Happy New Year!

Now wait – before you go and think I’ve completely lost it, I do have a reason for the Happy New Year greeting! Each August, at the start of a new school year, I feel that same type of feeling I get on January 1…the birth of a new season – one full of hope, promise, excitement, and activity.

My little girl will be starting seventh grade next Tuesday! I’m still in shock that she’s even in middle school, and to think that this year she’ll become a teenager as well. Oh my! (All my praying peeps: please kick it up a knotch!) She loves being able to buy new school supplies and meet new teachers. I love being able to help her set new goals (i.e. read more books this year – hear me Anna? – ha! ha!), create new study habits, drive her to new activities.

Along with the beginning of a new school year, it seems that everything just falls more into a routine (usually dictated by work/school schedules). Summers, as wonderful as they can be, seem to be less structured, and those of you that know me or are figuring me out, know that I thrive on structure. 🙂

This time of year also reminds me that fall is just around the corner – my favorite season. And…soon after fall – Christmas! I LOVE Christmas – everything about it. Now is also about the time that I start thinking about what new traditions I want to begin this Christmas season? I even start looking for specific gifts for people (bought a couple at the beach during vacation).

And, this year, we will be experiencing another big change – we’ll be moving to another house in a little over a week. Although packing and moving may not be that exciting, getting to “set up house” in a new location is a fun thing for me. And…it almost feels like Christmas as I unpack those boxes and remember what I even had to begin with.

More importantly for me, this season has ushered in a new time of devotion with my sweet Savior. I can’t begin to explain how special it has been lately, and I can see the changes manifesting themselves in my life and in me! It has been an intentional shift, as I’ve been hungering for greater depth of knowledge in God’s word. As I seek Him, I find Him, and He continually reveals more of Himself to me!

So, I guess I should be saying “Happy New Season”! May you walk into this new time with full expectation of God doing big things for you, as you lay them before His throne! Be blessed!

I’m so sorry that I haven’t been blogging a whole lot lately. God has been doing some amazing things in me personally, and I honestly haven’t been able to focus on much outside of that – blog included. I hope to share more later…

Anyway…I just had to take a quick moment to plug a little book that I absolutely adore. I’m reading through it now for the 3rd or 4th time. For you guys, this may not have as much impact, so please forgive me for focusing on women for just a moment. His Princess by Sheri Rose Shepherd is perhaps one of the best devotionals for women that I have ever read! If you’ve never read it – please, please spend the few bucks and buy it and read it. Then, give away copies to your women friends. It’s not one of those books that you can just sit down and read cover to cover. It’s designed in such a way that you need to drink it in slowly and let the words permeate your spirit. Here’s an excerpt of one of God’s love letters written in the book:

“My Princess…Give Me Your Plans

I know you have an idea in your head on how everything should unfold in your life. Even today you have an agenda. Because I love you, I need you to give Me back all your plans for today and for all your tomorrows. If you let Me have your day, I can then intervene with something special. My intervention will give you more joy in your jouney than your good intentions. I know all that your heart longs for, and I want to do more for you than you could ever do for yourself. So give Me a chance to change your agenda from ordinary to extraordinary, because that ‘s the kind of life I’ve destined you to live, My beloved.

Love,
Your King and your Planner”

Again, please read this book ladies! Men…get this book for the women in your lives also! You will not be sorry!

Until next time…be blessed sweet friends!