Releasing The Embrace

                                     

My word for 2014 was embrace. Now before I can embrace 2015.
 I must reflect on the past year and some of the embrace. There was much held, much change. Change seemed to be the common theme, the one constant thread weaving my year in an endless embrace.

The year began with flying. For the first time I took a 'real'flight and escaped the harsh Canadian winter for a week. It was a blissful holiday, but I happily flew home to where I belonged.
                                               

I had a terrible car accident in February a minute from my home in a blinding snow storm. Youngest daughter and I still tremble when we remember the incident and God's Divine protection to us.

Another change  happened  in March, my sweet mother in law neighbour moved away, to live with her daughter. Although I supported the decision  I mourned the loss of her presence next door.
The winter passed in a flurry of projects and wedding plans.
Spring took  it's sweet time- testing my, and all of our  patience....but it came,the barn got painted and fields were planted and the wedding happened. 
                                                                                              

                                       myself,Brittany,hubby...the blessing kiss...

I embraced the highs and lows of this roller coaster ride. It felt as if my hair was still  blowing back as I walked down the aisle with my soon to be new son in law.
                                            

                                            

As the school year drew to a close my second youngest graduated grade eight, and my youngest graduated from 'our little school' we've had children at since 1998.
 I embraced this bitter sweet knowledge with as much poise as I could, knowing it is the brevity of seasons that make each one poignant.
 I embraced another ending also as  I decided the time had come to end my six and a half year stint as lunch duty supervisor at our school. I wanted to let someone else have the wonderful opportunity of working with the children.

I embraced freedom. Most of the summer was spent with my two youngest. I took advantage of spontaneity and moments I have learned to seize. 
                                             

Prioritizing time with hubby whether here at home or riding with him on his motorcycle or chatting more often.

I also embraced disappointment and acceptance of relationships I can not change. I embraced grace more often, not only for others but for myself......
                                          

I welcomed second daughter home from year long inner city missions for a few short weeks before she headed away again to school.

I embraced floundering for a while. I knew to flounder recognizably can be a form of progress. 

                                      

As fall fell and days shortened, I felt peace. My garden was my sanctuary ....lavender, zinnias and gladiola soothed my soul. I read good books and cultivated memory's plots.

                                      
In November I fell into a little part time job at a cafe close by. I embraced the change it brought to my every day routine. Most of all I embraced the fact that God is never too busy to listen to our prayers or to care about the things that we do.

As I consider this year I am awed and humbled at all that has  happened. I glance back now with 20/20 vision.....2015 is blank to my sight. but I trust the One who has written out my days to bring it to completion.
                            

                           all the days ordained for me were written in your book                           before one of them came to be.                                      Psalm 139:16

my new word for 2015 is still obscured...waiting to see what it will be...

My Word of the Year

           courage                  consider                           strong

                                               stretch                      wonder  

                                                    believe           listen                            

                                                               

                  ~~  Embrace ~~

 to hold someone in your arms as a way of expressing love or friendship

to accept (something or someone) readily or gladly

 to use (an opportunity) eagerly

so many words. so very hard to choose, but I have  decided it will be embrace.

when I chose this word I was simply thinking about the most common definition of this word;
to hold close in a hug......something I am making a more resolute decision  to do, especially with my oldest two girls.
At times I feel like there is so little I can do for them, as they navigate their dreams and I wonder if they have surpassed my sphere of influence...(I know this isn't all bad.) 
it's strange  to feel like a spectator at times and wonder what is all going on inside that isn't being verbalised. 

I will hug them more, hold them close and listen to what is and isn't being said.  My care will be there in an embrace, that holds tenderly and then lets go.

Then I study the word more closely and see how it means to include and accept....
that was the moment I knew this was 'my word'....

here are a few things I hope to include a little more of in 2014...

God's word......while this is a part of my life almost daily...I would like to get MORE out of it...I have been especially convicted lately how easily I can sit down at the computer and how difficult it seems to get into the Word.

my bed...earlier! (Hubby and I both tend to be night owls but this is not a great presidence to set to our kids or ourselves!)


Gratitude again daily....thankfulness doesn't just happen, it is cultivated.

Laughter.....it is good for the soul.


So my word is chosen and the rest is left to experience. Come with me? 
I sure would love your company.....

                   Don't fear change, rather embrace it.