Goals for 2012

Well, our pastor asked me and Brandon, last night, what some of our goals were for 2012. I have to admit at first, I couldn't think of any. It was like the blank stare. Then we started naming some of the goals we have for our lives as a family. We want to build a home this spring and start really thinking about having kids.  We also discussed how we want to get back to the heart of praying for and with one another daily. We're really good at this when we ride to school together, that's our time to do that, but we're not so good at prioritizing it when we're at home sleeping till 9 and hanging out all day. You'd think - you have more time to spend with the Lord - but somehow we're distracted. We need to work on that.

I also talked a little about discipleship. How I want to grow more with the person discipling me and the group that I'm growing with and also to start pouring into other girls. Discipleship is an amazing thing that I honestly was clueless about until a couple years ago.  It's just chasing after the Lord by learning from the people who have done it before you.  It's really less about the people and more about being Christlike. Yet, it still matters, the people you're pulling from, because they've got to be chasing after the Lord and growing and praying for how to lead you to closer to Christ.  I am so thankful for those relationships and want to continue to invest more in them this year.

So we kept talking and kind of got on another subject, but I kept thinking of the goals I have for this year, especially spiritually, and it really kept coming back to me, that I want the presence. I want the presence in my personal quiet time and worship and I want the presence on my ministry team - whether we're practicing, or praying, or ministering through worship - and I want the presence in my church - from the moment people walk in to the door - and I want the presence to flow through every family in that house.  It's so true that when you have a taste of something - you can never forget it and always want more.  I have tasted being in the presence and I really want to chase after it and seek it in 2012 like never before.  It's not like God doesn't want us to have it and it's not like it's something you just get sometimes and don't get sometimes. It's just a heart matter I think. As an individual, and as the whole body, we have to be spending daily quality time with Him, reading His word and seeking His will for every situation. It's not like He's going to show up in His fullness once a week when we sit down to pray and worship and then leave for the rest of the week, we have to be ready to get close with Him and carry that with us all the time.  I'm ready for that. I'm ready to know Him on such a deeper level. I never want to get to the point where I think I've gone far enough. Because Jesus has always gone farther and I want that kind of close relationship with God, where everything that I say is what He would say and everything I do, would be what He would do.  But starting with bite-size pieces, I want a daily, committed time of worship and learning from the Word. I want it prioritized and not cut short.
So these are some of our goals for 2012.....

Better Late than Never

I can't believe it's already the end of 2011. I also can't believe my last post was in July, right after I got my job.  A lot has happened since then and I can't think of hardly any of it that has been bad.  Brandon and I are both teachers now and have had a successful first half of our first year.  I've heard from lots of other people that the first year is the hardest and you might cry a lot and be stressed out but you'll make it through.  I honestly think I may have cried once this whole year and really haven't been that overwhelmed. I love my kids, I love my kids' parents and I love my school. Everyone has been so supportive and it has been amazingly easy for me to get in the groove. I think I must attribute it to my school and the county I work in.  It's the best possible place to be and I'm so thankful to get to pour into my kids' lives each day.  They are the best.
On a different note, Brandon and I had a WONDERFUL Christmas.  I was so thankful that we really got to see all of the different parts of our family.  We got to spend time with both of Brandon's grandparents and extended family in Parkton and Hope Mills and then we came back home to celebrate with my parents and grandpa. Sadly, my mom's side of the family didn't make it up but we will hopefully get to see them at the end of the week.  Overall, we love being with our family and eating all the great food!! :)
Another new thing in my life.... my friend Heidi and I have started doing photography. No, we are not professionals yet, but we are learning and taking lots of pictures and I think they have turned out really great so far.  It's only going up from here! We've all got to start somewhere. Check out our photography blog here.  We've recently done a maternity shoot and a wedding and I can't wait to post those pics! :)
So. That is all for now.  I just wanted to update. Thanks to those of you who have reminded us that we need to post. It's fun to think that people read our blog.  Hope you all have a relaxing week between Christmas and New Year.  We have the whole week off and are going to live it up!!

Love.