New Years always seems like a new beginning. Its totally psychological, but it really feels like you could change your whole life today. New beginning, new goals, new word

We’ve been talking to the kids about goals for the family and personal goals for themselves. I kind of want to take this whole month to go over with each of them what kind of things that they want to set for goals. With the exception of Jovi, they are all old enough to make some goals and resolutions. We are kind of entering a new chapter.

I haven’t really written my own goals down. Jon has a list of 42 so far I want to use the energy of the new year to push us into making good goals and really moving towards them.

I love this picture of one of Woody Guthry’s resolution lists from the 40’s. Very practical and perfect.

From Downloads

Today I’m thankful that my emotions do not change who I am in Christ.

From 2011-11-08

My emotions aren’t who I am. This has been a hard pill to swallow in recent years. As someone who is very emotional and has a volatile personality, thinking that my emotions weren’t the truth about a situation was hard to accept. I didn’t really believe it for a while. I wrestled with the idea, I fought it out with God. I came to the understanding though that it was true. My emotions, my feelings about something, did not change the truth about what it was.

This is especially true about who I am in Christ. The Bible tells us over and over again who we are:

John 1:12 I am God’s child.
John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ’s body.
Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:1-2 I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39 I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4 I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
John 15:5 I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God’s temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10 I am God’s workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

I am NOT a loser, I am NOT unfixable, I am NOT a bad mother, all these things that my emotions tell me I am.

Thank you Lord!

Today I’m thankful for glitter

Today we started getting out our paper and scissors and glitter and making Christmas decorations. So cozy!!!

Today I’m thankful for my anchor.

From Downloads

We have this hope, sture and steadfast, as an anchor for our soul. Hebrews 6:19

My hope is in you Lord!

Buy the print HERE

Today I’m thankful for time with my big girl.

From 2011-11-23

I love I spending time with her. We have our issues, but we have a lot of fun together. She’s funny and fun and a ton of help. I love seeing glimpses of the woman she’s turning into. She’s pretty awesome!

Today I’m thankful for the changing seasons.

From Downloads

(buy those HERE)

I’m excited to be putting away my fall decorations and putting up a Christmas tree and all that Jazz Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is officially on.

Today I’m thankful for my little family.

From Thanksgiving

From Thanksgiving

Sometimes it feels like me and them against the world. We are this little army that takes care of each other and defends each other. There is some infighting. There are management issues at times. We aren’t always in fighting form. We laugh loudly. We argue loudly.

We love each other hard.

Today I’m thankful for yummy holiday food!

From Downloads

Delish!

Today I’m thankful for my bed.

It is squishy and soft and warm and I love it so!!! I love my pillow and my sheets. I love sleeping next to my husband I love my bed, and I’m so thankful I don’t have to sleep on: the ground, hay, or feather ticking!

Today I’m thankful for my wonderful family.

From Downloads

I’m missing them terribly, and I’m so thankful for them.

I grew up the only girl in a gaggle of stinky boys. I did my best to spend my life in my room to be away from them, but they got in my life any way I don’t know who I’d be without them. They are some of my very favorite people in the world. I love to talk to them about life, politics, theology, pretty much anything. They are all genius’ in their own rite! Three of them have added wives to the mix, and I have some of the greatest sisters in law in the world. I sure am glad that God put us all together. They are amazing. Truly.

Today I’m thankful for renting.

From lr

Renting sucks. I don’t say that word very often, but really, it sucks. Being beholden to the owners, having someone else have the keys to the house and the ability to come in whenever they felt like it (of course they don’t but the option is there) having your stuff in someone else’s house just feels wrong.

But, they pay when the 30 year old fridge breaks down, they pay when the 30 year old furnace stops working, they pay when the 30 year old water heater stops heating water. So, today I’m thankful for renting.

Today I’m thankful for my parents.

From Downloads

My parents are awesome. I have to admit. We have had our problems in the past, of course, but really they are pretty great. They are always encouraging, and always ready to pray with me. They always point me to Jesus. They love my children beyond understanding. They are interested in my family and want to be a part of our lives. They are always ready to give me wisdom when I ask, but do not usually push their agenda on me. They always tell me how good of a mom I am (which is especially great when I don’t believe it). They love me unconditionally!

They are awesome!

Today I’m thankful for thrifting.

From vintage finds

I love the thrill of the hunt and finding awesome things to love again. I love finding bargains on kids clothes. I love finding new purses. I love finding home things that I need for a fraction of the cost. I love finding vintage treasure. I love vintage bedclothes. I love giving old things a new life.

My mom would tell you that when I was a kid I would rather die than buy things from a Goodwill. I don’t know what it was about it, but there was a huge stigma about it when I was younger. When I got married I made a good friend who was obsessed with Goodwill. I tried it with her a few times, and found a few things, but never really went regularly. When I moved to Seattle though, I started going more regularly, and now really almost have a schedule of when the best times to go are. I have found so many awesome things.

Call me crazy if you want, but God always gives me little gifts when I’m thrifting. I was sad about not having sunshine one day and I felt like God was telling me, I do give you sunshine, and I went into the store and found that milk can. I LOVE that milk can. It totally shines God’s love on me

I <3 thrifting!

Today I’m thankful for vacuums.

Can you imagine getting all that dirt up with a carpet beater? EW!

Today I’m thankful for a warm house.

Its getting cold and I’m thankful that I have a warm place to come home to.