This is the ninth year that I have had a word for the year.
(and starting my 15th year of blogging - albeit not as faithfully as I once was!)
2010 was commitment
2011 was change (see the blog post here)
2012 was roots (see the blog post here)
2013 was grace
2014 was contentment (see blog post here)
2015 was calm
2016 is faith (see blog post here)
2017 is concrete (see blog post here)
This year's word is: THRIVE.
As I was thinking, praying and reflecting on what I want 2018 to look like, I came up with the word 'growth', but that doesn't have the 'ring' to it that I hoped for.... so I continued to think and came across the word 'thrive' on one of the bible journaling instagram people that I follow. This word seems to accurately reflect my heart's desire for this year.
Thrive: (verb) grow or develop well or vigorously; prosper; flourish
Currently I am on another weight loss journey, one I hope 'sticks' now that our life is settled and more stable. Hopefully I can gain long term control on impulse eating and sugar cravings, and manage my weight for the long haul! It's been so good to be able to get back into clothes that I had from New Zealand and also, even better, to have the arthritis pain in my knees and back gone! plus my blood pressure and sugar levels back to normal. Praise God! I choose to thrive in this area of my life!
I am also loving spending time in God's word and using Bible Journaling and hand lettering as ways to meditate and express what I am learning. Knowing God better is a life long desire and thriving in my relationship with Him is the ultimate goal! I plan to start a bible journaling group in our church as a place for people to come and worship God together through art - sharing resources, ideas and encouragement as we grow together. I'm excited about this new form of worship and bible study, and have really enjoyed the start that I've made in my own journaling Bible!
Family: I want to thrive as a mother, wife, sister and daughter. I love my family so much and I often find that I'm still grieving the last phase of our family life - living in NZ with our adult children. I know that this may seem silly to some, but I really enjoyed those extra years we had, having our girls living with us as young adults. Hanging out with them as friends. Spending time with their friends and husbands. I miss that. And I still grieve knowing that it is very unlikely that we will ever all live in the same town again - but hopefully someday we may all live in the same country again! :D But for now, I need to wait, trust the Lord, pray for our kids, and rejoice in their adventurous lives..... and thrive in my love and relationship with them.
Daily life: Now that our house is finished and my part in helping build/decorate it is mostly over, I'm ready to go back to work. I like working, I like the routine, meeting new people, being busy and productive, using the gifts and talents God has given me. Making money has always been secondary (even though necessary and beneficial!) I'm one of those people who the busier I am the more I get done! We've prayed since I resigned from teaching two years ago, that God will provide the exact perfect job for me at the exact right time for this next phase of our lives..... and I continue to trust Him for that, even though the waiting does get a bit long at times! But whatever He sets before me, I will thrive in it. Psalm 90:17 "May the favour of the Lord rest on me; establish the work of my hands for me - yes, establish the work of my hands."
And there you have it! My word for 2018: thrive. Here I go!
(and starting my 15th year of blogging - albeit not as faithfully as I once was!)
2010 was commitment
2011 was change (see the blog post here)
2012 was roots (see the blog post here)
2013 was grace
2014 was contentment (see blog post here)
2015 was calm
2016 is faith (see blog post here)
2017 is concrete (see blog post here)
This year's word is: THRIVE.
As I was thinking, praying and reflecting on what I want 2018 to look like, I came up with the word 'growth', but that doesn't have the 'ring' to it that I hoped for.... so I continued to think and came across the word 'thrive' on one of the bible journaling instagram people that I follow. This word seems to accurately reflect my heart's desire for this year.
Thrive: (verb) grow or develop well or vigorously; prosper; flourish
Currently I am on another weight loss journey, one I hope 'sticks' now that our life is settled and more stable. Hopefully I can gain long term control on impulse eating and sugar cravings, and manage my weight for the long haul! It's been so good to be able to get back into clothes that I had from New Zealand and also, even better, to have the arthritis pain in my knees and back gone! plus my blood pressure and sugar levels back to normal. Praise God! I choose to thrive in this area of my life!
I am also loving spending time in God's word and using Bible Journaling and hand lettering as ways to meditate and express what I am learning. Knowing God better is a life long desire and thriving in my relationship with Him is the ultimate goal! I plan to start a bible journaling group in our church as a place for people to come and worship God together through art - sharing resources, ideas and encouragement as we grow together. I'm excited about this new form of worship and bible study, and have really enjoyed the start that I've made in my own journaling Bible!
Family: I want to thrive as a mother, wife, sister and daughter. I love my family so much and I often find that I'm still grieving the last phase of our family life - living in NZ with our adult children. I know that this may seem silly to some, but I really enjoyed those extra years we had, having our girls living with us as young adults. Hanging out with them as friends. Spending time with their friends and husbands. I miss that. And I still grieve knowing that it is very unlikely that we will ever all live in the same town again - but hopefully someday we may all live in the same country again! :D But for now, I need to wait, trust the Lord, pray for our kids, and rejoice in their adventurous lives..... and thrive in my love and relationship with them.
Daily life: Now that our house is finished and my part in helping build/decorate it is mostly over, I'm ready to go back to work. I like working, I like the routine, meeting new people, being busy and productive, using the gifts and talents God has given me. Making money has always been secondary (even though necessary and beneficial!) I'm one of those people who the busier I am the more I get done! We've prayed since I resigned from teaching two years ago, that God will provide the exact perfect job for me at the exact right time for this next phase of our lives..... and I continue to trust Him for that, even though the waiting does get a bit long at times! But whatever He sets before me, I will thrive in it. Psalm 90:17 "May the favour of the Lord rest on me; establish the work of my hands for me - yes, establish the work of my hands."
And there you have it! My word for 2018: thrive. Here I go!
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