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…

Have you ever felt a strong call from God?  Was there a moment in time when you knew that He was calling you to follow Him in a particular direction for your life? I've had this happen to me.  Many years ago, I had the most vivid and memorable dream of my entire life.  I'm always a bit wary of people who focus on dreams. I believe that our circumstances and emotions can play tricks on us.  God speaks to us through His Word and He never contradicts Himself. But this dream was different for me.  I was living my life in a good and decent way.  But…

What's most important in life to you?  Often people devote much time to accumulating things.  Magazines and advertising fill us with a longing to buy this product and then I'll feel ____.  You can fill in the blank. I love this plaque.  It focuses on how the important things in life are not ...things. Faith, family, friends I've been engrossed the last weeks in my journals.  I'm thankful that I discovered them in a box during our latest move.  The lessons I learned, the prayers I now see were actually answered, the people I love and care…