EDIT: can you believe i misspelled "not".. ugh
2013 has been one of the most difficult years for our family. i haven't blogged since april due to a number of reasons.... but mainly, life just got really tough and exhausting and blogging was the last thing on my mind.
i am not one to divulge a bunch of messy, family details for the WWW to see, so lets just say, it's been an EXTREMELY difficult, life-changing, depressing, at times, but joyful year. i have learned a TON over the past 6 months or so. rejoicing in the happy times AND the trials has never been so difficult. many times, i found myself wanting to cross-over into the pit of self-pitty and wallow in my anger and frustration.... but with a lot of prayer, my awesome husband and family by my side (and talking myself down a few times!), i thankfully did not go down that path.
God must have been preparing me for this year for a LONG time. He knew that the most difficult challenge for me was remembering to have grace through it all. late last year, i had felt so compelled by the idea of grace that i had this tattoo done on my forearm as a reminder... {by the way, it was done by the best tattoo artist around, reed mather at lake monster tattoo in tahoe}
little did i know how handy that reminder would be this year. this verse has been a constant for months, just lingering and gently reminding me that i am guilty of many sins... BUT i am saved by grace... SO, i need to have grace for others.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
most of the issues were not or our own doing, personally. not to say we are EVER without fault in life, but in this case, the issues at hand had to do with others very close to us, which effected us greatly. the fact that God has grace on me... ME, who does not deserve it in any way, shape or form, has humbled me. the fact that He forgives me when i don't deserve to be forgiven, humbles me. the fact that He loves me through all of it, humbles me. so, i had to ask myself, "what right do i EVER have to NOT forgive all of the things that have happened this year or any time, and not to show love to anyone i feel may have wronged me?". my goal is to love others as God loves me and to show grace to others as He has shown me. this year has tested and strengthened me. it has been all at once, awful AND awesome and i am so thankful for all of it. maybe, one day, i will be able to help someone else going through the same challenges because of what i have gone through. i have seen this happen time and time again in my life and i hope it continues.
it has been a long road to grace and forgiveness, that continues as i type this. i am far from being able to say that i have completely forgiven everything, or that i am able to show grace at all times. but i am working on it wholeheartedly and with a lot of joy in my heart. the fact that i have been able to keep my joy is a miracle and i am so, so thankful for that.
the year was not all doom and gloom, either. we had family weddings, engagements, short trips and lots of beach days. little buddy played baseball and soccer and joined the "young thespians" group in our community. we've also been blessed with friendships that have grown for, not only myself, but for our son and my husband as well. we've been able to spend more time with family that we once hardly even knew. business has been slower than normal, but it has given me extra time to spend with the little guy. so, although the year had some very tough times, there was a lot of good mixed in too!
...and that's all i've got for todays "deep thoughts"! now on to some totally shallow and non-important topics :)
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i am so excited to be celebrating the holiday season and looking forward to a new year ahead... no matter what it brings! i will be trying to share some of what i am doing around here over the next few weeks. recipes, craftiness and items from my etsy shop. since most of you reading are either family or friends, let me know if there are any recipes or crafty things you would like for me to share.
as you can see from the photo, elfie was a little late this year.... he was..uh, a little.... lost... i know, BAD MOM! yep, i hid him so well last year that i couldn't find him.... for 2 days! but all is well in christmas land and elfie is up to his shenannigans again.
in the pinkcherymama shop, my days have been filled with making snowflakes and christmas toppers! they hit pinterest and i got a flood of orders! most recently, i provided some to a big company who will be doing an online feature of a party using my toppers. so i am really excited to share once i have the details!
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i feel like winter took it's time this year. but finally the snow fell... it got REALLY cold... and i am LOVING it!
the chilly weather came just in time for the annual christmas tree lighting in our town... and it was soooo cold!!!! i couldn't even get a decent photo :( little buddys choir sung carols and then we got the heck out of there...
like everything else this year, i was late getting my christmas decorations up, well most of them :) with the help of little buddy...
and an old mixed-tape of mine that big daddy found, we got most of it done in an afternoon. don't judge my mix-tape. you know you loved some doug e fresh back in the day!
oh and, yep, i do let my son climb on top of the furniture, much to my mother's dismay..... pick your battles, i say!
*no children were harmed during the decorating of this house*
i'll be writing again this week.... probably..... maybe... most likely... with some recipes and more photos of my super tacky, colorful christmas decorations! woohoo! so until then, i hope you are staying warm and cozy and full of tacky christmas cheer ;P
