Have you heard of the "One Word" campaign to kick off the new year? There are a variety of different books, blogs, and churches promoting it (each with their own unique spin), but the concept is really quite simple.
Choose one word that defines who you want to be or how you want to live this year. Make it a word that will challenge you, inspire you, and cause you to reflect on how you're living in light of it. No need for outrageous promises or lengthy resolutions; just choose one word.
Tim and I have spent some time going back and forth on what we want our "one word" to be for 2013. We have tried to choose carefully, specifically, and deliberately.
I'm one of those people who likes to write things on my to-d0 list just to check them off; we didn't want to choose a word that way. We didn't want a word that came naturally or without intentional effort and reflection.
We chose the word REMEMBER.
In 2013, we want to remember what God has done for our family. We want to reflect on His goodness, grace, faithfulness, mercy, compassion, and unfailing love each day. When Baby E is home and in our arms for good, we want to remember every prayer and every person who helped get him here.
Choose one word that defines who you want to be or how you want to live this year. Make it a word that will challenge you, inspire you, and cause you to reflect on how you're living in light of it. No need for outrageous promises or lengthy resolutions; just choose one word.
Tim and I have spent some time going back and forth on what we want our "one word" to be for 2013. We have tried to choose carefully, specifically, and deliberately.
I'm one of those people who likes to write things on my to-d0 list just to check them off; we didn't want to choose a word that way. We didn't want a word that came naturally or without intentional effort and reflection.
We chose the word REMEMBER.
In 2013, we want to remember what God has done for our family. We want to reflect on His goodness, grace, faithfulness, mercy, compassion, and unfailing love each day. When Baby E is home and in our arms for good, we want to remember every prayer and every person who helped get him here.
To help us with this, we spent part of our New Year's Eve creating a "Jar of Hearts."
Inside this jar are the names of every person who has played a part in our adoption story since August, 2012. If you left an encouraging note on one of our Facebook walls, your name is in there. If you donated or purchased items from our garage sale, your name is in there. If you ran in the PumpkinFest race, bought a t-shirt, gave a donation for the orphanage, sent a card or letter, brought a meal, made a phone call, prayed with us...your name is in there.
We have also added hearts with the names of precious children from the orphanage, songs that have spoken to our souls, and specific verses that have been meaningful to us throughout this journey.
We are keeping the jar right in the center of our living room, where we won't be able to ignore it.
In 2013, we want to be intentional about living out the following verses that were shared at our wedding and have held deep significance throughout our marriage:
"When the Lord your God brings you into...a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant -- then when you eat and are satisfied,
be careful that you do not forget the Lord."
(Deuteronomy 6: 10-12)
This year, our prayer is that we will not forget the Lord, or a single one of you. We are blessed to be a part of a story that is much greater than ourselves, and we promise to always REMEMBER.
We have also added hearts with the names of precious children from the orphanage, songs that have spoken to our souls, and specific verses that have been meaningful to us throughout this journey.
We are keeping the jar right in the center of our living room, where we won't be able to ignore it.
In 2013, we want to be intentional about living out the following verses that were shared at our wedding and have held deep significance throughout our marriage:
"When the Lord your God brings you into...a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant -- then when you eat and are satisfied,
be careful that you do not forget the Lord."
(Deuteronomy 6: 10-12)
This year, our prayer is that we will not forget the Lord, or a single one of you. We are blessed to be a part of a story that is much greater than ourselves, and we promise to always REMEMBER.