Snow is falling outside my window, “Way Maker” by Leeland is playing from my speaker, the wax melter my sister bought me for Christmas is filling my apartment with a lovely pine scent and I just finished an americano I made with the espresso machine my husband gifted me.
In this moment, I am at peace. I am full of gratitude.
The New Year looms ahead and if I think about it too much, it can be overwhelming. So instead of writing a post which includes goals and resolutions for 2023, today I am reflecting on everything I learned and shared in 2022- including the top 3 blog posts and poems I wrote and the top 3 books I read.
-TOP THREE BLOG POSTS-
A reflection on why Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven belongs not to priests, not to prophets, but to children and what we can learn from the little ones who not only depend, but DREAM.
A look at the refining work of wildland fires and how the flames that hurt you could be the flames that heal you.
My most controversial blog post of the year… strangely these posts are the ones that always do the best, even though they are the hardest for me to write and share. A letter to the church, my fellow prolife Christians- warning them that standing against something is very different than standing for something.
My thoughts on why being pro-life is so much more than being anti-death.
-TOP THREE POEMS-
- “They Said”
A poem on young love, based on my relationship with my husband. - Sonnet Ten
The final installment of my “Ten Sonnets to Springtime” and definitely my favorite of them all. A peek into what the morning of Jesus’ resurrection may have been like and what that means for us. - Early Winter
I received so much great feedback on this poem! Words we can all relate to- the feeling of unreadiness we experience when a season comes too early.
-TOP THREE BOOKS-
The story of a recent college grad suffering from an eating disorder and her upended faith, who decides to do the unthinkable and thru hike from Michigan all the way to Mt. Rainier. This book broke my heart, and pieced it back together. As Mel journeyed from Michigan to Mount Rainier, I journeyed too- laughing with her, crying with her and rediscovering as she did- that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness sake, will be filled.
Set on the coastline of the PNW, this series follows a band of misfit friends turned family who unravels a mystery that leads them- and draws you- into the adventure of a lifetime! I had the immense privilege of beta reading these books and even in their early stages these Hardy-Boys meets Indiana Jones adventure novels blew me away with their carefully crafted balance between drama, suspense, friendship and fun!
Inspired by the honest conversations that took place between her and her great grandson, Lily, 98 years old, recounts the painful events leading up to, during, and after her time as a prisoner in Auschwitz.
Though most of the chapters are written by Lily, her great grandson also contributes his thoughts which gives the book a unique, multi generational perspective on how the Holocaust has affected our world, and continues to affect it.
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And that’s a wrap! So grateful for the journey we’ve taken this year, the thoughts we’ve wrestled with and the truths we’ve absorbed from God’s word. This next week as you see and hear everyone sharing their goals and resolutions- instead of being overwhelmed with all you need to do in the New Year, I pray you can simply rest and reflect on all God has already done in the current one.
If, however, you were hoping for a more “New Years” themed post- check out the one I wrote last year titled– “New Year, Less Me.”
Happy New Year! Thank you for YOUR continued support and encouragement in 2022!
