Life: 2015*

Thanks to the iTown app I got to "go" to church in my pj's! It was such a great service that really spoke to my heart! Each year I get so excited about making resolutions, and make a huge, and nearly impossible list of things I want to start doing, stop doing, do better at, and so on and so forth. I shamefully admit most of my resolutions don't come to fruition simply because my forever long list gets forgotten somewhere between everyday life and sleep. 

This year I found myself stumped when I tried to make my list. Considering my previous track records with resolution making, this should have made me happy, but it did the opposite. I've been literally stressed about what to put on my list, and *GASP* I have run out of time! 2015 is well on its way and I have nothing ! Insert the face of Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone here ... 

After the service today, my brain was working in overdrive, and I am now drowning in resolutions. Thank you, Pastor Dave! My husband, however, is not as grateful ;) 

Pastor Dave gave some very helpful categories to help focus our dreams and hopes for 2015 ! So here's what I've come up with! 

✔️ PRIORITIES 

This is one area of my life I could use some help in. Like the worship song above says, "all I want, all I need, is more of YOU and less of me." In twenty fifteen I want to do just that. 

{{More God • Less me}}

Easier said than done considering we live in an ever growing narcissistic society. Thankfully, I gave up social media before the start of the new year, and plan to be without it going forward. As much fun as it is to post pictures of my life, and as hard as it was to give up— I know that it is helping take my attention off myself (and others) and teaching me to refocus my attention on the things that are worth my time: like my family, my friends, my passion for writing, my home, and most importantly God. I'm excited that my sister in law is now social media free too! 

✔️ LET GO

Number two on Pastor Daves list is probably the one I need to do more than any others! 2014 was a tough year for me personally, but I can't let the tough moments of 2014 define my year, or overshadow the good parts of it. I have to let it go. In order for me to be able to see the future God has for me, I have to stop looking in the rear view mirror. So for 2015: 

{{I will forget about the things behind me,
and reach out for the things ahead of me}} 

—Philipians 3:13 

✔️ SLOW DOWN 

Honestly, at first I didn't think this pertained to me until Dave said: how often, in the midst of doing everyday life; laundry, picking toys up, getting dinner done, do you stop and grab your little one and tell them you love them or look at your spouse and ask what's on their mind. We may not be the busiest family, but I definitely could benefit from putting the laundry down to play with my daughter, or put my book down to talk, really talk, to my husband. With that in mind, I plan for 2015 to be the year I consciously:

{{Pump the breaks}} 

and spend time with those most important to me. 

✔️ SURRENDER 

Surrendering is hard for this girl. I am a bit of a control freak in certain aspects. Especially when it has to do with something I want. This year I desperately want to let go of my plans and surrender to Gods will! If it's not meant to be, I must find peace in that, as hard as it. As part of this series our church is devoting the next 21 days to fasting and prayer. After much consideration, I have decided for the next three weeks I will fast from something I have been trying very hard to make happen. I've taken things into my own hands instead of trusting Gods timing, and it's only caused frustration and a few too many tears. So for 21 days : 

{{I surrender my plans and am relying on 

*Gods perfect timing*}} 

In closing Pastor Dave told us to pray and ask God to give us one word to make our mantra this year. Surprisingly my word came immediately. For myself, and my entire family, I want our focus in 2015 to be : 

{{KINDNESS}} 

I want kindness to be our way of life when interacting with each other and everyone we encounter! 

Here's to saying goodbye to 2014, and welcoming 2015 with open arms, and open hearts!