Looking back at 2020

Ahhh, 2020 is over. In some ways, it is a relief, in others, I am sad that a whole year has flown by. 

Let's take just a minute to look back before going forward. 

Last year, my word for the year was PEACE. It was exactly the word I needed in the midst of chaos and a trying year. God knew the word I needed.

Looking into 2020 last January, I didn't want to make a lot of resolutions because I thought other things were going on. (There was, but not what I thought! Or anyone!).

 Here is what I wrote last year when I chose my word and thought about making resolutions:

In 2020, we have many commitments including politics, campaigning, helping with the local homeschool co-op (I am also teaching this semester), hosting a reader's retreat, VBS, graduations of close friends and family, a major election, work, family, to name just a few.

Looking back, this how that turned out:

In 2020, we have many commitments including politics Yep, 

campaigning Looked so different this year, 

helping with the local homeschool co-op (I am also teaching this semester) Until we cancelled in March due to Covid, 

hosting a reader's retreat Postponed to 2021, 

VBS Postponed to 2021, 

graduations of close friends and family Happened, just different than we would have guessed, 

a major election Again, looked so different this year, 

work Thankful for my job, looked a lot different this year, 

family Time with family also looked different, to name just a few. 

Funny how our expectations vs. what happened last year were so vastly different. Most of the above did not look like I would have expected. But somethings were even better. There were definitely things to be thankful for in the midst of 2020.

Here are a couple of the things we listed on our Christmas card this year:

•  A new niece born in January
• Family vacation in July
• My sister getting engaged and married
• Fall family camping trip
• Seeing "Noah" at Sight and Sound in Branson 
• Lots of produce from our garden (1st time in a long time!).
• Technology
• Friends and Family
• Jesus!
  
• And so many more.  
  

Looking back on 2020 will always be hard, but I will try to find the joy, the blessings, and give thanks for all them. I will remember that God is always good and was and is with us always. 

I think it is good to look back on the things we grieve (write them down and release them), but then to also write a list of things to celebrate and give thanks to God for how He is always working in our lives. Look for those God sightings! You might just be surprised!

2020 - Resolutions

 Well, it is May and I am just realizing that I never posted this post and never even finished it for that matter! Here is how far I got with it...

I couldn't decide what to do about New Year's Resolutions this year. I really wanted to make some, but last year I seemed to not complete very many of them. I am the type of person who, if I make a goal, I want to complete it. I don't want to fail.

So I wrote down many things for this year...

But I think I need to scale it back a bit. If you read my post on my word for 2020, you will know our family has a lot going on in 2020.

I read a blog post from Money Saving Mom that inspired me to do monthly goals. So I think I will be trying some of those this year and breaking my goals down a bit.

At this point, it seems silly to go back and try to rehash what my goals are/were for the year. What I will say is God is working in my life. If you read my post about my word for the year, you will know it was peace. You will also know that peace is not the word I wanted. I wanted something like vision or focus. It is 2020 after all! But God gave me the word peace and I felt no option in it! And I am so thankful for, not only the word, but for the true sense of peace I have felt in the midst of all that is going on in the world.

As always, God knows best! Peace is just what I needed this year. I recently shared all of this with some friends and one of them said something along the lines of "God gave you a vision of peace for this year." I couldn't agree more. My focus for the year is peace. Peace in the midst of a pandemic. True peace that comes from God.

So this post that was supposed to be all about my goals and resolutions for the year is simply about peace, about looking for God and how He is still working, about going where He leads.

Yes, I still have goals, plans, and things I resolve to do. But right now, my plan, as it should always be, is to let God lead. To let this be my reset. To see what God's priorities are for my life.

Go in God's peace.

My prayer and hope in the midst of the pandemic

My prayer is that through all of this, we don’t lose relationships: lose our relationship with Christ and lose our relationships with our family and friends. 

Social media has become so divisive. People are unsure of truth and falsehoods. What are the facts? We question those closest to us about whether what they are doing, saying, and posting is the right thing. 

I, personally, have no idea what is fact and what is fiction (or conspiracies). I will freely admit that I probably lean towards some of the conspiracies. I have read so much and honestly, it is downright overwhelming at times. 

I believe personal conviction is important. I believe that God works in each one of our lives. I also believe that God’s Word is true and I can depend on His Word every. single. day. In the midst of lies and falsehoods and even in the uncertainty, I know I can lean on God and He will give me peace. He has, in fact, given me so much peace through this whole pandemic. 

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When I think of the division that the pandemic and people’s reactions and government’s reactions are causing, that does bring some fear. I have no desire to lose relationships over this. My desire is to read and listen to both sides of the argument. And when it is overwhelming, turn it off. I don’t want to live in fear. 

“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Let’s live in God’s power. Let’s show Jesus’ love to others. And let’s demonstrate self-control before we post or say something that may hurt someone else. 

I am not trying to be preachy or to hurt anyone in what I am writing. Instead, I hope to draw you back to God’s Word as your ultimate truth. In the midst of so much unknown, God is still here. He is still constant. He does not change. His character is always the same. 

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I don't have all the answers. I do not have even most of the answers. But I know God is in control. I know He knows all and has all the answers. I know He is not surprised by any of this.

My encouragement to you is to keep the faith, to not let all of what is happening in the world get you down. Remember, Jesus has already overcome.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

John 16:33

May you find your strength in God. May you find your hope in Him. Look to Him. Trust Him above all else. Love your neighbors, your friends, and your family.

Love Jesus.

I saw this posted on Facebook and it inspired a lot of these thoughts.

Peace and Gratitude during a Pandemic

This article  is fascinating to me. I am so thankful for the peace God has given me during this time. I didn’t understand at the beginning of the year why my word of the year was supposed to be peace. I wanted it to be “vision” or something more exciting! But as it always seems, I don’t pick my word. Instead, God gives me the word. So my word this year is peace and it is because I needed peace.

Maybe you have seen this article on social media already, but if not, take a few minutes to read it. 

A couple quotes from the article:

“Being afraid is literally making you even more susceptible to getting sick.”

“How to Powerfully Boost Your Immune System”

“Practice the act of shifting your focus to things you are grateful for.”

God is teaching me to be grateful and how an attitude of gratitude helps to take the anxiety and stress away. This faith journey is life-long. I’m thankful for the lessons I’ve learned (even though some have been hard) and I’m thankful for the people God has placed in my life (I miss seeing them regularly).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 

My encouragement to you is to find ways to give thanks. Write it in a notebook. Post it randomly on social media. Call a friend and tell them you are grateful for them. Tell whoever you are at home with what you are grateful for. Thank God for the blessings He has given you.

It is amazing how thanksgiving flows once you start.

So go start! I’ll start for you.

God, I thank you for...

Living in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic

Living in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic

 March 21, 2020

 If social distancing has taught me anything, it is that social media has not connected us as much as we have thought. We have said in the past few years that social media connects us more with people (which is true to an extent), yet we are lacking true connection, deep connection, face-to-face connection. Social media provides us with a method to communicate, but doesn’t make communication and connection happen.

Now that we are forced to be a part from each other, we are becoming more creative with how to connect better and use those methods to connect.

For example, before we had family friends that we typically got together with each week (in person) and talked on the phone with during the week, now we FaceTime (almost daily).

Before the “seeing” didn’t matter, now being able to see them (even through a screen) is huge. 

Before we were seeing nieces and nephews occasionally in person, now we are making time to FaceTime.

Before I was just posting whatever struck my fancy on social media, now I’m trying to share positive posts and every day life.

I am struck by the before and after. Before there was a possibility of COVID-19 and now after it has hit our country. Each day of the past week or so, our lives have changed and yet it also feels like it happened overnight. And now it is figuring out how to live in this new world. How to make time for the people in your life.

This is a defining moment in our history. We have an opportunity to live it to the fullest, to share our hope, and to give God the glory, or we can let this moment pass, live in fear, and just keep plugging away on our own.

If this is going to be the point we look back to in our lives, then let’s remember it well. Let’s remember it by making a difference in people’s lives. Let’s remember it by sharing Jesus and the hope He brings. Let’s remember it by actually writing it down.

I’m not sure how many people still journal in this day and age, but now is as good a time as any to start. I personally use a bullet journal every day. Some days have a lot more info than others. Some days are just to-do lists. But bullet journaling is one way you can chronicle these times. There are multiple apps you can use such as Day One. Or you can simply pick up a notebook or open a document on your computer, and just start writing. Start recording.

My current bullet journal

This past week, I decided to start a separate “I’m thankful” journal. I’ve been wanting to do this since January 1, but haven’t made it a priority (I did use an app for part of January to record my thanksgiving). I saw on Instagram that someone was using a 5 year journal for their thankful journal. I love this idea. So I decided I would just make my own, with the month and day at top and the year in front of each entry. As I go through the years, I think it will be really cool to see what I was thankful for on the same day the year(s) before.

My thankful journal

I have started this practice by simply writing a couple things down before I go to bed. I literally have been putting the notebook on my pillow when I leave my bed in the morning so I have to move it before I go to bed, making it so I write in it!

Lastly, while you may or may not have more time on your hands, take some time to reflect. Take some time to look at what is really important in your life.

Make time for the people in your house. Get off social media for awhile. Go for a walk (my puppy has really been enjoying that). Play a game with your family. Try something new. Read your Bible. Sing a praise song. Write down what you are thankful for. FaceTime a friend (or use Google Hangouts or Zoom or...). Or pick up your phone and just call someone. Send a text.

We aren’t going to remember all the specific things we did during these strange and different times, but we are going to remember who cared, who was there for us, and how we reached out to those around us.

Remember, in this moment that may define us, shine the light for Jesus. Write down how He is working in your life and around you. Give thanks. And connect with people. God is with us, we need only to rely on Him for our strength, our peace, and our hope.

My new mug that features my word of the year: peace