Happy New Year!

We are upon a new year! Can you really believe it? I think that New Years may be one of my favorite holidays. Not only do we get to ring in a new year, but we also get to leave old things behind and embrace what is new. It is a change of seasons (literally for us this year with the weather. We have been in the 40's and 50's up to this point and next week we are going down to the 20's. Nope I am not happy about that!)

Kevin and I try to take some time during the last week of each year to get vision for the upcoming year. We decided yesterday was that day. It was so refreshing to be able to get a babysitter, go to a cafe and just talk , dream, pray and work through some heart issues from the past year. (Thank you Mama Hurst for keeping the kids for us!) In the morning we primarily focused on the business. The Lord has been blessing the business beyond what we could have thought or imagined. It has been a fun season, but a crazy season as well. Kevin hired two more guys (We now have five employees) that are going to begin working next week. We had to get vision, we had to get fresh perspective or we would have drowned.

In the afternoon, Kevin went out on the job for a bit while I came home to be with the children. I was enjoying this time with the Lord of praying and asking for fresh vision and perspective that I continued it for me personally in the afternoon. I wanted vision for my children and parenting. I wanted vision for my marriage. I asked the Lord for new goals in diet and exercise. It was a great time of getting perspective, journaling and writing down very practical goals for the next year.

Its not scary or clique to do this. This is a very natural time of year to do this. It's a change of seasons, a change of calendar year, and the change of business's fiscal year. :) It's actually very life giving and recharges my battery.

Do you have goals for the new year? Are you asking the Lord for new perspective for a new year...a new season. Yes, dream and journal about what is on your heart, but ask the Lord what is on his heart for your new year as well. He might open your eyes to some exciting vision and have some surprises for you!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Holiday Joy?

As I was walking around the mall the other day I decided to people watch. I am not sure how many of you do this, but it can actually be quite entertaining. However, this time was not as entertaining. It was just a few days ago...a few days before Christmas. Honestly, I am not sure that I saw one smile, laugh or joke on a person's face. It made me sad. All I saw was a few couples fighting, frowned faces, and a few looking down at the ground borrowing ahead as fast as they could.

It made me think again about what I want for Kevin and I...as well as our children. Am I ushering in peace, love, and joy into our house? Is my heart reflecting contentment and joy...or anger and strife? Am I being patient with those around me and taking extra time and care with my children?

Yes, during the holidays life can get overwhelming and crazy. However, what are you going to choose today? Are you going to walk in a place peace and rest in order to bless those around you?

I know this is the heart posture I would like to have this holiday season!

Furnace Bay Weekend

Kevin and I go away with the other members of our house church once a year to the Chesapeake Bay. This past weekend was that time and once again the Lord showed up. Kevin and I walked away with a refreshed spirit and fresh vision and passion for life.

As many of you know, I have played the cello since fourth grade. I started learning because I wanted to play a "differen"t instrument that people were not use to. However, throughout grade school, middle school and high school I have learned to play, but not a "natural" player. That is that I never had to learn to play by ear...only able to read the notes on the page and follow the conductor. So, now I get into my adult years, still with the ability to play. So, when a couple friends of mine asked me to play for their wedding it confronted something in my heart. Do I really want to use the gift that the Lord gave me as a young child to play this instrument for his glory or not? Do I want to reteach myself how to play by ear and basically relearn everything that I do know? It has been seven years since I really played. Do I really want to apply myself enough to learn to play in a worship setting for one wedding...or so I thought? So, I said "yes" to the one wedding, decided to rise to the challenge of learning to play music again as well as learning to play by ear. Man, was it hard, but I rose to the challenge and learned to play for the "one wedding". Well, I guess the Lord wasn't done and is pretty serious about me using this gift for him. I have since been playing more for worship settings...including this weekend. When I was asked to play this weekend at the Bay, incredible insecurity rose up to the point that I almost chose to just let it go. I can tend to be a perfectionist and if I am not "perfect" at something it is hard for me to walk in a place of security. However, I chose to talk about it with a few people, and work through it. Them I decided to get over myself and realize that I am not perfect...but it is ok. I am glad I pushed through the fear and insecurity because I actually had a blast playing and ultimately know the Lord was glorified...not only because I played cello again, but because I chose to walk in a place of seccurity with Him.

Elijah has been quite the "ham" lately. He told me the other day..."Mom, I put too much jello in my hair, the wrong way. It was an actually." What? :)

Caleb has been walking around like a little tornado more than ever. I find him in the dvd cabinet, pulling everything out. I clean it up. While I am cleaning that up I find him playing with the Christmas tree. I discipline him, hang the ornaments back up...while he is walking to the kitchen to pull the tupperware out. I clean up the tupperware while he is pulling the playdoh stuff off the shelf. By this point I am feeling defeated and decide to just walk around disciplining him and clean up EVERYTHING when he goes down for his nap. However, he has learned how to go up and down the steps, so that is nice to know we are past the gate stage of life...at least for now. :)

Michayla has been growing up. She is just simply so fun to be with right now. Her heart is coming alive and I actually get to watch it happen. Truly a privilege to be her mom.

Kevin is SWAMPED with work. Last week he got two months of work and this week he got another two weeks. That puts him booked out till the end of January. He has one employee right now, but we are praying in a second one that would be a good fit.

I begin training today with a personal trainer. I am so excited but nervous. I have never needed "help" in this area. Again another area I am not perfect that the Lord is helping me to get over my insecurities. However, I have a lot of personal fitness goals that I am excited to reach. More on this topic later...

Gotta run...the kiddos are waking up. :)