Renewed

2014 is looking good. It's the first New Years in three years that I didn't ring in with a virus, so that's always helpful. More importantly, after a long, chaotic summer and a lot of autumn days that left me feeling flat, weak, helpless, and exhausted (parenting is hard I tell you. HARD.), I feel more refreshed and hopeful than ever. I have energy and faith for the new year. And, as per usual, I have about 9 billion goals and resolutions. One of which is to blog more often.

And.

I have reflected over and over again in the last couple of years that the negative, skeptical voices online seem to outweigh the positive, faith-promoting ones. I am going to try to do my part to help with that imbalance. But that is a scary goal. Not because I'm scared of promoting faith or telling my story. But because I am tender-hearted. I don't do well with confrontation or mean-spirited criticism. I can hardly stand to read hateful comments on any comment thread, let alone MINE. So, will you do me a favor? If you don't have nice things to say, maybe just don't read my posts on faith/religion. And if you don't agree with me, will you at least promise to be gracious and courteous? I will do the same.

With that, here are two things that have been on my mind and in my heart:

1. For Christmas last year, my sister gifted us with a print of Brian Kershisnek's Nativity. (If you have the chance to see the original (BYU Museum of Art), TAKE IT. Breathtaking.) For Christmas this year, my mom had it framed for us. I can't stop looking at it. I adore that Mary is nursing the Christ child and that Joseph looks absolutely overwhelmed. I love the presence of the midwives and the symbolic mother dog and her puppies. I love the bold blue sky. And the angels. Oh, the angels!  I love them--individually and collectively.  I'm going to hang it in my home all year round. Celebrating Jesus isn't a once a year thing for us. I believe God is my Father. And I believe He sent His son to save us.  I believe that makes each human being on this earth my brother or sister. And my job is to love them all.

 2. Yesterday I was in my van a lot. Running errands, schlepping Roger to Kindermusik, etc. Though I'd heard it many times, I listened to an Alison Krauss song, 'There is a Reason,' with new wonder. I played it over and over, until I had it all memorized. I love every word and it sings the feelings in my heart at this time of renewal.
 

Happy New Year, friends!
xoxo
anne