Hopes

So my hope was to pull together a reflective post, including lots of pictures, to summarize 2012. But, I can not for the life of me figure out an easy way to post lots of pictures to the blog, so the canvas has remained blank. 

Here it is, New Year's Eve, and I am caught up in a flurry of reflection and hopes for the future.

I could list lots of goals, and they would look like this:
More reading, less tv
More music
More vegetables, less ice cream
More exercise
More time spent in God's Word, listening, doing
More presence with my family, less distraction
More contentment, less wanting

Honestly, 2013 will find us as with 4 beautiful, healthy children by God's grace, and yet God continues to whisper adoption in to our hearts. And I can spend hours dreaming and praying about what that will look like in the future. But the reality is God is calling us to manage and tighten our finances now. And that requires a daily obedience, the kind that is fueled by listening to God's Word and trusting His plan, not my own selfish heart.

So ultimately, for all of the above things to be true, my heart is reflecting on one thing:
That I would "...receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." James 1:21b

And that over all things, I pray that Jason and I would live each day with joy-filled hearts, grateful for His grace in our lives, and quick to extend that grace to each other and others.

The first book on my list for this year is Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption. A quote I have read about her from another author, Jennie Allen, was this: "She traded entitlement for surrender and God took her up on it." Praying that my heart would begin to make that trade in the little day to day choices.

And, here's to hoping for a more up-to-date blog in 2013. :)