What's the Word

Apparently I have become a once a month blogger. I would prefer to be posting weekly but life doesn't seem to be giving me time for that lately. Now is usually when I would be posting my word for the year. It is a word that the Lord has placed on my heart as something to focus on for the year. Right now I don't feel lead to any word. Perhaps my problem is not being silent and still enough to hear God. So maybe my word should be something like listen or focus. I think it will be best to wait on the Lord instead of picking a word just to pick a word. So we will see, maybe it is a year without a word and that's okay.

Now as for an update...wow a lot has happened since my last post. Life as been a blur. I almost feel like I am just riding the waves, which I don't like I would much prefer to be directing life more. But I feel like I am just keeping my head above water, perhaps that is because we are coming out of the busyness of the holidays.

We had a great time seeing a lot of family.

 All the Rices got together, this is Grandpa reading to all the grand kids minus babies.

 The Sunderlands

The Wolfes

I entered a new decade. I hardly feel old enough to be 30.

Celebrating with my family, unfortunately The Farmer was sick that day.

The kids are as busy as ever. They bring constant challenges and constant joy. If you ask me what we have been doing I will be at a loss. Some how the days get filled, things get accomplished and many things beyond taking care of Jane and Micah don't get accomplished. So one day I might become better at blogging more regularly.

The Year of Nurture

 Our winter wonderland because I don't like posts with no pictures :)

For the past few years I have picked, rather what God has given me to focus on, live and strive toward for that year. With a new year comes a new word, but last years word and the year before are still something I want to focus on. This years word is a bit different in relation to the past years. As I was thinking about the upcoming months the word that I was continually prompted on was nurture. The obvious direction this word takes me is to Micah and Jane. But to me this year it is much more, probably even more as the year progresses. I see it as nurturing Micah and Jane, to bring up, train, and protect them. It is also applies to all relationships in my life, I want to nurture, grow, support, and encourage these people and our relationship. This word can apply to me inwardly as well, to develop and foster a greater dependence on the Lord. To grow more deeply in love with Him, to know even more His strength and my weakness. To nurture a greater confidence in myself and contentment to were God has me now. This year I focus on nurturing, growing and developing all areas of my life. 

The Year of Here

I have not updated on how I have been doing with my one little word this year. That could mean I have been doing great at living the word I chose for the year, which is here or the complete opposite and life has just been buzzing by without me even thinking about here. It has been a bit of both. Though my main reason in writing is to tell about a moment I had with Micah last week. I wish to record it to be sure as time ticks on it doesn't steal this memory from me.

It was the night before his birthday, he had bummed his head earlier (whacked is probably more accurate), plus he was more tired then usual, which means he wanted to cuddle more. As our bedtime routine goes, after The Farmer reads and prays with Micah I sing to him and lay him down. I had him in my arms, rocking and singing. Seeing how much more he wanted to snuggle in and how relaxed he was I continued to rocking and began to talk with him about his birthday the next day. With tears in my eyes, okay fine, with tears rolling down my cheeks I spoke to him of what a wonderful year we have had, what a gift and joy he is to us. As we rocked and I stroked his cheek I talked of the time gone by and the time ahead. I could have continued that night to hold him knowing these moments of having him in my arms are slipping away and coming to an end but he needed to sleep. I whispered to him "Sweet boy I love you", laid him down and closed the door telling myself remember, remember this moment.

Here

I can't believe 2010 is near over. This year has held so many challenges and changes. How blessed we are.


As I look to 2011 and strive to make it a good year I am going to focus on one little word...here. I want to be here, in the present. A struggle of mine has always been looking ahead in life to the next stage or the things I need to get done. I have to remind myself to enjoy where I am, now more then ever that is more important to me. I don't won't to miss a thing. I desire to enter fully into the moments so I don't miss the life and memories that I have right now. If I'm already moving onto the next moment, that hasn't even come yet, I am missing out on living.

I want to be here where God has me. Not just to live, but to be able to hear Him and where He wants me to go. If I am not here in the present how can I hear God and His direction for the future, that sadly my mind is usually already moving towards. So this year I am going to be here, here to live my life in the moment that is now, and here to hear God and follow Him.

The year of here.