Leah Stirewalt

I don’t know if it’s the rebel in me or the fact that I’ve tried the resolution thing AND FAILED numerous times before, but regardless of the reason…I don’t make resolutions. I almost cringe to even type the word. My husband even challenged me a bit about my stance on going “resolution-free”. He asked, “Isn’t not making a resolution an actual resolution?” Uh. No sweetheart. It’s a way of life with me. (I love you!)

On-the-other-hand, I LOVE to make lists…especially goal and project lists. Maybe a bit weird, but it’s how I roll. And…I especially love to make those goal lists at the beginning of the year when there’s the “clean slate” of 12 virtually free months right in front of me (well…maybe I’m dreaming a little with the “virtually free” part).

Before I share my 2014 goal list, I thought it would be beneficial (for me, at least) to stay accountable with how I fared with my 2013 list. Drum roll please…

1. Develop and keep a consistent fitness schedule. I’m learning to incorporate exercise back into my life again, but in order for it to become a routine habit…I’ve got to build in consistency.

Didn’t happen. Key word = consistent. I exercised here and there, but there was no consistency to it.

2. Complete our wedding scrapbook. Now that Joel and I have been married nearly ~~8 months~~ (now over 16 months), it’s time to start tackling our wedding scrapbook.

Didn’t happen BUT the pictures were ordered and have arrived! I purchased the paper and embellishments I plan to use, so I now all I need to do is sit down and do it! I actually have blocked out a couple of weeks on my calendar at the end of this month to sit and work on it during the evenings/weekends. This. Will. Get. Finished. This. Year.

3. Catch up 2013 scrapbook. As a scrapbooking lover, I have endless projects I could be working on, but I’m also trying to keep up with our years – in pictures. I plan on 2013 being the first year that I actually keep up with as time goes on…therefore, I need to get it caught up (and stay there until the 2013 book is done).

Didn’t happen. More on this in a future post.

4. Memorize 9 new scriptures. I used to do scripture memory routinely, especially along with Beth Moore’s Siesta Scripture Memory Team. But, I’ve gotten out of the habit of regular, intentional scripture memorization. So, beginning now, I’m choosing to memorize two scriptures/month. For me, the scriptures I’m selecting are those that I feel will help me in my weight loss journey. Infusing God’s Word into this is vital to ultimate success!

Epic fail! No excuses.

5. Write a book proposal. I’ve had a book (actually a couple) in my head for quite awhile, but I’ve never taken the time to flush it out on paper. I’m going to do that for 2013 – in the form of a formal book proposal. What happens after that is up to the Lord’s leading. 🙂

I made progress in this area but didn’t complete by the end of 2013 like planned.

6. Bike the Virginia Creeper Trail. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a LONG time! Along with my husband, I plan to finally do it later this year!

I did this in October with my husband and sis-in-law!

7. Get at least 1 more newspaper for my collection. I have this little habit. Some might call it silly, but it’s quite fun for me. I collect newspapers from all the state capitals. Now, I don’t just call the newspaper office from each state’s capital and ask them to mail one to me. I have to actually go there to get it. That’s the fun part…the travel! I have quite a few already, and I intend to keep pursuing this little passion of mine until I have all 50! So, my goal is to get (at least) one more this year.

I went over the top with this goal and actually got 6 more newspapers for my collection! You can read about that adventure HERE and even see a few pics!

8. Make curtains for all my windows needing curtains. This one is self-explanatory. My windows need treatment…I would love to make them myself!

I have the fabric for the windows in the living room. Sewing machine is still sitting there…staring at me.

9. Have all my Christmas cards ready to mail by Thanksgiving (even if they don’t get mailed for a few weeks). I’m a Christmas card freak! I love to give them AND receive them. But, the joy of exchanging Christmas cards can get snuffed out if I procrastinate and wait until the last minute to send them out. This year, I plan to work ahead and have them ready by Thanksgiving. I can do it. I know I can…I know I can…I know I can.

Missed this target by a few days.

10. Reach my goal weight! This is my biggest and loftiest goal/bucket list item for this year. But, it’s not impossible. I’ve already “crunched the numbers” and see how I can do…jut gonna take some hard work and LOTS of prayer!

Didn’t happen, but it’s near the top of my list for 2014!

There you have it. A few successes, some near misses, and a lot of not-even-close ones! But, all-in-all, as the saying goes…if you set no goals, you’re sure to achieve them. I have no doubt that some of those things wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t made a purposeful plan to accomplish them (especially the Virginia Creeper bike ride). So, I plan to do it again…make another goal list, that is. I’ll be sure to clue you in during my next post!

Love having you joining me in this life adventure!

I have a feeling you know her. Maybe not all of you, but I would venture to say that most of you do.

She’s the worn-looking lady down the street with the three rowdy children that frustrate you frequently.

She’s the sweet white-haired woman that you faithfully find at church in the same seat on the second row.

She’s the one in line in front of you at the grocery store spending the last of that week’s paycheck and scrounging for one more dime.

She’s the white-collar executive that drives the fancy sports car yet never looks happy to be living that carefree life she loves to display.

She’s your child or grandchild’s teacher at school they always complain about, because she’s running low on patience.

She’s the greeter at church that flashes her pearly whites each Sunday to mask the flood of tears on the verge of spilling out of her eyes.

She’s the teller at your local bank with the scowl across her forehead.

She’s the blogger who has openly shared her challenging journey.

She’s the one you cut off on the interstate the other day, because she was daydreaming and driving a bit too slow for your liking.

She’s the one spending Thanksgiving alone this year.

She’s the one who volunteered to work at the diner Christmas Day, because she has nobody to spend it with anyway.

She’s the widow often forgotten.

I know her well. I used to be her.

I’ll never forget the first Christmas after becoming a widow. I dreaded it with a passion, because families everywhere would be enjoying that special time together, and my daughter and I would be spending our first Christmas without my late husband.

I begged God to allow me to smile that first Christmas even though everything within me didn’t know how to show happiness. I asked Him to allow my daughter and me to feel His love in tangible ways. I prayed that although that first Christmas was expected to be quite hard, I wanted to experience true joy within the season.

God answered each of those prayers exponentially!

Most of the smiles I displayed or the joy I felt or the tangible love of God that surrounded me came as a result of others taking time to love on us. I wrote about a group of “angels” who, to this day still remain anonymous, blessed us immensely (you can read that post HERE)! These “angels”, as I fondly call them, became Jesus with skin on to my daughter and me. They helped to make each of the twelve days leading up Christmas something we looked forward to waking up to greet. They allowed us to know that we were not forgotten in the hustle and bustle of everyone else’s busy season.

As Christmas nears again this year, my mind returns to that first Christmas as a widow, and I think about “her” – another lady experiencing that first Christmas without her husband. Or – perhaps – it’s a precious lady who’s been a widow for twenty + years but continues to dread this holiday season, because it brings nothing but sadness.

And so…I challenge you. I challenge you to think past the busyness that you’ll encounter this season and try to find a widow to bless. A neighbor…a co-worker…a church member…

There are so many things that you can do to help make her season a little brighter:

1) Invite her over for a meal (especially on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day).

2) Take her a basket of homemade goodies.

3) Make her a stocking and fill with little mementos or gift cards to show you care.

4) Offer to help decorate her house for Christmas and bring a tree if needed.

5) Be a Christmas “12 Days of Christmas Angel” anonymously – read more HERE!

6) Take her to an area Christmas program.

7) Fill her pantry for the rest of the month.

8) Invite her over to spend Christmas with your family.

9) Take her to a Christmas Eve service.

10) Do something else creative to let this precious widow know she’s loved and not forgotten this season.

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in our own little worlds that we forget those who are hurting around us (especially during this season). Allow God to use you and your family to bless His precious widowed daughters this Christmas. I promise…it’ll be a Christmas neither of you will ever forget.

~A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. (Psalm 68:5, NIV)

The Resolution Free Zone

Maybe You Know Her