New Year Ideas

Yes, I know these are just a wee bit late, just a tad. =)

Even though it is nearing the end of March and we are no longer covered in a blanket of snow and ice, I still wanted to share two things that I have found so beneficial as a new year has begun.

- Pick a theme scripture verse for the year

I began this a few years back (2017) and have loved it ever since. I look forward to each new year seeking the Lord to direct me to the verse that I hold onto all year long. Often at the beginning of the year, I have absolutely no clue how that verse applies so much, but it has been so cool to watch God correlate circumstances all throughout the year to that one verse.

2017 - "Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me."

John 21:22 

2018 -                         "Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee." 

2 Samuel 7:3b

2019 - "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint,                   but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind: neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye                                                shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." 

1 Peter 5:2-4

This year my verse is:

"...so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong." 

Zechariah 8:13b

I have already experienced so much this year when the Lord has faithfully reminded me of this verse!

- Have a Wall of Fame for Jesus

This is another idea I implemented a few years back. I love journaling and in my journal at the beginning of each year, I insert just a plain piece of notebook paper and throughout the year when I see a spiritual breakthrough, an answer to prayer, a miracle in my daily life, a difficult circumstance the Lord comforted me through, or just basic occurrences that some would call luck, but I know is Jesus, I write them down with the date. At the end of the year, I go back through and type them all out and print them on nice paper and reinsert them in my journal as my "Hall of Fame for Jesus". It strengthens my faith, encourages me through challenging times as I read over what God has done in my life, it is a memorial for my children (Joshua 4), and it makes me look for Jesus working in the daily happenings of my life. 

Do any of you have New Year ideas to encourage your spiritual walk through the year?

Pressing on to win the prize with you!

Long time, Haven't Seen Me

Yes, it has been very long since you have seen me here. The months from October to the present have been a whirl. In October I was gone for two and a half weeks in Florida for prison ministry.

This is true prison ministry for you! Florida sun!

For November, Dad declared it "house renovation and organizing month". We did some great work in and around the house including lots of painting, installing some new light fixtures, redecorating some areas in the living room, getting a new couch (!), and cleaning all our carpets, to name a few of the big accomplishments. =) It was a busy month, but crowned off by hosting Thanksgiving for my mom's family which was a lot of fun.

Relaying flooring in our laundry room.  

"Date night" with my two youngest siblings.

Due to construction in our laundry room, our washer had to be moved out into our garage.
With a family of our size, laundry accumulates quickly and so my creative brother hooked up the washer to the garden hose and I was good to go! My brother is awesome!

December is always a full month preparing for Christmas and everything that goes along with that celebration. A dear friend of mine from the Amish community got married on December 15th and I had the joy of attending! We always celebrate Christmas Day with my mom's family. I had the joy of traveling up to my grandparents a few days early to help prepare before the whole clan of us arrived. =)

January 1st my mom got sick...and we continued to pass the "love" around for the next many weeks.
It was a rough season, but as I texted a friend, it was a good time of bonding together and for practicing gracious behavior. =)

Now, we are moving into spring! Every farming family's answer to prayer every year. Ha!

I love capturing sunsets! The Lord must have such fun painting them every night.

And, yes, I do hope that I will be on here more regularly. =)