One Little Word 2017

I was scrolling through Facebook a few weeks ago and this ad stopped me in my tracks. I hadn't even started thinking about my One Little Word (OLW) for 2017. But as soon as I saw this hand painted sign, I just KNEW that this was my word for 2017. It's funny how this process goes each year. Some years I have to really do some soul searching to find my OLW, and other years the word finds me.

There are A LOT of great quotes about my OLW. A few of my favorites are:

I'm excited to delve into this word, it's significance in my life this year, and what beginnings are in store for me. Let's BEGIN!

One Little Word 2016

It's hard to believe that it's been EIGHT years since I started picking One Little Word (idea from Ali Edwards) each year.  If you've read my blog for very long, then you know that I consider the word "goal" a bad 4 letter word! But, picking just one word each year to focus on works great for me.  Here is my list of words from the past 8 years.

2008:  HAPPINESS
2009:  CHANGE
2010:  ACCEPTANCE
2011: WALK ON THE WATER TOO
2012: HOPE
2013: IN

2014: LIGHT
2015: LOVE

There is no link to click on for 2015, b/c I never did a blog post at the beginning of the year like I usually do for my OLW. I wasn't quite sure if that was the word I was going to pick for the year but another one never found me so love just stuck by default. I didn't find the love of my life like I had hoped I would, but Nick did! But, 2015 was still full of lots of types of other love. And as Grandpa Jay said, "all that matter is LOVE."

For this year, I was thinking about the word WHOLE. However, one day I was reading a blog post and on the sidebar of the blog I saw a link for an article called, "Are You A Fountain Or A Drain?" I clicked on the link and as I started reading the blog post, I knew I had found my one little word (or phrase) for 2016! It just spoke to my soul. Especially this part:

" If people only knew how much more effective they could be at life if they just learned this one lesson; 'magnify the good in life, and laugh away the bad.' The question you need to ask yourself is; 'are you a fountain or a drain'? A drain sits in the dark, always trying to hide but always taking, taking, taking whereas the fountain is always springing up for all to see. Kids and adults flock to fountains almost automatically and are refreshed by its life giving qualities."

I always like for my OLW to have lots of "layers" or meanings to it. As I poured myself into learning more about this phrase I found that the person who coined the phrase "Be a fountain, not a drain," is Rex Hudler, a Major League Baseball player & TV commentator. There are real life applications as well as deep spiritual applications. I am very critical & demanding of others, and I need to bring life and light and positive energy to situations instead of draining the joy out of them.

Since I like to put a positive spin on things, I thought of how I could use "drain" in a positive way. I figured that I can "drain" negative things out of my life such as pride, jealousy, loneliness, etc. I found a quote that said, "Find your fountains and dump your drains!"

I like one of the thoughts I read which said, "In order to be a fountain you must be tapped into the source." In order to be an effective mother, friend, Young Women's president, etc. I have to be tapped into the "fountain of living waters." ~ Jeremiah 2:13. That's why I try to attend the temple as often as I can. I found this quote which I love:

"As at Jacob’s well, so today the Lord JesusChrist is the only source of living water. It will quench the thirst of thosesuffering from the drought of divine truth that so afflicts the world. Thewords of the Lord to ancient Israel spoken by the prophet Jeremiah describe thecondition of many of God’s children in our own day: “My people … have forsakenme the fountain of livingwaters, and hewed them out … broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” Toomany of our Heavenly Father’s children spend their precious lives carving outbroken cisterns of worldly gain that cannot hold the living water thatsatisfies fully their natural thirst for everlasting truth." ~Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

I also like for my OLW to have a song to go along with it, b/c music is so powerful and it helps to remind me throughout the year what my OLW is. This year my song is "Come Thou FOUNT." The words of the song are so fitting and perfect:

Come thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by thy help I come
And I hope by thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home

Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above

Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above

O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee

Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above

 I've already had several opportunities to use this phrase. When I feel myself getting frustrated w/ Autumn I pause and remind myself to "be a fountain, not a drain." When I'm driving and someone cuts me off I remind myself, "be a fountain, not a drain." When I feel sorry for myself, when I want to take the easy route, etc. There are so many ways to use this phrase to bless my life and the lives of others each and every single day.

I even told the Young Women that this is my OLW for the year, so they can hold me accountable and gently remind me to not be a drain if I'm acting that way. One site I read simplified it even further by saying, "Happies vs crappies." LOL! I'm excited to see where this OLW for the year takes me.

One Little Word 2014

I am still LOVING picking One Little Word (idea from Ali Edwards) each year.  I’m not a big fan of long lists of goals and resolutions, so focusing on just one word each year is right up my alley.  Here is my list of words from the past 6 years.

2008:  HAPPINESS
2009:  CHANGE
2010:  ACCEPTANCE
2011: WALK ON THE WATER TOO
2012: HOPE
2013: IN

I didn’t do very much w/ my 2013 word as far as focusing it & consciously seeking it out.  I didn’t fall IN love, I didn’t get IN shape, etc.  But, I do feel so grateful that I went INto the temple in the 2nd half of the year & that I felt INspiration there.  I also got to meet Becky Higgins IN person, which I never could have anticipated would happen.  Overall, 2013 was a great year.

For 2014, the word “LIGHT” kind of found me.  I was preparing a lesson for Young Women’s back in November and I found this picture of the La Jument lighthouse by Jean Guichard, and it just spoke to my soul.  It’s a series of 7 pictures that Jean Guichard captured.  The story goes as follows according to Wikipedia:

“The waves smashed through the lower windows of the lighthouse, ripped the front door, flooded the tower and washed away the furniture. Lighthouse keeper Théodore Malgorn decided to take refuge up in the lantern room while waiting to be rescued.

About the same time, photographer Jean Guichard was in Lorient hiring a helicopter to take aerial pictures of the storm. Guichard wanted to fly over the Iroise Sea despite extremely dangerous flying conditions.

The helicopter made it to La Jument and hovered around for Guichard to take shots of the waves pounding the lighthouse. Inside the tower, Théodore Malgorn heard what he thought was his rescue helicopter and hurried downstairs to open the door.

At that very moment, a giant wave rose over the rear of the lighthouse and Guichard took his world-famous shots as the wave smashed against the tower. Théodore Malgorn, suddenly realizing that a giant wave was about to engulf the structure, rushed back inside just in time to save his life.”

In the past few years, I’ve tried to have a picture, a scripture, and a song that go along with my OLW.  This year I have 2 scriptures …

D&C 88:11 “And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;”

&

D&C 50:24 “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”

This year my song is, “A Light On A Hill” by Jenny Phillips (click on the link to listen to the song).

You are just one light in the darkness
Traveling by faith
But just one light
Is hope to the ones who've lost their way

[Chorus]
You are a light on a hill
It cannot be hidden
Cannot be still
Sharing His light
'Til the whole world is filled
You are a light on a hill

In a world that's lost and lonely
Heaven works through you
Bringing hope to those who are searching
For the truth

[Chorus]

Father rejoices on high
For the beauty that fills up your life
In all that you do
You have been true
And others can see Him through you

[Chorus]

This year I want to be so full of the light of Christ that I shine.  It reminds me of a great talk by Elaine S. Dalton entitled, “Now Is The Time To Arise & Shine!”  I love this part in the talk:

“When our daughter, Emi, was a little girl, she liked to watch my every move as I got ready for church. After observing my routine, she would comb her hair and put on her dress, and then she would always ask me to put on some “shiney.” The “shiney” she referred to was thick, gooey cream that I used to prevent wrinkles. As requested, I would put it on Emi’s cheeks and lips, and she would then smile and say, “Now we are ready to go!” What Emi didn’t realize is that she already had her “shiney” on. Her face glowed because she was so pure and innocent and good. She had the Spirit with her, and it showed.

I wish every young woman assembled here tonight would know and understand that your beauty—your “shine”—does not lie in makeup, gooey cream, or the latest clothing or hairstyles. It lies in your personal purity. When you live the standards and qualify for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, you can have a powerful impact in the world. Your example, even the light in your eyes, will influence others who see your “shine,” and they will want to be like you. Where do you get this light? The Lord is the light, “and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.” A divine light comes into your eyes and countenances when you draw close to your Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. That’s how we get the “shiney”!”

I also read a blog post from Glennon Melton and I love what she says:

“Beautiful means “full of beauty.” Beautiful is not about the appearance of your outsides- beautiful is about what you’re made of. Beautiful women are women who spend time discovering what they love – what sings to them –what their idea of beauty on this Earth is. Then they make time each day to fill themselves up with that beauty. They know themselves well enough to know what they love (for me it’s Project Life), and they love themselves enough to fill up with a little of their particular kind of beauty each day.”

So, I guess my focus this year will be on improving myself, and letting that light shine.  I plan on doing that by going to the temple more, being better about reading scriptures, and just improving my relationship w/ my Heavenly Father & Savior.  As a by product of that, I hope that I can be a positive influence & a force for good in the world.  I’m really looking forward to what 2014 brings and how my OLW will manifest itself in my life.

One Little Word 2013

I am still LOVING picking One Little Word (idea from Ali Edwards) each year.  I’m not a big fan of long lists of goals and resolutions, so focusing on just one word each year is right up my alley.  Here is my list of words from the past 5 years.

2008:  HAPPINESS
2009:  CHANGE
2010:  ACCEPTANCE
2011: WALK ON THE WATER TOO
2012: HOPE

 My word for this year found me, like it usually does.  I went through a huge list of words to try and find one that felt right.  I even created a Pinterest board for some different words I was throwing around.  I like my word to have a spiritual meaning, along with a scripture.  My word for 2013 is “IN”.  And it just so happens when I was looking for a scripture to go along with it, that I noticed the word IN is part of the 2013 Young Men/Women theme!  “Stand ye IN holy places, and be not moved…” Perfect.  So this is my scripture for the year.  The word “IN” will have lots of applications in my life this year.  Here is a list I put together:

In a relationship/In love
In shape
Include
Increase
Incredible
Increase
Incredible
Individual
Infinite possibilities
Influence
Information
Ingenuity
Inherit
Initiative
Input
Inquire
Insight
Inspiration
Instead
Instill
Instinct
Instruct
Integral
Integrity
Intelligence
Intent/Intention
Interest
Internal
International
Interpret
Intersect
Into
Introspection
Intuition
Invest
Involved
Inward

I’m excited about all the different applications that this word can have IN my life for 2013.  If you picked a word for 2013, feel free to share w/ me what it is.  I love hearing what other people are going to focus on for the year!

One Little Word 2012

Ever since 2008 (I can hardly believe it will be 4 years since I started doing this) I have followed the example of Ali Edwards and picked one word to focus on for the year.  I am NOT a goal making person, and have always hated making New Year’s Resolutions.  But, the idea of One Little Word resonated with me when I first read about it back in 2008 and ever since then, I have picked a word every year to focus on.  I think it will be so neat to look back 10 and 20 and 30 years down the road from now and see my list of words for every year and relive why I chose that word and how it helped me through that year.

2008:  HAPPINESS
2009:  CHANGE
2010:  ACCEPTANCE
2011: WALK ON THE WATER TOO

Before I talk about my word for 2012, I wanted to do a review of my 2011 word/phrase.  The phrase Walk On The Water Too chose me and came from the song by Britt Nicole’s and also one of my favorite stories in the New Testament of Peter walking on water. I know I totally flaked out ½ way through the year of posting updates about my OLW, and that I didn’t really focus on it a lot.  I have to admit that part of the reason I didn’t follow through w/ posting something every month about my phrase like I had planned, was b/c I couldn’t express my thoughts very eloquently.  I attribute a lot of that to the fact that I tend to blog at night when I’m tired and I have the TV on, which just adds to the distraction.  I had so many great thoughts in my head about my OLW but couldn’t get those to translate into written word on my blog.

So even though I didn’t do a lot with my OLW for the year, I do have to say that it was always there in the back of my mind and the David Bowman picture on my dresser was a subconscious daily reminder of it. I feel like there were a lot of times this year where I had to let go of my “boat” or comfort zone, have faith, and take steps towards the Savior.  I think b/c I was aware of it and had it on my mind, I also noticed lots of faith and miracles happen in the lives of people around me as well.  My OLW for 2011 was perfectly suited for me and did help to shape my life.

Anyways, onto 2012…I was a little stressed and surprised to find out that 2 weeks ago that Ali had already picked her word and was starting to compile the list of words people are choosing for 2012.  I wanted my word to be included in that list, so I started searching for my word.  Usually, I like to let my word pick me (like it did last year) and not feel pressured or rushed to find my word b/c then I worry that it won’t be a right fit.  But, my word found me and I have been able to do a lot of searching on the internet for ideas and pictures and quotes that will help me to focus on my word all year and inspire me.  My word for 2012 is:

 

H.O.P.E.

Originally I passed over the word hope b/c I felt that it wasn’t an action word.  It was just a passive word and didn’t carry any action behind it (kind of like my worry about originally using the word Acceptance in 2010).  For example, “I hope that I get married this year,” or “I hope I lose some weight.”  Those are both things that I am focusing on for 2012, but I didn’t want them to be passive things.  I can hope for those things to happen all I want, but if I don’t put any action behind it then nothing will come of that hope.  But, if you notice…I didn’t just use the word hope.  I have a dot in between each letter b/c I am going to focus on h.o.p.e as an acronym.  I went to THIS website to look up acronyms for the word hope and was pleasantly surprised to see that there are 689 H.O.P.E. acronyms.  I took the time to read through each and every one and copied and pasted my favorite ones into a word document.  Then I went through that list of 55 and narrowed it down to my top 14 favorite.  Here they are in no particular order:

*Heart Open, Please Enter
*Highlights Of Personal Experience
(recording and documenting with Project Life)
*Hope, Opportunity, Purpose & Encouragement
*Harnessing Optimism and Potential Everyday
*Healthiness Offers Peaceful Enjoyment
*Hearing Other Peoples’ Experiences
*Honest Open Positive Environment
*Harvesting Our Personal Efforts
*Having Other Possibilities Exist
*Hoping On, Pray Expectantly
*Healing Our Past Experiences
*Hold Onto Prayer Everyday
*Hang On, Possibilities Exist
*Hang On, Peace Exists

I just noticed, and really like, how this list kind of makes the shape of a jar. 
I imagine that inside that jar are all the joys, sorrows, accomplishments, trials, memories and events that 2012 has in store for me.

Last year I was able to find a song,  artwork, and a spiritual reference that went along w/ my OLW.  I really loved having those audio, visual, and spiritual reminders throughout the year.  I am thrilled that I am able to do the same for this year.  Below are 4 different pieces of artwork that I was able to find on etsy.com.  I am having a hard time deciding which picture I want to purchase to have as my visual reminder.  I am glad that 3 of the ones I chose all use the same scripture (to use as my spiritual reference) of Jeremiah 29:11.  This particular version of the scripture is from the NIV instead of the King James Bible.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the

 LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm

you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

Picture from HERE

Picture from HERE

Picture from HERE

Picture from HERE

Which one do y’all like the best?

Then, for the song I of course had to pick “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack.  Ever since that song came out back in 2000 (has it really been that long???) it has been one of my favorite songs.  The message behind it is so powerful and it always makes me teary-eyed.

I HOPE You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
Don't let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)

I am tickled pink that I was able to find a spiritual reference, picture, and anthem for my new word for a new year.  I always like to look back at all that has transpired over the past 12 months and wonder what will take place in the next 12 months.  Time seems to just be flying by for me.  When I moved back to Texas, which doesn’t seem that long ago Autumn was 5 months old.  Then I blinked my eyes a few times and all of a sudden she will be 5 years old this month!  Just a good reminder at the start of this new year to “never take one single breath for granted,” and to make the most of “Harvesting Our Personal Efforts.”

HAPPY 2012!!!

One Little Word

For those of you who don’t know what the One Little Word (OLW) is all about, you can read about it here on Ali Edward’s blog. 
My word for 2008 was “Happiness”.
My word for 2009 was “Change”.
My word for 2010 was “Acceptance”.

I have been thinking for the past few weeks about what my word for 2011 should be.  Usually my word just comes to me and picks me, I don’t really pick it.  Here are some words that I thought about picking, but none of them really jumped out to me:

purpose
talent
possibilities
intentional
try
celebrate
stretch
memories
growth
future/forward

Today on my way home from breakfast w/ Mou, I was listening to a CD that I had made a few months ago.  Usually I just listen to 4 of the songs on the CD, but for some reason this time I started in the middle and decided to listen to all of the songs.  When song #15 on my self-made CD came on, tears instantly formed in my eyes and started rolling down my cheeks.  And at that point, I knew I had found my word (actually it’s a phrase) for 2011….

WALK ON THE WATER TOO

You look around and staring back at you
Another wave of doubt will pull you under
You wonder
What if I'm overtaken?
What if I never make it?
What if no one's there?
Will you hear my prayer?
When you take that first step
Into the unknown
You know that He won't let you go

So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities
They try to hold to (I thought she said “alter”, which is also fitting) you
But you know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes
And you can walk on the water too

So get out and let your fear fall to the ground
No time to waste, don't wait
And don't you turn around, and miss out on
Everything you were made for
Gotta be, I know you're not sure, more
So you play it safe, you try to run away
If you take that first step
Into the unknown
He won't let you go

So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities
They try to hold to you
But you know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes
And you can walk on the water too

Step out even when it's storming
Step out even when you're broken
Step out even when your heart is telling you, telling you to give up
Step out even when your hope is stolen
Step out you can't see where you're going
Don't have to be afraid
So what are you waiting what are you waiting for?

So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities
They try to hold to you
But you know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes
And you can walk on the water too

I first heard this song when it was on the Biggest Loser last season and I fell in love with it right away and bought it on iTunes.  I’ve listened to it quite a few times since then, but it’s never had that type of impact on me before.

At first I thought there is no way I can use the phrase “walk on water” as my focus for 2011, b/c when most people use that phrase they use it in a negative way. Such as, “she’s so full of herself she thinks she can walk on water.” But when I add the words “the” and “too”, it completely changes the meaning (at least for me it does).

I of course looked up everything I could on the internet about the phrase, and I found a clip of Britt Nicole explaining the meaning behind the song.  It’s about when Peter asks Christ if he can walk on the water, just like Christ was doing.  I never meant for my phrase to get all spiritual and turn into a Sunday School lesson, but it kind of evolved into that on its own with the more research I did, so I went with it.

There are so many good things in the 13 verses that describe what happened, and so I am going to dissect each verse over the course of the year b/c it’s just way too much to put into one blog post. Plus, that way it will help me to stay focused on my OLW for the whole year.

As I looked on the internet, I found the picture below by David Bowman on his website and I LOVE the picture and it meant even more when I read what he wrote about the picture (see below).

Come.
One simple word spoken to Peter when he asked if he, too, could walk on the water with Christ (Matthew 14). Jesus invited his friend to Come. Come and do the impossible. And the amazing thing is ... Peter did it! He actually walked on water! This piece captures that poignant moment between these two men: Jesus encouraging Peter, hand out-stretched, smiling at the faith of his disciple. Peter determined, full of trust, his eyes completely focused on the Master. In our lives, we have times when we are asked to “do the impossible” so to speak. Bear a burden, weather a trial, overcome an addiction, wage our personal wars. Christ reminds us that ALL things are possible when we keep our eyes and our hearts focused on Him.
Simply ... Come.

For those who may not be religious, my phrase for this year means that no matter what comes my way, I am going to have the courage to face it. It’s about getting out of my comfort zone and taking risks and embracing new challenges and conquering fear.  I am so excited to have such a powerful and moving thing to focus on for this year.

What is your word (or phrase) for 2011?

My Word For 2010

Thanks to Ali Edwards, I have made it a tradition to pick a new word to focus on every year. The past two years, I have picked my word for the year, (2008 was Happiness and 2009 was Change) but this year…my word picked me! I had been thinking about what I want my word for 2010 to be for the past few days, but hadn’t come up with anything. Then last night when I was laying in bed, one word kept coming into my mind over and over. My word for 2010 is:

ACCEPTANCE

DEFINITION OF ACCEPTANCE:
1. the act of taking or receiving something offered.
2. favorable reception; approval; favor.
3. the act of assenting or believing: acceptance of a theory.
4. the fact or state of being accepted or acceptable.

To be perfectly honest, that word kind of scares me. The first thing that came to my mind about the word acceptance was that it has a little bit of a negative connotation…as if bad things are going to happen to me this year and I won’t be able to do anything about them and will just have to accept them. But at the same time, acceptance can be a good word. It just depends on if I look at acceptance as being defeated by something or the positive spin would be to willingly accept something and being at peace w/ it. I am going to try and look at the word acceptance as a powerful and action word…as in, I get to accept certain things into my life or not. I get to accept what I allow to be a part of my life and accept what I allow to influence me. It definitely makes me curious to know what I’m going to accept in the year 2010.

Acceptance of some major changes?

Acceptance of a marriage proposal?

Accepting myself for who I am?

Accepting the faults of myself and others without being judgmental?

Accepting (and being grateful for) all the blessings the Lord has and will give me?

The realm of possibilities for what the word acceptance can me for me in 2010 are limitless.

WHAT IS YOUR WORD FOR 2010???

My Word For 2009

While I was putting that previous post together, my word for 2009 just came to me.  That was pretty fast, b/c I was thinking it was going to take a couple of days.  My word for 2009 is:

CHANGE

Definition of Change:
1. The act, process, or result of altering or modifying: a change in facial expression.
2. The replacing of one thing for another; substitution: a change of atmosphere; a change of ownership.
3. A transformation or transition from one state, condition, or phase to another: the change of seasons.
4. Something different; variety: ate early for a change.
5. A different or fresh set of clothing. 

The change I am talking about is a personal change.  I want to change how I eat.  I want to change how often I exercise.  I want to change my attitude.  I want to change how late I go to bed.  I want to change some things in my social life.  I want to change my spiritual life.  I want to change how I interact w/ Autumn.  I want to appreciate the changing of each season.   

photo credit

Even before I picked the word CHANGE for my 2009 word, I had a feeling that 2009 is going to bring lots of changes in my life.  I know there will be changes that come into my life that I will have no control over.  And I just need to take it all in stride and do my best to handle those changes.  But I also know that I want to bring about some changes in my life, and I will have control over those.  I am excited for what this New Year will hold for me and my life.

While I was looking for pictures to put in this post, I found a bunch of Barack Obama, and my word for 2009 has nothing to do w/ his campaign for change. Although now that I think about it, there will be some changes made in 2009 just b/c he will be the President.  I didn’t vote for him, but I still wish him the best and support him as the President of our country.  I just hope and pray that he would make the best choices for our country and hope that the change he is going to bring about will be positive.

photo credit

WHAT IS YOUR WORD FOR 2009???

My 2008 Word

Today while I was browsing the blog world, I came across this post from Ali Edwards. I love what she says about just picking one word that you want to focus on for the year.

To be completely honest, I feel that since June 16th (that date has major significance to me, and not in a good way) I've just been living my life in a daze. That is the day my whole perfect world shattered and I was hit with a reality that was worse than being punched in the gut by a professional boxer. I have loved being back in Texas with family, I have loved spending time with Autumn, and I really feel like I've been focusing on recovering, healing, and coping. I've come to accept that my life isn't perfect and that it's OK. I needed a dose of reality and a push to grow and find out who I really am. But now I'm ready to take that next step and move forward. That's why my word for 2008 is going to be...

HAPPINESS

To me, that word encompasses a lot of other things such as contentment, joy, appreciation, exuberance, elation, enjoying the little things, simplicity, gratitude, and a multitude of other things. I want to embrace the word and focus on happiness this year.



At first my word was going to be happy, but then I realized that happiness to me includes action and motion rather than just the word happy. I want to have the strength of Tara who is happy in spite all of the pain and hurt she has to deal with.



I want to have the attitude of Jobi who's happiness and exuberance for life is contagious. I want to have the confidence of Lindsay where people are just drawn to her b/c of her charisma and outlook on life. There are so many other people that I also take examples from of happiness and what I want to be like.



I'm just going to find happiness in the everyday moments that make up my life. I have been blessed beyond compare and just need to enjoy it.

What's your one word for 2008?