Top 10 Post of 2013

Looking back over the year, these are the top post of the year:

1. Those answered prayers
2. So this is Christmas
3. Chains are Gone – New Year
4. Play it again Sam
5. Slow down
6. Praise, Blame and Trials
7. Pray often
8. Less is more
9. Thank You
10. Marriage Advice? Really?

Word of the Year

The past few days I have been thinking about my word for 2014. Last year I focused on Less, and Letting Go. With each step God has been there telling me where to use less, and what I need to let go of. Even up until a few days ago I heard, Let Go and let God. Letting God has been one of the hardest challenges this year, but the most rewarding. The hardest part? Letting Go and Letting God! So many things I hold onto - past hurts, past let downs, past mistakes...the list can go on and on, but one by one I have been giving them to God. I have learned (over and over) that the past makes us who we are, and if we continue to hold onto it, we cannot grow. Good or bad, we have to accept the past, learn from it, give it to God, and let it go. 

So with that I need to find a word/phrase for 2014

The word/phrases I have been thinking about:
Cleansing - cleaning out the mind, body and soul.
Detoxing - taking out the negative & the bad
Renew - Refilling my mind, body and soul with good words, good thoughts, and good nourishment.

I would love to hear about your word/s, phrase for 2013. Also what you have decided on what your word/s, phrase will be for 2014.  

sm

So this is Christmas

A year has almost come and gone again...Christmas is literally right around the corner. People hustling to get those last minute gifts, get the food for the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feast, and get presents wrapped...

I have never been a fan of Christmas, its too commercialized, too much of trying to outdo the Joneses, and over spending. Yet for the first time is well over 20 years, Christmas is different this year, much different in my mind and my heart. God's been working on me....

This year my attitude has changed. This year I have been learning to let go, and learned to have less. This year my kids have seen, and lived with less. My kids have also joined right in making homemade laundry detergent, and shop for cloths at the second hand store...

This Christmas I decided that their would be less gifts, realizing my kids really do not "need" anything! So I let them my kids know, their will not be lots of gifts this year. Their response, all I really want is...Each one has a gift or two they really want that is not expense. 

I will get to spend Christmas Eve with my 5 kids (yes, I gained a son 12/14/13 when my daughter got married) Nothing more to ask for this year!

God's been working on each of us (well most definitely me)

Joy, Peace and Hope...

sm