New Year

Looking ahead to 2018…

/ Lesa / 2 Comments

Another Christmas and New Year’s have come and gone.  So much preparation…and just like that…it’s over.  It’s all worth it though.  Actually our Christmas isn’t quite over yet as we will be getting together with family to celebrate this Sunday.  We just couldn’t squeeze in all the fun in December so we are extending it into January (smile).

As I’m sure everyone does, I’ve been reflecting on 2017 and looking ahead to 2018.  It’s so nice to feel like we get a clean slate each year.  New goals, new adventures, stepping out into the unknown and embracing what lies ahead.

Each December I think of a word that can be my focus for the coming new year.  I know a lot of you do this.  It’s fun.  I pray about it and see where or how God would want me to place my focus.  Honestly the last four years or so I didn’t have any word come to me besides LOVE.  So…I just rolled with it.  This year, however, I was so excited to have a new word come to me.  And it was unexpected.  When I began praying about it back in December, the word INTENTIONAL came to me.  Huh…I thought I was intentional about things.  After some reflection, and a bit of “Are you sure God?”, He revealed some things that I have not been intentional about.

The word has come through so strongly that I know I’m on the right track.  I’m really excited to see where this year takes me as I strive to be more intentional with what God has laid on my heart.  But what about love??  Well, I think that is a permanent word for me at this point (smile).  It’s not going anywhere.  I get a little teary every time someone posts something about love on my FB timeline, or posts a picture of a heart.  It’s a reminder to me that the message is getting out there.  Love matters!

I hope that you have a word that you can focus on this year, and I pray that 2018 is a year of health, happiness, and healing, if need be, for you.  And of course, I pray that this year is filled with abundant love.

This year I had 3,398 views from people in 58 countries (fun facts that I like to look back on) (smile).  The following posts were the most popular:

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Tears
I Don’t Know Where I’m Going, but I Sure Know Where I’ve Been
Sometimes a Bark Comes Without a Bite
On Holy Ground
A Mother’s Heart

If you missed one, be sure to check it out.  And as always, thanks to everyone who have commented on or shared a post.  You are helping to spread the love.

Because it matters…

Happy New Year everyone!

 

Happy New Year 2017!

/ Lesa / 2 Comments

Happy new year everyone!  I hope that you are well and looking forward to a new year.  I know a lot of us are happy to be putting 2016 behind us.  We have a clean slate…new determination…new beginnings.  There are some aspects that may seem dim when looking forward to this new year, but together we can make a difference…so don’t give up!

In addition to wishing you a happy new year, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of my readers for taking the time to stop by in 2016.  I appreciate your shares and your comments when you feel inclined to do so.  It helps to spread the word that love matters (smile).

I like to take a look back at how the year went to see if this is something I should continue to work on.  It’s always amazing to me how far-reaching something so simple like a blog can become.  In 2016, this blog was viewed in 68 countries. Pretty amazing!

Below are my most viewed posts for the year.  If you missed one, I invite you to check it out.

You don’t know what you don’t know…
Send your light out into the world…
Love matters now more than ever…
Champagne wishes and caviar dreams…

One of my popular posts was a series that I did which was something new for me this year.  I invited moms of transgender children to be guests and share their stories.  The posts were very informative and I received a lot of positive feedback.  If you have questions about what it means to be transgender, these posts are really helpful.

The voice of a mom series… (parts I, II, III and IV)

I’m starting off the new year doing something that I’ve wanted to do for years now and that is to attend the Gay Christian Network conference.  I’m sick right now so I am hoping I am well by Thursday so I can still go.  I’m sure I will write a post about my experience when I get back.  As we look forward to a new year, I wish you all the very best. I hope your year is filled with good health, laughter, light and love…

light-love

Because love matters…

Better days…

/ Lesa / 1 Comment

I was told the older I get – the faster time will go.  I didn’t think life could go any faster, but I find that indeed it does!  Today we are on the brink of starting another new year.  A time to look back and reflect on our accomplishments, our disappointments, our joys, our sorrows, our dreams, our failures…everything that’s wrapped up into this thing we call life.  I wish I could say that I achieved everything that I hoped for this year, or that it was without sadness, but I can’t and that’s ok.  There isn’t anyone alive that doesn’t have trials in their life from time to time.  My prayer for you this year is that you learn from them and rely on the One that can turn them into something you never imagined.  Like this blog…it’s given me an avenue of healing I never expected.  Thank you for taking the time to check it out.  If it touches just one person and let’s them know they are not alone, it’s worth every risk of putting myself out there.  The pastor at our church on Sunday asked if we were willing to “Stand Out”. This has been my step to stand out on what I believe God is calling me to do…even though it’s been really scary. I pray that this year you find what God is calling you to and you take the step that He is asking you to take.  I promise He will be with you.  And if 2013 brought you hardship, I pray that this year brings you better days…

“Better Days”

And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days
Cause I don’t need boxes wrapped in strings
And designer love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days
So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again
I need someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And thats faith and trust and peace while we’re alive
And the one poor child who saved this world
And there’s 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them
So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again
I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days
So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again
Happy New Year everyone!  Love each other…because love matters!