Heart Choices: 2012-12-30 -->

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Five Minute Friday ~ Opportunity


It's Five Minute Friday.  Lisa-Jo gives us one word each Friday and we get to write on it for five minutes flat.  The word for today is OPPORTUNITY.

GO:

We are each given the same amount of hours in a day.  What we choose to do with them is up to each one of us.

When I think of opportunity, I think of 'where the rubber meets the road'.  It's the time to get to work.

Maybe it's a time to get going on the goals we set.  Remember those New Year's resolutions?  Or maybe you choose a One Word for 2013. Just maybe it's your attitude that needs an opportunity to change. Or maybe this is the year when you are no longer going to allow worry to be something that controls your life.

Don't miss the opportunities that you have today.  I for one do not want to get to the end of my life and have regrets.  Opportunities missed because I was simply too lazy or fearful or ...

We all have excuses that rationalize why we don't take an opportunity.  But in hindsight are there ones you missed?  Maybe you were afraid to step out of your comfort zone?

I can identify with that last one.  And this year is going to be different.

  • I choose to seize the opportunity to live consistent with my beliefs.  
  • I choose to be open to what the Lord has for me this year.
  • I choose to believe that God hears my prayers.
  • I choose to live each day as a new beginning.

STOP:

Blessings and love,



photo credit: WA State Library via photopin cc
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A Look Back at 2012 Through Photos


One of the easiest ways for me to look back on 2012 is to browse through my photos. Looking back can be a good thing.  Sometimes it can be easy to remember the bad things; the difficulties we endured. But I like to remember the good things, the memories I want to store up in my mind.
Working in a school with little children can be so rewarding. Celebrating birthdays with little ones is ...the best!  

Another event that loomed large as I look back on 2012 is our move into a very small condo.  When I first set eyes on this place, I have to admit I cried.  But with a lot of love, TLC and much paint, it turned out very well.  I can say that it is a warm but small home for Greg and me.
I always dreamed of a rose garden and now I have one.  I actually love that it is a small area in our entry.  I get to look at the beautiful blooms every day.

With our move in March of 2012, there were many advantages.  We were much closer to Greg's mom, the drive to work was shorter and much prettier and I was closer to the places I enjoy.
I was surprised by my Uncle Bob with a trip to California in June.  I was my Aunt Ruth's birthday present.  What a fun trip that was as I spent time with family.  I had the opportunity to get to know my cousins and their kids better.  I was thrilled to go to one of my favorite places; Santa Monica Beach.
As I look back at 2012, one event that stands out very clearly in my mind is ...the birth of my great niece Kenzie.  My niece Kristin and her husband Kevin had their first baby.  What a joy she has been to our family!  I got to visit them in Florida at the end of June.
When I look back at 2012, I think of the people who have hung in there with me through the good times and the not so good.
I'm so thankful for my life long friends.  I also get to work with wonderful women who have become my friends.  I spend most of my days with Heidi and a classroom of twenty 3-4 year old children. And now I have an amazing next door neighbor Caroline who has become my friend.  It doesn't get any better than that!

What a year 2012 has been.  Through it all, I recognize that I couldn't have made it without the Lord.  He is my Rock, my refuge. And He is faithful.

So I leave you with this from one of my favorite places to spend time; Pinterest.


I hope you enjoyed my look back at 2012 through my photos.

Blessings and love,

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One Word 2013



Happy 2013!  I'm one of those people who likes to sit down and write out my goals for the new year.  In the past, I've found that when I do this it helps to focus me.  You see, my popular sanguine personality needs focus or else I become easily distracted.

But for the past three years, I've also chosen one word for each year.

Gary Morland is the father of The Nester and Emily of Chatting at the Sky.  He wrote the following about choosing that one word:

"That word becomes your goal for your attitude or behavior. Your word reminds you and motivates you. Then the resulting attitude or behavior impacts a whole bunch of areas where you would normally have goals.Your word might apply in some narrow but important area of your life. Or it might apply broadly at work or home, with family and friends, and in your own heart and soul, too."

Two years ago I chose ...TRUST.
For 2012 I chose ...ADVENTURE.
For 2013 I choose ...SURRENDER.


This graphic was created by Melanie of Only a Breath.  Thank you Melanie!

I prayed about my one word for some time.  At first, I thought I needed a word like self-control or holiness.  You see I want to get myself together in 2013 (body, mind and spirit).  But I kept feeling like the emphasis was too much on me.  And I tend to let myself down!

That's when I felt the Lord impressing on my heart: SURRENDER.

Now I often think I've surrendered everything to Him only to realize I've taken it back again.  Can you identify with me here?

If I surrender it all, I am trusting God.  Hmm ...TRUST was my word two years ago.

And when I TRUST Him, it is definitely an ADVENTURE.  Hmm ...that was my word for 2012.

In church last Sunday, my pastor asked us to hold our hands out in front of us facing down.  He spoke about giving it all to the Lord.  All of the burdens, our loved ones, our challenges.

He then asked us to keep our hands out but turn them palm side up. He asked us to be open for God's leading and to receive His love, mercy and guidance.

We often sing the song "I Surrender All" in my church.  But I want to share a different version of that song by CeCe Winans.  I love this one.  And I encourage you to surrender all to Him in 2013.



Blessings and love,


photo credit: HikingArtist.com via photopin cc

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