Thursday, January 2, 2014

en{JOY}

For the last few years, I've chosen a word that I've tried to focus on for the upcoming 365 days.  Each year, I begin praying about that word toward the beginning of December.  I'm always hoping that God's going to put on my tongue some uber elegant word like eucharisteo or discombobulate, but that just doesn't ever seem to be the case.  2013 was all about being thankful.  Thankful for what God has already given me.  Thankful that He alone holds my future.  Thankful that we have our health and happiness.  And 2013?  It was a good year.  There were heartaches in the beginning.  Days of unknown.  A day in particular (just a mere few days before seeing Jack's face) that we took a picture of our shoes and literally begged God to lead our steps in the adoption process.  And then, there were massive amounts of days of celebration and thankfulness as we taught Perry what it was going to mean to be a big brother and packed up numerous boxes of love disguised as care packages.  We were thankful.  In the hard and the happy.  

But this year has a whole new agenda.  My sister will graduate from Pharmacy School, Sweet P will graduate from Preschool (sob), Justin and I will celebrate seven years of marriage, God-willing we will make two long trips to Korea and add two precious feet to our family, baby Ingram will be a big part of our lives (He was born 12/27!!!), we will be doing musical rooms in our home to accommodate a baby brother and a playroom, Perry will start big school (sob).  Lots of change.  Good change, but change nonetheless.

I have fought off the word JOY.  I mean, fought hard. It just kept knocking on my door over and over and over again. I know its a powerful word, and I've heard so many sermons recently on having inner joy and I know that's super important.  But I didn't want it to be my word.  So I kept praying and the word ENjoy hit me like a ton of bricks.  And I knew instantly *that* was my word.  And then about .2 seconds later I realized that that silly little word JOY was still hiding there at the end.

Photo Credit Susan Black

And my prayer is that we will enjoy it all.  That we will find the joy in it all.  Every season that 2014 brings.  That we will truly embrace that He has made everything beautiful in its time (Ecc 3:11) and that these times are fleeting.  My prayer is that we will cherish these moments and not miss them amongst the change, the adjusting, the new.  

I mentioned on my Facebook page recently that I'm so thankful for Instagram, and as cliche as its sounds, its very true.  I'm so grateful for a silly little app on my Iphone that let's me capture all the tiny moments.  Because as the old saying goes, "Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things."  Y'all- I can't scroll stroll down IG Memory Lane and not tear up.  All the tiny moments, captured.  The moments that make a family and document those little 'happies.'  I want to enjoy every single second.  

I will continue using IG, but I've also decided to do another 365 Project.  I did one in 2011 and loved it and enjoy being able to look back onto our daily details and fun.  Not only do I feel this will help grow my photography (as it always does), but will be an additional way to help me focus on and enjoy the everyday.  

I'm so excited to see all that 2014 is going to bring.  I pray it blesses you and your family BIG and that you have a wonderful New Year!  Blessings and Love.

{thankful for}
a new year, a new slate
baby Ingram
sweet time with sweet P
a sweet hubby who does sweet things for me
taco salad
scripture that reminds me to en{JOY} life
a savior in whom I find my JOY

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Our Adoption Timeline

  • June 19, 2011- We are officially "Paper Pregnant!" We have submitted our Waiting Child Application to Holt!
  • July 5, 2011- Submitted our formal Home Study Application to Villa Hope
  • September 6, 2011- Submitted all of our paperwork for our Home Study
  • October 8, 2011- Completed our First Home Visit
  • October 17, 2011- Completed our Second Home Visit
  • November 14, 2011- Home Study Approved
  • December 1, 2011- Filed our I600a
  • February 1, 2012- I600a Approval Letter
 
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