the list:: february

January 2013 was::
**the month we brought in New Year's with our good friends in their home...it was casual and laid-back and I loved every minute of it.
**when Claire got asked to be a flowergirl in my dear friend's wedding and about had a breakdown from the anxiety!!  Ok...so we need to practice!
**the month we went on a Caudill family vacation without the hubs.
**the month the hubs was the lighting programmer/director for the Inaugural Ball and the Presidential Ball on the day of the inauguration (& missed our family vacation).
**when my sister got to come on our vacation with us in Steve's place.
**when we looked at like 10 different houses to move into knowing we had to be out of our home by the end of February.
**was the month we found an amazing home to move into on Top O' the Morning Lane...how cute is that?!?
**was the month I told the Lord I was READY for all...I mean like ALL...good and bad...He's going to give me and ways He's going to stretch and grow me this year.
**was the month I really connected with sweet Stacy, who I met through a blog gift swap in November.  I never imagined gaining friends from my blog...but I'm so thankful the Lord brought her into my life!

I want February to be::
**a month where I continue to be READY for everything the Lord puts in my life and thank Him for it.
**a time when I'm super organized...I hate packing and moving...but I need to stay on top of everything so it can be a smooth move.
**a time to connect with some of my amazing friends.  Literally just set up a time to get together with my friend Christin, who I met on a mission's trip to Haiti in 1998.  I always have so much fun with her and feel so encouraged every time our visits are over.  Wish they were more frequent...
**a month when I continue to be diligent and faithful with my time in the Word.  I got back into a good routine in January and it needs to keep happening.
**the month when I start working out again...ugh!!
**a month of making intentional dates with my girl.

  on the cruise without Daddy

linking up with erika

oh yeah...i said I'd be ready...

So I've written a couple times of how I said I wanted to be READY for anything in 2013.  And then I confessed that I had originally meant ready for the good stuff.  And I was really convicted by that and have been telling the Lord that I want to REALLY be READY for anything He puts in my life...the good, the bad, and the ugly.  I guess I just wasn't prepared for the bad to come so quick, and that I would be the ugly!!

The last few days have been tough.  Nothing terrible has happened...in fact...some great things happened...Steve and I celebrated our 11 year dating anniversary, we signed a lease on a home with my in-laws, I had a super productive day off on Monday...but my days were still hard. 

Sometimes dealing with people can be the most difficult thing, especially when they're people you're around a lot, you know...your people...the ones who on supposed to be on your team.  Communication doesn't happen well, or doesn't happen at all, tension starts to build, then tension turns into a bad attitude.  Yes, I am guilty of all these things.  Today actually.  And I'm so frustrated at myself for it.  I've let myself give in to temptation and disobey the Lord.

I was venting to Steve about my frustrations...telling him all the bad things that had happened...and then I felt like the Lord spoke to me..."Are you still READY, Amy?  Like really ready?  You asked to be, so now I want to see how ready you are when I send a trial your way."

Yikes...apparently not ready at all.  As I prayed for the Lord to renew my thoughts and the attitude of my heart, this verse kept popping in my head:

throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:22-24

So tomorrow when I wake up, I am going to ask the Lord to renew my thoughts and my attitudes...I'm going to strive to be righteous and holy. Will I be perfect?  No...but hopefully tomorrow I will be a little more ready.  And right now, just before I get ready to go to bed, I am really thankful for His promise:

 

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.  Lamentations 3:23

ummm...feeling a little convicted

This is from my journal entry this morning...

So my word for 2013 is READY.  In my heart I've been telling God that I'm ready for anything this year...a steady job for Steve, another baby (or 2), the opportunity to stay home at least part time, homeschool, etc.  But the last few days I've felt a little convicted by that, like God is saying, "Are you ready for ALL I have?  Like really ready?"  Ummm...ok...hold on a sec...check my heart.

Then today I read in Jesus Calling: "You receive [peace] by trusting Me in the midst of life's storms.  If you have the world's peace- everything going your way- you don't seek My unfathomable Peace.  Thank Me when things do not go your way, because spiritual blessings come wrapped in trials.  Adverse circumstances are normal in a fallen world.  Expect them each day.  Rejoice in the face of hardship, for I have overcome the world."

Ok heart...get ready.  The trials are coming, they're promised.  Lord, get my heart to the place where I am truly ready for ALL You have prepared for my year.  Your Plans are far greater than mine.  Help me not to lose sight of that...keep my focus on Your Plan...I don't want to miss out on anything You have for me.