Looking Back on 2105

Being a part of a healthy church community makes a difference in life. The support and love that flows out of a healthy body of believers is enough to change the outlook of a horrifying situation to one of hope even though the circumstances might not have changed at all.

The power of God through prayer can change circumstances. I don’t understand how it works or why it works out that way but I see it in my own life. God doesn’t always answer my prayers in the way I ask but many times He does. There is no pattern that I can see. I’m not sure anyone can trace the moving of the Spirit of God yet we see it don’t we? In the healing of loved ones & ourselves, the provision of finances, the divine appointments, the unasked for unwished for circumstances that lead to good things in the end. So don’t give up on prayer if you’ve grown to think things just can’t possibly change. They can.

Friendship is nothing to dismiss. We need each other. I’ve always pretty much been just fine having a small circle of best friends and catching up sporadically. I don’t feel the need to have a friend crutch at all times and I’d much rather shop by myself than with someone. Same with walking & exercising. I’m not much of a groupie but this year I found out that I need friendship more than I realized. It’s a gift. And a true friend is honest and doesn’t dress up for you. I like that. I have those kinds of friends and I’m thankful.

My husband meant his vows. I don’t say it lightly. He told me in front of God and hundreds of friends and family that he’d never leave me and that he’d stay with me in sickness and in health. And he has. He hasn’t deserved the amount of sacrifice that has been involved in taking care of me – the surgeries, the recoveries, the recent irrational fears that accompanied a major injury (praise God they were short lived). But because he signed up for it and because he loves me he has stayed faithful to me and I could never express in words what that means to me. It works both ways although I’ve never had to care for my husband in this way before.

Bible Journaling is my new favorite creative outlet and scripture memory tool. I am totally new to this and will blog in my next post more specifically about it but ya’ll…..it’s so incredibly awesome. I love it. I love getting God’s word into my heart and this form of meditation (don’t freak out on me now) is helping me get his word deep into my mind and heart. Check back tomorrow for more on this.

Sometimes I feel like “Maw” on Little House when it comes to parenting my nine year old girl. Like I’m just not current enough to parent her like I need to. I know this is not true but I’ve found some resources that are helping me help Sophie with issues that weren’t in my conversation with my Mom until late high school years or college (boys, body image, sex, etc.) Secret Keeper Girl is a resource I’m sticking close to. I buy a lot of their books and Sophie and I work through them together on Saturday mornings at McDonald’s. Good stuff.

Letting our kids fail is hard but necessary. Rescuing our kids from their mistakes and failures doesn’t help. I’m learning this. I’m a rescuer by nature. I don’t like pain. Don’t like to see people in pain and I want to jump in and help solve and rescue. As if I even have an ounce of power to do so. I’m cray cray.

Freedom comes in letting go of fear of what others think. Period.

I’ve learned a lot in 2015 but these are things that come to mind. I’m a haphazard, fly by the seat of my pants kind of person but I desire to be more ……….I can’t think of the word…….not organized necessarily. More like strategic and purposeful. Yes, that’s what I want for 2016. And I think the art of looking back each month will help me in moving forward as Emily P. Freeman points out so well.

Happy New Year friends!