One Year Five Months...ONE LITTLE WORD!

So turns out I am an awful blogger...yes it has been exactly 1 year 5 months since I have blogged...YIKES! Am I surprised? No not at all, I HATE writing, ask my sister I think she rewrote every paper I ever had in college...and half of grad school until Chris took over :)

So why the sudden urge to blog again...well I have been really thinking this year of doing a one little word...I read so many people's explanation of their one little word and was completely blown away by their explanations and was like, I will NEVER compete with that. And in that instant I was like hold up Amber...Life is not about competing, not against people that you say you care about, not against those you hardly know, not against your facebook friends that you barely keep in touch with, not against anyone because God has a completely different path for you so just slow down and think about what your one little word would be.

As most know 2013 brought changes for Chris and I and we moved due to Chris job, not something either of us expected and the beginning of the year was hard, there was anger, disappointment, confusion, hurt, any negative emotion you name it and I think that Chris and I felt it. But I think for both of us it was a time that we completely turned to God and put our fate in his hands, as it turns out it what happened was the best for both of us and God's plan for us was a million times better than the plan we had set out for ourselves. It was hard and we went through a lot, looking back it is so much easier to say we are in a better place now than when we were going through it. But no matter what was going on in the last year we were so blessed and I think sometimes we forgot that. We have AMAZING families that supported us, helped us sell our house, packed us, moved us, unpacked us, listened to us, visited us you name the role a family is suppose to have and we had all of that plus some. WOW we were so blessed and loved.

So when it came to picking my one little word I really stewed on it, and went back and forth of do I want to do one, if I do what would it be, what would it mean, I cant find a word that means that much to me that would cover all aspects of my life...so basically trying to talk myself out of it because I missed the deadline of Jan 1, it's too much of a commitment, maybe I shouldn't, I'll do it next year. Well, the last 2 weeks on my devotional has also been about picking one little word...SERIOUSLY God are you trying to tell me to do it or what, I know I can be stubborn and try not to listen, but I think you got my attention. So Friday in my devotional they were talking about this verse...

Galatians 5:22-25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

they talked about picking one of the fruits of the Spirit and it really hit home, like slap on the face, BAM...HELLO...GOTCHA...So here I am blogging for the first time in almost a year and a half to share with you my one little word. Why am I doing this oh so you can help keep me accountable. So without further ado I give to you my ONE LITTLE WORD,

(p.s. Vanessa I totally stole your picture from your blog because guess what, you were one of the ones who influenced my decision to do it so I hope you dont mind that I borrowed your picture) Anyways back on topic...JOY, my word, why you ask because I think that in everything that we have been through the last year I dont think I always stopped to enjoy the moment, in fact I think I did the exact opposite, I didnt enjoy what was around us, what we had, so this year I am going to start to stop and actually enjoy life more so much that I want those around me to see the Joy that I have and want it, I want Christ's Joy to shine through me so that others can see it. Is it going to be hard, heck yes! Is is going to be challenging AH Yeah! But will it help me grown in my relationship with Christ? Chris? My Family? BINGO...then I think I have my answer...My goal is to blog once a week, mainly for myself so that I can keep myself accountable and to make sure I am finding something to be Joyful for...so look for my next blog, hopefully soon, I have a couple of weeks to catch up on...

LOVE,
AJ