December Gratefulgrams

"Far from what I once was but not yet what I'm going to be." {Unknown}

Happy 2015!

It's so incredible to look back, over the weeks, months & year to see how the Lord has led, directed & worked through our lives. In the span of just 5 months, Dean & I found out we were pregnant (August), celebrated our 1-year anniversary early in Canada (September), decided not to renew our townhome lease (October), began the job search (October), slept in a hotel/friend's basement/apartment/on a pull-out couch (November-December), traveled to visit different companies (November), accepted an offer (November), said good-bye to our church community & friends (December) & moved into a new little rental home in Columbia, SC (December).

We are thrilled to have this opportunity for newness - a new location, a new job, a new season of life. Like Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:1-3, 11, "There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born ... a time to uproot... He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

Here's to living each day of the year in light of God's mercies, which are new each morning!

1. A place to keep all my prayers #Vmpjournals/ 2. Sunrise + photography + beautiful friend / 3. An incredibly (bitter)sweet farewell from my SG ladies / 4. Sharing the news about #MyFairweatherBaby / 5. Hosting our very first Christmas / 6. Capturing moments like this of my amazing sister

October Gratefulgrams

"Don't dig up in doubt what you planted in faith." {Elisabeth Elliot}

Can you believe it's already November? It seems that many people say that each time a new season of the year rolls around. As my husband reminded me the other day: The days are long but the years fly by.

I want to make the most of each day & season of life the Lord gives me, not waiting for tomorrow or next year to make it count for His kingdom. So here's not to living for the next thing on your agenda but the right now, what God has currently placed in front of you/where He has placed you, for such a time as this.

1. Feeling the crunch of newly fallen leaves under my boots. / 2. Adventuring with Hubby / 3. Photo op at a historic kissing bridge / 4. Beautiful fall-inspired cookies / 5. New dining gems in the neighborhood / 6. Cheers to Hubby's birthday!

September Gratefulgrams

"God is using your present circumstances to make you
more useful for later roles in His unfolding story." {Louie Giglio}

Embrace the place, position & plan God has for your life. We can only see a step at a time but He know the direction He wants to take you. Living a life of trust means praising Him now in the storms or the desert as well as in the times of harvest & on the mountaintops.

1. I love getting dressed up & spending an evening with this guy / 2. A gorgeous cake from on talented baker friend / 3. Celebrating 1 year of marriage with our good friends Steve & Bekah / 4. Capturing pretty light is the beeeest / 5. Charlie & Laura say I do!!

August Gratefulgrams

Summer may be officially over but as a state of mind, the season is definitely still going strong :) In the same way, gratitude is definitely an intentional choice we make. Just yesterday I was fretting about life to Hubby & all the while, God has blessed us tremendously with so much. In those moments of frustration, comparison & uncertainty, it's His face I want to seek & His name I want to praise. Through it all, it is well with my soul.

1. Cozy afternoon corner in Montreal / 2. Soaking up the last water days of summer / 3. Fun with adorable cousins / 4. New dog friends / 5. A beautiful photo of love

July Gratefulgrams

"You are the Rock on which I stand.
By Your grace, it is well.
My hope is sure in Christ my Savior
It is well with my soul." {Hillsong Live}

Earlier this month, Mike Kelsey preached on idolatry at our campus & how we were created to worship our Creator, & yet we often manufacture other idols in our hearts to bow to instead. Idols that can't handle our worship or devotion.

He put it like this: When we don't believe God is truly sufficient, we try to take matters into our own hands & often times take good things & elevate them to be God things. Check out Isaiah 44 & Jeremiah 2 to read about the Israelites' problem with idolatry.

In light of our worship problem, Mike challenged our congregation to live our lives, every day, by the following truth: Everything I need for fullness of life is already available to me through Jesus Christ.

Everything! He is the Bread of Life, the Living Water & our all in all. Only Our God deserves our life-consuming devotion. He is the one we should lift up in our hearts & sing praises from our lips, from now into eternity. I don't need or deserve anything more & I'm beyond grateful that He does give good gifts to us as His children that are constant reminders of His provision.

1. Patriotic celebrating / 2. Frolicking in God's creation / 3. Outdoor summer nights / 4. Time with our adorable nieces & nephew / 5. YUM. Hubby & the ice cream / 6. Silly family photos