by Tessa | Faith
I spent some time reflecting on the past year as I made my Life Plan for 2014Â and our sermon yesterday was a review of some of the congregations blessings over the past year. I’ve had “Count Your Blessings” stuck in my head all day. So here are some of my favorite memories and blessings of 2013 (in no particular order):
- The birth of my third son. What an unbelievable experience! He is 7 weeks old now and has made such a seamless entry into our lives.
- Hiring a close friend to work with us on the farm and having him and his wife and kids move just down the road. I love having a friend 5 minutes down the road and their whole family has been such a blessing with the extra help on the farm, support for when I had Baby Bear, and friends for my own boys to play with.
- A bountiful harvest. There is something to be said for irrigated fields. We have never, in all the years we have been farming, seen such an amazing harvest. And God protected our fields from the crazy weather too!
- A new brother-in-law. It wasn’t the prettiest process but my sister-in-law’s new husband is a wonderful addition to the family. And he brought with him two incredible new nieces, who I hope will learn to love our family as much as we already love them.
- The best family Christmas in the last decade. After many years of … upside down Christmases, Hubby and I both truly enjoyed spending time with both sides of our family as well as having more intimate celebrations with our own three boys.
- A new vehicle. I can’t say enough how much I love our GMC Acadia. Not only is it perfect for our family’s needs, it is a truly beautiful machine on the inside and the out. It is the first new vehicle I have ever owned and I feel so blessed to call it my own.
- Miracles and progress on the farm. We went through quite an adventure with moving a whole herd of cattle plus all the machinery last winter and much of this year was spent trying to figure out the new system and farming rhythm here. It wasn’t always easy and it was a steep learning curve but God answered our prayers and we are finally feeling like things are headed in the right direction.
- A church family that completely enveloped my family into their fold. We weren’t able to attend regularly throughout the year (partially due to farm work and partially due to our own fatigue after a long, hard week) but the congregation continually greeted us like we were old friends, with no judgement. It is very exciting to be at a place in our lives when church attendance can become more regular and we are able to leave feeling refreshed in both heart and spirit.
- Growth in my marriage. After 9.5 years of marriage, Hubby and I are closer than we have ever been. It is truly a God-thing to grow closer in spite of the busyness of the last year. Or perhaps it is because of it. I love being on the same page as him when it comes to goals for our family and the farm.
- My own spiritual growth. I’m actually excited to read my Bible. My post partum depression (from after my second son was born) has been defeated. I’m singing in worship again. But most importantly, God has convicted me of the importance of pursuing Him, for both my own sake as well as my family’s.
This year had led our whole family on an adventure of ups and downs and has taught us, once again, that God is in control and the only way to make it through any season of life is to fully rely on Him.
What are some of your favorite memories or blessings of 2013? How are you allowing the lessons you’ve learned in 2013 shape your 2014?
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Time-Warp Wife Ben & Me
by Tessa | Personal Development
The best goal setting book I have ever read is The Power of Focus: What the World’s Greatest Achievers Know about The Secret to Financial Freedom & Success
, by Les Hewitt, Mark Victor Hanson, and Jack Canfield. I have been using the outline in that book for my business and life plan, on and off, since about 2005. I love how it organizes goals into 7 main target areas: financial, business/career, fun time, health/fitness, relationships, personal, contribution/spiritual. I have tried to keep all these areas in mind as I set my goals and figure out my priorities for 2014. I have also tried to keep in mind the different roles that I fill: child of God, wife, mother, homemaker, entrepreneur.
I’m going to admit that I don’t have a personal (or family) vision or mission statement. I’m sure that goal setting would be a lot simpler if I had one. One day I’ll write one up. For now, I’m borrowing an idea that I saw on a blog just over a year ago: a one word yearly theme. 2013 was Peace. My family desperately needed peace and we sought it and managed to maintain it, in spite of the move and new farm set up (and more recently a new baby). We praise the Lord for that!
One word for 2014: Pursue.
Definition: To follow in an effort to overtake or capture.
I have felt called to pursue God in a way that I never have in the past. I also want to teach my children to pursue Him. I want to pursue my husband. I want to pursue my children’s hearts. And I want to pursue my God-given dreams.
My goals will revolve around this theme and be broken down into monthly habits/routines that I want to instigate. I am working on making a plan to apply this in the 7 main target areas of my life and the 5 major roles that I have.
I have been spending a lot of time in prayer about where I’m currently spending my time and effort. Some things I have figured out and other things I am still waiting for guidance on. I’m planning to talk to some mentors in my life (including my husband) to ask their advice in certain areas. Only time and the Lord know how the next year will play out, but I’m excited to enter into it with a clear picture of where my focus will be.
I’m also excited to be sharing this journey of Personal Priorities: 2014 Edition and want to say a big THANK YOU to Tammy from Creative K Kids for organizing this wonderful way to stay accountable to these goals and priorities. Make sure you hop on over to the other blogs participating in the 2014 edition of Personal Priorities.
Grab the button from the sidebar and join me on this journey. Link up the LAST Friday of the month at any of the participating blogs and let’s help each other stay accountable to have an unstoppable 2014!
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by Tessa | Motherhood
In my “blogging through the alphabet series,” I didn’t get my “H” post up last week. I have about two thirds of it written but never got it finished. I’ve been busy. Busy doing nothing. Or, to be more precise, busy doing the most important thing in the world: mothering.
He is about 3 weeks old and has been excellent at keeping me completely and utterly distracted, in the best possible way. I’m completely infatuated with my newborn. A friend told me when I had my second that it’s a good thing I tore during the delivery because it forced me to spend a lot of time just sitting and allowing my body to recover. I understand the importance of that “laying in period” now, more than ever. The delivery was amazing and, except for fatigue and some lingering hip pain from the pregnancy, I felt good as new right after I had him. My husband regularly reminds me that I’ve just had a baby and should be acting accordingly.
How does a new mama need to act?
Sit on the couch and adore your baby. Memorize his hairline, the shape of his eyes, the way he forms his mouth into the sweetest little straight-mouthed smirk when he smiles. Let the laundry sit, unfolded, in baskets and let your other kids run around in pyjamas all day. Eat grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch every day and accept any and all meals that your mom is willing to make for you. Take a break from outside the home commitments and don’t allow guilt to set in for being out of touch with the world and community you are typically involved in. Go to bed early every night and sleep in as long as your baby and other children will let you.
I’ve been truly enjoying the newest addition to my family and my heart could burst with how blessed I feel with the gift of a third son. My other boys practically cheered when they woke up to find that our long-awaited baby was, in fact, another brother. My husband can’t believe that he gets to be the first in his family for like two generations to have more than two sons.
So “hi” to my readers and my online blogging friends and my real life friends. I’m still around and I’m doing well, but I’ve been busy. I planned to upload a picture of my adorable little mister but my software is currently holding my photos ransom. He’s pretty cute.
I’m not sure how “on the ball” I’m going to be the next while with my blog so I’m asking for your patience as I figure out this new life rhythm. Meanwhile, you can subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss a single post.
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