What I Learned in 2014.

As I site here on the last day of 2014 I can't help but look back on this year. A year full of more heart ache than I would have liked, a year full of new adventures as a family, and a year full of lessons that God has taught me. This year has proved major growth for me in areas of my life, going through hard stuff is never fun or easy. But coming out of it stronger in the Lord makes it worth it. Realizing who you are and are not is worth it. Finding joy in moments you never thought yo would makes it worth it. Thriving this year make it worth it. Knowing God loves you makes it worth it. 

Today, I want to share with you ten things I learned in 2014. Some heartfelt, some very light hearted. All worth learning. In no particular order, here we go:

1. The Lord Will Fight for You. 

Exodus 14:14 became a scripture I rested on time and time again this year. The Lord will fight for you, I need only to be still. Those words couldn't be more true for how I choose to deal with a lot of the hard stuff that came my way this year. A lot of unexpected things, a lot of hurtful things. But God reminded me again and again through his word that he's already gone before me, he's prepared a way, he will fight for me and I just need to be still. Wait on him. He will have the final say, he will reveal and he will bring truth to the light. 

2. I don't get anything done during the day, and I'm most productive at night.

It's probably just the season that I am in raising young children, but I always have high hopes for what I will accomplish during the day and it rarely happens. I learned to be ok with that this year and know that at night is when I'm going to do my best thinking and be most productive.

3. Coffee has no effect on me, I just love the taste.

There I said it. I don't drink it for any other reasons. And I'm ok with that. I just love it.

4. Create the Community You Crave.

God has been teaching me a lot these last few years, and the number one thing he taught me years ago is to do just this. Don't just sit around waiting for it to happen, create it. This year I got out of my comfort zone a lot, talked to people first and built relationships with others that I probably wouldn't have had the courage to do so if God hadn't already been brining me on a journey towards this.

5. I really love reading non fiction.

I try, try to get into novels but I just finally realized that I don't love them nearly enough. Not nearly as much as I love reading people's real life stories, hearing the lessons they have learned or what God has taught them. So non fiction, you're where it's at for me....for now.

6. Date nights are my favorite. 

For the longest time my husband and I didn't have a regular date night. This year we've been blessed to have family live close so that we can go on a regular date night, and it's been so wonderful. I look forward to many more date nights in 2015. 

7. Love people well, regardless of the outcome.

I don't mean let them walk all over you, of coarse there needs to be balance in this. But what I'm saying it love them well, figure out how they most feel love and do that! I have found that if you love on people well the rest just falls into place. We can do so much for people if we figure this out, we can do so much for God's kingdom if we figure out how to love others well. Not for our own praise or selfish gain but so the person on the other end knows just how much God loves them through the way we've loved them first. 

8. Keep your circle of care wide, but your circle of influence small.

A very wise friend of mine told me this earlier this year and it's stuck with me so much. There's a difference between caring about people and taking on their every burden. There's also a difference between something walking all over you and not doing anything about it. There are people that we need to love and care for from afar, and then there are others who are influencing our lives in a positive way. Keep them close. The ones that are challenging you, keep them close. The ones that challenge you and make you better, and point you towards Christ keep them close. Everyone else you can still care for, pray for but they may or may not be healthy for you to have in your life but that doesn't mean you can't care for them. Keep your circle of care wide, but keep your circle of influence small. 

9. Be myself.

This sounds pretty simple doesn't it?! But if I'm being honest much of the last few years I haven't been myself. I've been a broken mess of a person just trying to heal myself and get back where God wants me to be. The last two years and really this year I finally have been able to be my true self again, I've stopped apologizing for the things I love and who I am. I've grown more confident in who I am in the Lord, which has made me more confident in my everyday life. 

10. When there's growth there's also a pruning happening at the same time.

Whenever you're growing and God is teaching you something, he's also pruning everything in and around you to. You know why? So you can bear more fruit. Sometimes we want all the fruit without the pruning. I know I do, but it doesn't work that way. We have to be willing to endure both if we want to see God move in our lives. So that we can enjoy the fruit later on. 

I'd love to hear one thing you learned this year, leave it in the comments below. 

Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party

I first heard about Sole Hope back in March of this year via Thrive Moms. If you haven't heard of Sole Hope before, they are a faith based organization that helps provide medical relief from children & adults whom have suffered from jiggers. They provide medical care, and then also give them shoes to help stop future infections. It's an amazing organization helping those in Eastern Africa. 

In order to give people shoes, they have to be made first. This is where we can step in and help cut fabric to be made into shoes. 

My husband and I decided with all our family coming into town we wanted to do some sort of service project with them while they were here. We wanted to give back together. We wanted to do something this Christmas that took the focus off of us and put the focus back on others. We decided to host a shoe cutting party for Sole Hope with our family. 

I ordered a shoe cutting kit from Sole Hope, that explained all we needed and gave us instructions on how to cut the shoes. We sat around my kitchen table, traced patterns, cut denim scraps into shoes and talked about ways to give back. 

We showed our family a video of what Sole Hope is doing in Uganda to help aide in this relief for people infected by jiggers. 

This project sparked many conversations about how we can help give back to those around us. We cut 16 pairs of shoes that day. We prayed over the shoes and the feet they will one day cover. I'm humbled by this simple act of shoe cutting. 

If you're looking for a great way to give back right from the comfort of your home I encourage you to check out Sole Hope and host a shoe cutting party of your own, or give a financial gift or do both! 

I'm excited to host another one of these parties with the ladies at my church later next year. For more information on Sole Hope visit them here. #zerojiggers #solehope 

2014 Year in Review

2014 was a year of a lot of firsts, some personal trails and realizations. God taught me a lot during this year. It came in waves of busy-ness and then other months were super quiet. Here's a few of my fave snippets and personal moments & victories this year.

January- We spent the first few days of the year snowed in and unable to get home in Iowa. Once we were finally able to get back home we had a few days to unpack and get back in the groove from Christmas vacation. I continued by blogging break and took time off. 

February- I re launched my blog and started a new space here which I couldn't be more excited about and feel honored for the way my readers embraced it. Thank you.

March- I ran my very first 5K with my Hubby a huge accomplishment for me and I'm so glad I did it. 

My mom surprised us by flying into town for Ava's birthday! Ava turned 4 and we celebrated with a rainbow themed party. 

I joined the Thrive Moms team. This ministry was a blessing to me even before I joined the team and it's an honor to work along side the leadership.

April - I flew to Chicago and spent the weekend with some of my girl friends from college. I'm so blessed by their 13 year friendship. We had the best couple days exploring the city, staying up late way past our bed time and laughing and eating lots of good food.

Also in April I celebrated 1 year since I started my fitness journey, finishing the year off with losing just over 65 pounds. Becoming a healthier and stronger person. 

June- Ava completed her very first year of dance and had her recital this month. It was so fun watching her on the stage. She's a natural. 

July-

My brother spent the 4th of July with us in Phoenix. 

We took our family vacation to Disneyland! We had the best trip taking our kiddos to Disney for the first time. We also spent time at the beach. We can't wait to see Mickey again. 

August- Ava started pre K! Her first school experience has been such a joy, she loves school so much! We're so proud of her.

October- I celebrated my 32nd birthday this month. We spent time in the mountains and my husband officiated his first wedding for some dear friends of ours. 

November- We celebrated Orion's birthday. 

December- Zane turned two! We had family come into town for Christmas which has been wonderful! We love having our family here. 

Thanks for following our year and allowing me to share some special snippets from our daily lives. I hope to get my act together a bit more in 2015 and share more of our daily lives. 

DECEMBER Goals.

Holy wow! Can you believe that it's December 1st today?! I can. not. I realized yesterday that we're 17 days away from Zane turning two! I can't hardly believe it, he's grown so much over these last few months into a little boy. My little mommy heart can't take it. So as if December isn't crazy enough with Christmas, throw in a birthday and let's take it over the top. I for sure don't want him to fall into the December birthday trap and not celebrate it. 

So we will be celebrating his birthday just a few days before Christmas. #iwillsurvive

Ok, so let's quick review some awesome things that happened in November. 

I addressed all my Christmas cards, I kind feel like a rock star! 

I read two new books.

I successfully prepped and sold at my very first show last month. It was fun exposing everyone to my new stationary stuff and getting to talk to customers. 

We decorated our home for the holidays. It's nice to start December with a fully decorated home for Christmas. 

DECEMBER GOALS:

01// Read one new book.

This has been one of my favorite goals every month. I'm reading so much more now.

02// Work on a house project.

Ahhh.... we haven't worked on a house project for months. I'd like to tackle some projects this month. My step dad will be in town this month to help us with some stuff.

03// Finish Christmas shopping for Orion.

I finished all my shopping for my kiddos, their gifts are wrapped and hiding in my closet. Not so much for the Hubby. I need to finish for him.

04// Clean & de clutter my office for house guests.

We've got guests coming into town and they are using our guest room/office. But last month it was my shipping/prep for Phoenix flea and it's a mess in there. I gotta get it cleaned up before they get here.

05// Plan a service project to do while family is in town.

Orion and I both want to plan something missional to do while our family is in town. It's important for us to keep the reason on giving back to others during this time. And I think it would be really fun to do this as a family. 

10 Things I'm Thankful for This Year.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that you and your families are enjoying a relaxing day today. This is my favorite time of year. Today I thought I'd share with you ten things that I am thankful for this year. I was just talking to my Husband the other day and telling him how fast I feel like the year has gone. It's flown. It's been hard, it's also had amazing joys as well. I have learned a lot about myself and a lot about the Lord. I'm so thankful. 

1. My sweet family.

My hubby and our two kids they just are everything. Everything. I love them so much. 

2. My sweet kids.

Zane will be two soon. I can hardly believe it, from the day he was born he's completed our family. Truly. 

My sweet little Ava she keeps me on my toes, she loves deeply and has the most tender heart. 

3. Our health.

Last year my kids were sick all the time. This year we've been healthy. I'm also thankful for the health of my extended family. I believe in a healing God and God is faithful. I'm thankful for an extended family member who has had cancer completely removed from her body.

4. My Grandparents

They moved back to Arizona a year ago, and I'm so thankful to have spent this last year with them. Thankful that I get to spend another year with them. We're so close and I'm grateful to have the relationship I have with them. 

5. Thrive Moms

I feel really blessed and thankful to be apart of this ministry. I'm thankful that they intrust me to lead and use my gifts to further a bigger purpose. I'm so excited to be apart of what God is doing here. It has touched my heart so much this ministry. 

6. Faithful friendships.

If I'm being honest I would tell you that this year has been a hard year for me in my friendships. But God has reminded me that he's placed key people in my life for a reason. I am thankful for tried and true, faithful friends. Here for me through it all, the tough stuff, who accept me for who I am. Ones that are willing to challenge me and make me a better person. 

7. This blog.

This year was a year of transition for me and my blog. I'm so thankful for the way you readers have embraced this new blog and stuck with me on this journey. I've got some fun things planned for 2015 that I'm excited to share with you.

8. The Everyday Shop.

I'm so excited about all the new stuff added to the shop! I feel like I've finally narrowed down my vision and what I want the shop to be. 

9. Our Church.

My family and I we crazy love our church, our pastors and the people there. They have sustained us during some difficult times in the last couple years, and we've grown so much. Truly thankful that God placed us there three years ago.

10. God's provision.

I'm so blown away how God provides and continues to provide for us in our lives. He continues to amaze me with his love for us. I'm very thankful for this.