For anyone who may stumble across this blog site, or who may have read my blog in the past who still frequents this site, you may have noticed I haven't posted here in a while. There are several reasons for this, but to summarize it all in one neat little sentence... 2017 was a crazy, hectic year for me. To say that it was not my favorite year is an understatement. It seemed to be one emergency after another, and I do believe I added to my ever growing abundance of gray hairs more this past year than any other so far. Let's just say I was more than happy to close the door of 2017 and have eagerly opened the door to 2018 with great expectations and the promise of new mercy, new grace, and a clean slate. Even though there were many things out of my control I believe I can personally do better this year. I am believing for bigger and better things and have given myself 14 personal goals to carry with me into the new year, some of which I will share with you by the end of this post.
One thing I am looking forward to in the new year is trying to squeeze in more time for writing, which happens to be a passion I share with my husband. He has started a brand new website this year called Treach the Word (which is a word play on our last name, and the fact that he's a preacher/teacher) and I have decided to take him up on his offer for a joint effort in out writing pursuits. It is with that new chapter of writing that I will be closing this one. I have enjoyed my amateur attempts at blogging with this site, which has mainly been just a few of the colorful ramblings of my mind brought to life in simple sentences. I look back on these posts (which have very little to do with the exact happenings around me at those times) and can immediately recall that particular season of my life. I learned so many lessons those few years, and went through some of the most tumultuous storms of my life. But the main thing is, I came through them in the end. I'm still standing, I'm still me, and I'm still writing. (just not as often)
So... what do I want to take with me into 2018? Peace. I want and crave peace. That's a pretty broad term, and it covers oh so much, but I have a deep, burning desire for this coming year to be peaceful. Again, some things are within my control, other things aren't, but whatever may come this year I hope and pray that I claim it with elegance, with the right attitude, and with grace. God may see fit to throw my way some of the hardest tests of my life this year, I have no idea. But if He thinks I can handle it, then so be it. I just want to be able to overcome it all in a way that is most pleasing to Him.
I mentioned that I jotted down a few ideas to take with me into the new year. I'll leave you with some of them.
1. Do what you know you need to do.
2. Start the day right and end it right.
3. Don't be afraid to be who you are. It's ok to be you.
4. Pray more, yell less.
5. Never leave a room empty handed.
6. Forgive yourself.
7. Be the friend you wish you had.
8. Make your smiles contagious.
9. Keep the soil of your heart tilled and turned. Bitterness is a root, dig deep.
It's been a pleasure having you read my blog. I pray that I somehow left you with a smile on your face, a thought in your head, and a hope in your heart. God bless and keep you always. Please, come and visit me at Treach the Word sometime.
Your friend,
Jennifer
:)
ReplyDelete