wrapping up my holiday heart

2014 has come and gone and in so many ways it was so so blessed. Lots of good and some hard things sprinkled along the way and it seemed that this past holiday season was a climax of sorts for our family. We are still recovering right alongside Chris after his total hip replacement. You'd think that his young age in terms of the average for this kind of surgery would be super advantageous but it hasn't proven to be the case for him - he is making great strides each day and is now only walking with a cane but he's been limping for two years and his muscles are slow to get the message that he can walk again and driving is still out of the question to so we are still in many ways cozied up as a family recovering and overwhelmed with gratitude and the goodness once again poured out for our our family through so  many amazing hands over the season through prayers, meals, notes and visits!

I also wrapped up the first six months with Rebekah Gough Jewelry this season. It was so so fun to get my hands creating again and I actually sold out of the entire line!! I have been praying hard about the next phase for my little business and am beyond excited about the ideas God has laid on my heart. I am equally praying about this space and feeling a deep draw back into sharing more frequently here on my blog all the comings and goings of our family, my heart wants to jump in again.

The kids and I are making big plans to continue on with Friday Pieday this year - I know it's a huge commitment but seriously can't even believe how much it means to them (and me) to spend that time building tradition together. We might not always make an actual pie we might occasionally do a cake or something equally delicious but I am publicly committing to making time to bake with my kids once a week - wondering if any of you would like to join us?

The other project that was stirred up again over the holidays through a couple of sweet conversations with my SIL, Rachel as well as my new friend Bridget was Dinner at Eight. My marriage needs it, my heart needs it and truthfully I miss that intentional time each month making much of the relationship God has given me in my husband and spoiling him with a really fun date night at home. Definitely hoping you might consider joining me on that project too!

The one project though that I can't decide if I should keep or finally let go of is Ten on Ten. My beloved monthly ritual I still love with all my heart but with all of the newer photo projects around each month I feel insecure that it's gotten boring..just thinking about it but will be doing it this month for sure no plans to officially retire it just yet.

Over the holidays I spent some time praying about a new theme for the year too. Last year I picked the word RISE and although I didn't blog about it much it was certainly an incredible resource in my life in so many ways - the Lord used it so many times to grab my attention and speak truth and love into my heart. I even ran my first half marathon this past year in an effort to rise above the ways I see myself - to stretch the limits of what I saw was possible to accomplish. I love picking a theme for the year!

I was considering Follow Through as a good theme to grab for 2015 and told Chris that I thought it might be perfect. I so struggle with following through on many things in my life (you should see my inbox!) and truly before the Lord I want to work on that. But just the other morning as I was reading in Ruth, God almost audibly gave me my word - He said: PARTAKE - I don't want you striving out of a need to prove your worth and harshly work on being a better person, I want you to instead Partake in the goodness all around you. The things I have laid on your heart, soak those in. Partake in the life I've given you and ask me for more but don't settle for the "try hard" mantra that will only lead you to yourself.

So I have picked the word PARTAKE this year to be my theme. It's not easy to receive I like to be the one accomplishing things that are measurable and likable and attainable but I feel a pressing on my heart to simple receive from the Father more goodness than I could ever imagine and out of that filling up be motivated by love and joy to build His kingdom!

So with that and all my crazy ramblings - I am welcoming 2015 with open arms and hope to share a ton of it here with you too! Hope your year is off to a great start - Happy New Year, friends! xoxo