I went back through all 200 or so blog posts and re-tagged them. It's a project I've been putting off for a while. In theory, it should be easier to search for blog posts in the future. Right now everything looks like a mess. I'm hoping it works itself out soon, by magic. Until that happens, please mind the gap.
I'll be posting a new blog every Friday in April, starting this Friday. Get ready for some Earth Month fun!
Monday, March 28, 2016
One Word
It's New Year's Resolution time (cue sad trombone sound effects). I think it's a valuable thing to look at the past year and make goals for the year about to unfold. Think of all the things you accomplished and learned in 2012! However, it can be unpleasant to see where you fell short.
I decided to go back to the same site I used last year for my kid and adult resolution pages. Mique at Thirty Handmade Days updated the printable for 2013. Click here to download your own.
The first item of business on the adult resolution paper is to think of one word to describe 2013. This is hard. Almost hard enough for me to give up entirely. I'd been looking at that ugly blank line for a few days before I read a blog post from Emily at Jones Design Company. Here's what Emily said (or read the whole post here):
To embrace means to clasp or hold close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection, as in a hug. It can also mean to include as part of something broader. But my favorite definition {and the one I’ll be working on this year} is to take up willingly or eagerly.
Embrace. Its such an emotionally rich word.
This year, I want to learn to embrace in the physical sense. Touch is something I struggle with, even with people I know and love. I need to embrace my kids more. I should embrace my husband more, too. And I need to learn how to let others embrace me.
Embracing a challenge has never been hard for me. I tend to meet complicated situations with enthusiasm--as long as I have a sense of control. In 2013, I need to learn to embrace all the places God is leading me, even if it means I have to surrender some control.
Even though I may seem like a put-together person on the outside, I am crippled by low self-esteem. Like many other women, I struggle with not feeling strong enough, sexy enough, smart enough, or spiritual enough. But in 2013, I am going to try to embrace myself. Right where I am. I will give myself the same grace I give others. I will remember that I answer to my kind and loving Father in Heaven, not society. It's His approval I will seek.
So Emily's word will become my word as well. I embrace 2013 willingly and eagerly.
What's your word?
(Image taken from Jones Design Company)
I decided to go back to the same site I used last year for my kid and adult resolution pages. Mique at Thirty Handmade Days updated the printable for 2013. Click here to download your own.
The first item of business on the adult resolution paper is to think of one word to describe 2013. This is hard. Almost hard enough for me to give up entirely. I'd been looking at that ugly blank line for a few days before I read a blog post from Emily at Jones Design Company. Here's what Emily said (or read the whole post here):
To embrace means to clasp or hold close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection, as in a hug. It can also mean to include as part of something broader. But my favorite definition {and the one I’ll be working on this year} is to take up willingly or eagerly.
Embrace. Its such an emotionally rich word.
This year, I want to learn to embrace in the physical sense. Touch is something I struggle with, even with people I know and love. I need to embrace my kids more. I should embrace my husband more, too. And I need to learn how to let others embrace me.
Embracing a challenge has never been hard for me. I tend to meet complicated situations with enthusiasm--as long as I have a sense of control. In 2013, I need to learn to embrace all the places God is leading me, even if it means I have to surrender some control.
Even though I may seem like a put-together person on the outside, I am crippled by low self-esteem. Like many other women, I struggle with not feeling strong enough, sexy enough, smart enough, or spiritual enough. But in 2013, I am going to try to embrace myself. Right where I am. I will give myself the same grace I give others. I will remember that I answer to my kind and loving Father in Heaven, not society. It's His approval I will seek.
So Emily's word will become my word as well. I embrace 2013 willingly and eagerly.
What's your word?
(Image taken from Jones Design Company)
Receiving
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped. (Proverbs 11:25 MSG)
It seems like all of our random acts of kindness have been returned to us in a special, surprise blessing. The following is an excerpt from a letter Todd and I received recently:
"What I would like to do is send you and Christina (and Madeline and Ava, of course) a bit of extra spending money...maybe go out to eat as a family, or get something you've been needing, or save it up for something special...I'd like you to use it without feeling guilty, because I'm going to send something to you EACH month...
I remember what it was like when I was in seminary, married with 3 children...we refused to use what little I was making for 'frivolous' things...
If this is uncomfortable for you, I hope you can get over that feeling and just accept my wanting to help a bit..."
This letter came out of nowhere. Our benefactor is a retired pastor in the area who was looking for a special way to bless a young ministry family. And my, are we ever being blessed!
I was surprised at the gentleman's generosity, but even more at his ability to know my heart. How did he know that I'd have a hard time accepting such a gift? That I'd carry guilt over this grace?
I'm much more comfortable with being a giver. I give my time, talent, and money easily, even if I have to go out of my way to do so, because I have much to give. But today I'm taking a deep breath and just receiving.
Our patron wrote the check to me this month to use on myself. He wrote in his note that he knows how overlooked a pastor's spouse often is and that wanted to do something special for me. I don't know how he knew, but I really needed to hear that this week. I don't know what to do with my gift yet, but I'm sure I'll come up with something...
What blessings have you received lately?
It seems like all of our random acts of kindness have been returned to us in a special, surprise blessing. The following is an excerpt from a letter Todd and I received recently:
"What I would like to do is send you and Christina (and Madeline and Ava, of course) a bit of extra spending money...maybe go out to eat as a family, or get something you've been needing, or save it up for something special...I'd like you to use it without feeling guilty, because I'm going to send something to you EACH month...
I remember what it was like when I was in seminary, married with 3 children...we refused to use what little I was making for 'frivolous' things...
If this is uncomfortable for you, I hope you can get over that feeling and just accept my wanting to help a bit..."
This letter came out of nowhere. Our benefactor is a retired pastor in the area who was looking for a special way to bless a young ministry family. And my, are we ever being blessed!
I was surprised at the gentleman's generosity, but even more at his ability to know my heart. How did he know that I'd have a hard time accepting such a gift? That I'd carry guilt over this grace?
I'm much more comfortable with being a giver. I give my time, talent, and money easily, even if I have to go out of my way to do so, because I have much to give. But today I'm taking a deep breath and just receiving.
Our patron wrote the check to me this month to use on myself. He wrote in his note that he knows how overlooked a pastor's spouse often is and that wanted to do something special for me. I don't know how he knew, but I really needed to hear that this week. I don't know what to do with my gift yet, but I'm sure I'll come up with something...
What blessings have you received lately?
Celebrating new life in a hurting world
I haven't written in a while. Keep reading, I have an explanation.
This phrase was written on the chalkboard in my kitchen for Lent. I must have walked past it 20+ times a day for 40 days and nights. It was my not-so-silent prayer that God open my heart to where He wants me and to give me the energy to accomplish His work.
Well, it seems God went for a literal "new heart", because, well, this happened:
That's Baby Krost #3, arriving in early November 2013. To say our family is over the moon is an understatement. This new life and the potential it holds is an extraordinary gift.
I wish I could live in a bubble with my joy and anticipation (and nausea) but I can't. Recent events like the Boston Marathon bombing, Newtown, Aurora, and the plant explosion in Texas have made that nearly impossible. Anyone else out there feel like there's nothing we can do to protect our babies? You really should read this.
We can't keep our loved ones safe. But we can't not try. We need to redefine "safe".
(Image taken from Momastery)
As we saw in Boston this week, good always outweighs evil. Bystanders help the injured. Exhausted marathoners run two extra miles to donate blood. Citizens open their homes to stranded travelers. Love wins. God wins.
So what do we tell our kids? And what do we tell ourselves? Be good to each other. Keep praying. Look for the helpers and pitch in where you can. And don't be afraid.
This phrase was written on the chalkboard in my kitchen for Lent. I must have walked past it 20+ times a day for 40 days and nights. It was my not-so-silent prayer that God open my heart to where He wants me and to give me the energy to accomplish His work.
Well, it seems God went for a literal "new heart", because, well, this happened:
That's Baby Krost #3, arriving in early November 2013. To say our family is over the moon is an understatement. This new life and the potential it holds is an extraordinary gift.
I wish I could live in a bubble with my joy and anticipation (and nausea) but I can't. Recent events like the Boston Marathon bombing, Newtown, Aurora, and the plant explosion in Texas have made that nearly impossible. Anyone else out there feel like there's nothing we can do to protect our babies? You really should read this.
We can't keep our loved ones safe. But we can't not try. We need to redefine "safe".
As we saw in Boston this week, good always outweighs evil. Bystanders help the injured. Exhausted marathoners run two extra miles to donate blood. Citizens open their homes to stranded travelers. Love wins. God wins.
So what do we tell our kids? And what do we tell ourselves? Be good to each other. Keep praying. Look for the helpers and pitch in where you can. And don't be afraid.
A year in ministry
July marks the end of our first year in ministry as a family. It's been an amazing year of growth, change, new experiences, and new friends. I think we can call ourselves "settled in" now.
We used our best mathematical estimations and went back through our records and memories to compile these numbers. They are our best approximations.
I thought I'd do a photographic look back at some of the highlights of the past year. Check it out!
We used our best mathematical estimations and went back through our records and memories to compile these numbers. They are our best approximations.
(I used the A Beautiful Mess app for the individual frames and compiled them in the 9 frame collage using Diptic).
What would make the "highlight reel" of your year so far?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
