2014 has come upon me a lot quicker than I anticipated.
Let's cut to the chase. Here are the things we will be leaving behind from 2013- that I, we, will not bring in to 2014. No way no how- not now. (A little Dr. Seuss for you on this arctic chill day).
D-R-A-M-A drama- oh oh- you got that way because of your si..and just like that we leave it there. Team Pope has vowed to not let the last 2 months of 2013 hell carry over into the rest of our lives. One side of the coin is much better than before, praise the Lord!- but the other side- well, we are just leaving it flipped over and not worrying about it any more. Leaving the Jerry Springer episode to be continued (but in my mind- honey the show has been canceled and we movin' on up).
Negativity. You and all you bring have no place or welcome in our home or mouths or lives. Holla.
Pointless investments. We don't have the time, effort, or desire to engage in things that are not worthwhile. Bring on the real stuff, because we ready...we ready..we ready for yall. (if you don't get that music throw back, I am getting really old).
The daily comparisons. You are out like power in a snow storm. We will take what we have been given and rejoice in it- and not woe is me ourselves when we look at what our friends have been blessed with.
Now- on to what we hope for and are excited about in 2014. 2013 was incredibly good to us, despite our family feuds, so I can't fault it too much.
We look forward to White Cosby's 70th birthday in February- Kevin's 30th in May- and mine (oh. em. gee.) in August. Thank you Lord for a late summer birthday, so I can hold on to 29 8 more months! We will celebrate 1 year or marriage in April- that is crazy we are at the 8 month mark. Time flies when you marry the man of your dreams.
Kevin will take a big test soon for work and we are hoping for good results. He is pretty smart, so I think he will do fine.
My mom will get a much needed knee replacement and we are praying this goes well and that it is a huge help to her. You can join us if you like.
My sweet Jackson- the oldest of the elite 8- will be 13. I think I am going to cry.
We hope to establish some sort of ministry with friends in the coming months. My heart is heavy laden to use our house for good, and my husband gives me his full support.
We plan to enjoy every moment we can together. Lately we have gotten really good at watching movies and hanging out. I'm not complaining.
I see our spiritual lives getting stronger- because of the deep desires we both have to be the best we can be for our other half and to serve the Lord. It is an amazing thing to hear your husband pray- even when you dont have the will or the words. It also makes my heart smile to know that my husband's relationship with the Lord is much stronger than the relationship we have.
We will try new things, take in the view, and be ever mindful that that Lord has been good to us. We will listen more, pray harder, and be in the moment. We will allow God to be the potter and we will be the clay.
I hope to make some meaningful investments in people this year. I had the privilege to work with the youth for the past 7 months and we pray for new relationships for this year.
So there it is. A different approach to a new year. Positivity and a whole lotta prayer. Although weight loss and fitness would be nice (cause let me tell you...married life looks gooood on me. A little too good if you know what I mean.)
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned. Mondays will be blog days. I really am committed to see this thing through this year. Keep coming back. I just might do a giveaway soon. :)
- Rachel
These last couple of months have been an incredibly trying time in mine and my family's lives. To say that it is has been bad is an understatement. A Jerry Springer episode is a better example of what we have been living. Jer-ry! Jer-ry! Jer-ry!
(You know you watched. Just to see what crazy story would come up next- and laugh at how mind-boggling people really could be. It was my daily ritual for a while with my mom- no shame in my game.)
If I were to really write it out- what arguments, what hateful, disturbing words have been said, what actions have been completed, and what image is really portrayed- you would really laugh because it is so insanely ridiculous.
It never ceases to amaze me that stuff hits the fan around the holidays- not just in my family but in lots of families. Instead of celebrations and the excitement and magic of Christmas abounding- people get mean and vicious and turn vile.
There have been many sleepless nights and many tears shed over the past month. Tears shed over things that we cannot control. Many prayers and pleadings lifted to God- and many doubts that this is really our life right now. Disclaimer: Kevin and I are fine..beyond blessed and happily married with a healthy communication system. But the rest of the things we have been dealing with are not fine.
Sometimes we get hurt and sometimes there are people in our lives who live to just make us miserable. I know we have made mistakes as well- I do not deny that. I also know that we are only a part of the problem. I know my family's struggles are just a small portion of what is really going on in this world today.
So much evil. Pure evil and animosity. Why? Why are people just down right ugly and inconsiderate? At Christmas!? Why do we let people have that influence over us?
I don't have the answers- and I don't understand why people in your own family treat you like you are a criminal. No- criminals have better treatment than we have been given. Maybe an outcast- a leper would be the best example I can think of. Completely cutoff from the rest of the world because YOU (mainly its just me) have a problem (or are the problem).
Christmas should be about cherishing the times you have with loved ones. Focusing on how you can share Jesus with others to advance the kingdom. Love and sweet memories are supposed to be made- not hate and nightmares. It is truly the most wonderful time of the year- but this year is different.
I don't know what other people are dealing with right now, but I know we aren't the only ones who have real life problems that are never known to the outside world. In the past year- we have seen 5 of our friend's marriages crumble. Our friends have seen loved ones go before their time. We have seen families ripped apart because of the actions of a few individuals. We have heard of families losing everything- from fires, to money- to just reasons that are out of their hands. We have also seen how people's true colors come out- and I can tell you- they are fitting for the season. Red with anger & hate and green with envy & spite.
God has been trying to teach me something and I haven't been listening. Two weeks ago our Sunday School lesson was about loving others like Christ did- and treating them how Christ did. I have failed incredibly at this. My anger and my bitterness and my hurt have hidden the light in me. This week I even taught the Sunday School lesson- and it was about where our hope comes from. Things may seem hopeless to us- but they are never hopeless with God. Apparently I didn't get the message until now.
God has been there- and thankfully he still is there. He knows the struggles. He is just waiting for us to come and give all the crap, disappointment, frustrations, bitterness, hurt, and pure anger to Him to resolve. It is hard to realize that you can't fix people- or the problems people create for you, but find comfort in knowing that God wants to- and everything is possible with Him.
Praying specifically today for God to work not just in my family, but for anyone else who is having a hard time this Christmas.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
