A Little Late to the Party

I have been working on a whole new collection for the shop.  The “Be Collection”.  They are basically hoops with a “Be” saying...like

Be Still

Be Brave

Be Lovely

Be Happy

Be Crafty

In doing so I came across bloggers whom have chosen a “word of the year”.  I have a friend who blogs over at You Are More and her word is Intentional. (Great word) I think it is used in place of new year resolutions.  A word to dwell on the whole year.  I love this idea!  Now I know it is almost March and I'm a little late to the party but I want to join in all the fun.  So I stated praying and really trying to contemplate what I want to focus on this year.  There are a lot of good ones I came across like...

thrive

simplify

fearless

grateful

explore

action

I have chosen the word Embrace.  Here is the definition. 

em·brace  (ĕm-brās′)

v. em·braced, em·brac·ing, em·brac·es

v.tr.

1. To clasp or hold close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection.

2. a. To surround; enclose: We allowed the warm water to embrace us.

b. To twine around: a trellis that was embraced by vines.

3. To include as part of something broader. 

4. To take up willingly or eagerly: embrace a social cause.

5. To avail oneself of: "I only regret, in my chilled age, certain occasions and possibilities I didn't embrace" (Henry James).

v.intr.

To join in an embrace.

n.

1. An act of holding close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection; a hug.

2. An enclosure or encirclement: caught in the jungle's embrace.

1. Eager acceptance: your embrace of Catholicism.

I wrote down a list of 10 words and I just prayed over them, I glanced over them & chewed on them for a couple days.  At first I thought I was going to choose “grow”  But “embrace” kept jumping out at me. 

I would like lie to myself and say that we are still new here and trying to adjust, to be honest we’re not. We have lived in Hawaii now for a little over 7 months.  As a military wife we tend to exclude ourself.  We move to a new duty station and seclude ourself in the day to day grind of family life.  First there is the unpacking then it’s getting settled into a routine.  But once we have the routine fully established, it gets harder to venture out of it.  

God made us to desire connections.  We need friends and church family’s to help us to grow.  It can be hard making new connections especially when you know you’ll be leaving these people or they will leave you in a few short years. So you stay locked inside and miss out on all God has planned for you at this new station in life. 

Well my word this year is EMBRACE! 

First and foremost I want to embrace God. I really need to work on my devotion time with Him.  I need to spend QUALITY time in prayer.  I also plan on doing a bible study.

Second, I want to embrace People.  That means finding a church and becoming involved embracing the people learning to love like Jesus loves.

Third, I want to embrace my Business & Blog.  To spend a couple hours a day working on growing it. I think I can gain new connections and friends here and maybe share a piece of my heart along the way.

Forth, I want to embrace my camera.  I spent good money on that baby and I need to get out and shoot more.  I’m not saying I want to start a photography business but I do want to shoot better photos.  Maybe I will take a few workshops this year.

Fifth, and most of all I want to embrace my family.  Kyler is changing every day and Cole just turned 14!! I want to wrap my arms around this time in our life document these fleeting moments before they are gone.

Now I just need to make a hoop and hang it in my office/craft room so I can see it every day. 

I'm linking this up for Tuesday tea.