure I was watching.  I saw some of that the second time around, but I am sure it wasn't the same as the first.  I just know it.  I don't want to miss out on the present because I'm too busy thinking ahead to the future or hanging on to the past behind the camera.. .I want to be in the moment, of the moment, at the moment. I want to truly experience every single thing the moment has to offer. 

I need to focus on who I am with, when I am with them. Be it my kids, my husband, my friends. . .I need to focus and be intentional with the sincerity of my time.  I need to keep my focus on Him so He can use me for all of them.  It's a simple concept really.  Focus on Him and the rest will fall into place.  This year I don't want to be bombarded by the blurry.  I want to keep my eyes focused on Him to appreciate all that every single day has to offer.   I just know that this will be a year of growth, restoration and peace if I focus on Him. Happy 2014, can't wait to see what He has in store for us!