The Year of the Turtle?

The other night I was writing in my journal about the "word of the year" phenomenon.  I pondered the whole point of picking a word. Is it a silly exercise or one of value? I don't know. Last January I picked the word "overcome". Great word with great meaning. I have to admit I didn't focus too much on my word nor did I overcome any big things in life.

However, not long after I picked my word, I was hit with "birds".  All of a sudden, I noticed birds everywhere; in arts and in crafts, decorations, writing and more. I had never payed attention to birds before this. 

Then, Jesus's word from Matthew jumped out at me " “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" (Matt. 6:25-27.  I wanted to trust the Lord for all things, just like a bird. I wanted to spread my wings and fly, just like a bird.

"Bird" became my "word", so to speak. In 2014, I developed a small line of bird plushies and started collecting bird things. Birds make great art. I found a new love in birds.

I still love the birds and want to continue making them and surrounding myself with bird stuff, however, a new year always means something new, right?

As I wrote in my journal,  I prayed that the Holy Spirit would provide a new word for me that I could meditate on and ponder over the next year.  A thought immediately came to my mind - "turtle". Could it be the year of the turtle? They are slow moving, hard shelled and always make it to the finish line (I read that somewhere).

In this fast paced world, the turtle reminds us to slow down, to not let the worries of the world penetrate you (have a hard shell) and have faith that we will make it to the finish line. I like that.

I searched some Bible software for the word "turtle". If turtles were mentioned in scripture that would've been awesome. But they're not. Turtledoves are. What is a turtledove? It's a bird, of all things.  Ok, birds are cuter and are a lot more fun to sew, so maybe I'll stick with them. 

As for my word for 2015? I'm still waiting for the perfect word. I think I have it, but it will have to wait til January!

A Christmas Photo

I did it. I got a picture together of the whole family. 

Every year I dream of planning a day where we can all get dressed up and take a professional looking family photo to send out in our Christmas cards. Often, we will take a picture on Thanksgiving to use for our cards, which usually turns out just fine. But, this year, my three kids were with their dad on Thanksgiving, so we did not have a photo opportunity. The thought of rounding all five of them up for a picture was a little unrealistic. With work schedules and a daughter away at college, I didn't see it happening.

So, I got the idea to do a collage with individual pictures of them through out the year (I was originally thinking of a Brady Bunch square, but then nixed the idea). I think I spent more time finding a photo of each of them, cropping them, and then putting them in a collage than I would have if I would have planned a family photo shoot. Oh well.

Hardly professional, but it shows the real us (I wouldn't want to give anyone the illusion of a perfect family!).

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6