2015.

I feel like there's a lot of 'pressure' to pick the right word - or phrase - for an entire year.

One word to focus on... to strive for... to remind yourself of.

I've spent the last 19(ish) days praying and seeking the Lord for our upcoming year, anticipating some really great things that may happen, and battling the fear that can take over as I wonder about the unknowns. There's bound to be some hurt... bound to be some joy... and in everything, I want to continue to press into HIM knowing that He is good.

Listening to Spotify while cooking dinner a couple days ago, the song "It Is Well" [by Bethel] came on and suddenly hot tears were streaming down my cheeks. Which got me thinking about the old hymn:

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way..." [Isaiah 66:12]

"When sorrows like sea billows roll..." [Psalm 42:7]

"WHATEVER my lot, thou has taught me to say... 

It is well, It is well, with my soul."
[James 1:2-4 and Philippians 4:6-7]

May that ring true in my heart and life for 2015.

WHATEVER my lot ... in good and bad ... WHATEVER may come.

It is well, It is well, with my soul.

2014 recap!

Mostly for my own memory sake, since I did such a horrible job of blogging last year...

Some highlights from 2014!

JANUARY!
Visited friends in Great Bend
Painted (almost) the entire house
Trips to the park
Out with my family to celebrate my birthday!

FEBRUARY
Jaxon turned 5... Monster Jam / Lego birthday party!
Snow days
Went to Colorado Springs with Tyler for work

MARCH

Columbia & Tulip Time in Pella

In hospital for stomach pain

Traveled to MN for a wedding

Boys took swimming lessons

Jaxon started soccer 

APRIL

Hosted Easter at our house

Girls weekend to Galena, IL (the best!!!!) 

Dinner with siblings

MAY

Moms Garage sale / Tulip Time in Pella

Mothers Day

Gma Nancy & Kallie visited

JUNE

Strawberry Picking

Jason moved in

Fathers Day 

Days at Zani's began

Pool days & Drive in Theatre

JULY
Canoe weekend
Celebrated 9 YEARS!
Jaxon fractured his wrist
FLORIDA vacation!!!!

AUGUST

Cohen got a concussion

Trip to Great Bend

Painted at Chad & Kaela's

1st Day of Kindergarten for Jaxon

Flag Football begins

Bike trip with Mom & Dad

SEPTEMBER
Staycation at Great Wolf Lodge
House projects!
Tyler traveled to Italy for 2 weeks
Mom & Dad visited for Moms birthday

OCTOBER

High School 10 year reunion

Campfires with friends

Cohen turned 4 - "Camping" birthday party

Halloween

Nana & Papa visited

NOVEMBER

Flag football ended

Fall Festival

"Carmichael Experience"

First snow

To Iowa for Thanksgiving

DECEMBER

Christmas Season began

Lego Advent with the boys

Childrens Musical

Surprise date night

Progressive Dinner

Snow!!

Christmas with my family

Hosted Tylers family

Praising the Lord for his faithfulness this year... it was a year full of
JOY
LAUGHTER
MEMORIES
PROVISION
FAMILY & FRIENDS
TRAVEL
UNCERTAINTY
PEACE

And here's hoping I do a better job of keeping up with this space going forward. :)

Happy 2015!

THE most wonderful time of the year.

I'm feeling a little bit "blue" today and couldn't quite put my finger on it, until I realized this is a yearly thing for me. The Christmas season is over... a new year has begun... yet I find myself still wishing there was a rewind button to re-do the last 4 weeks. 

December 1st came and Tyler took the day off of work... we had just gotten home from a trip to Iowa the night before and he decided to use a vacation day to recover. We had breakfast and prayed together, kicking off the Advent season the right way. The rest of the day we spent decorating for Christmas... we went and picked out a tree, the boys picked out their ornaments, and our favorite season was underway.

Other highlights from December include...

We really had one of the most meaningful Christmas' I can remember this year, and I think the reason for it was our time spent focusing on Advent with the boys. We talked a lot about WHY we celebrate Christmas... such a treat for a parent to feel like their kids are really starting to 'get' it. 

Each morning we read our Advent devotional, followed by prayer, and then the boys took turns opening a 'set' from the Lego Advent calendar. So much fun! 

The Tuesday before Christmas we left for my parents house... it was our year to spend Christmas with my side, and as always, it was an amazing and meaningful time spent with them. 

We always laugh A LOT... eat so much goodness... and play games until wee early hours of the morning. 

The boys were worried about Santa knowing they were at Grandpa & Grandma's, but good ole Santa... he knows everything. :)

Christmas morning with my boys!

Later that day we went hiking... it wasn't a white Christmas, but still a beautiful one. Felt so good to be outdoors!

We came home and geared up for Christmas with Tyler's family... they drove down from Iowa and spent 5 days with us! It was so fun for me to host and have a reason to decorate a table, ha! It's the little things in life, people!

We spent our days enjoying each others company... playing games, relaxing, and of course eating way too many sweets! 

So grateful for our families and the relationships we have... the memories made... and most of all, the gift that was given to us 2000 years ago. Such hope we find in HIM!

Hope your Christmas season was just as amazing!