2018

Y’all. It’s 2018. How in the world is it already 2018?! It feels like just yesterday that it was Y2K (that’s 2000, for those of you who are clueless) and we were scared of a worldwide blackout.

But I digress.

We’re entering into this year with a LOT of unknowns. And that’s scary. My absolute worst fear is the unknown – because hi, the unknown is completely out of my comfort zone and out of my control. Eeek! I don’t even like thinking about it. But that’s what this year is. It’s UNKNOWN. Will Cory get a job? Is it worth it for him to work? Will he be a stay at home dad? Can we afford that? Will we have our own home anytime this year? Will we still be living with my parents? Will Landon finally have his own room? Will I still be commuting 2 hours to work every day this year? Will our marriage sustain the journey that lies within the answers to all of these questions and more?

*insert bug-eyed emoji here*

*and deep breathing/gasping for air in a paper bag*

But instead of letting that fear control me, I’m choosing to let it go. Or try to, at least. It’s not going to be easy, I know, but when has my life ever been easy?! When I was 5, maybe? Or 10? I’m no stranger to life throwing massive, tumultuous curve balls straight at my face. And although I’m still not very graceful or have good reaction times (see: life still knocks me on my ass all.the.time), I’m getting better at tending to the black eyes, headaches, and other crazy injuries (see: I’m the type of person that gets hit in the face with a ball, falls, and breaks her arm or something stupid like that…) that result.

Fun fact – I’ve never actually broken a bone! *knock on wood*

That brings me to exactly how I’m going to face this year and all of those unknowns. “Letting go” of the fear is far easier said than done! So my one little word for 2018 is PERSEVERE.

synonyms: persist, continue, carry on, go on, keep on, keep going, struggle on, hammer away, be persistent, be determined, see/follow something through, keep at it, press on/ahead, be tenacious, stand one’s ground, stand fast/firm, hold on, go the distance, stay the course, plod on, stop at nothing, leave no stone unturned;

I honestly don’t know what this year will hold for us (moreso than other years), but no matter what, I’m going to persevere – I’m going to struggle on, keep on keepin’ on, and continue loving my family with every ounce of my being. The answers to the questions I asked above are going to be complicated, hard to come by, and probably hard to swallow, too. I’m not going to like the answer to all of them, and I know that. It’s inevitable. It’s life. But it’s not impossible. It’s not going to keep me from the joy that Landon brings. It won’t keep me from the love that my husband and I share. It’s not going to prevent me from thoroughly basking in all that is good and blessed and right this year. So my “new year’s resolution” is to persevere.

To help in my journey of perseverance this year, I’m clinging to Scripture.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. -Romans 12:12

This verse really struck me in my core. I’ve relied on it before, but it really is a main focal point for where I am right now not only in life in general and my goal to persevere this year (I like the way that just rolls off the tongue, don’t you?), but it is exactly where I am in my faith journey as well. I’m taking steps to further my knowledge of the Bible this year (more on that to come in a later post), and this verse really brings it all home. It’s encouragement. It’s humbling. It’s truth.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. -James 1:12

James 1:12 isn’t one I’m super familiar with, but what an amazing promise this is! It gives me so much motivation to really strive for perseverance in every aspect of my life this year because it shows me exactly what my reward will be: the crown of life promised by the Lord. Umm, yes please! *insert raising hand emoji here*

Romans 12:12 and James 1:12 are my go-to’s this year. I’ll be writing them over and over again throughout the year and will look at them constantly. And, God-willing, at the end of this year, I may just have these two verses memorized! We’ll see how it goes, but I’m choosing to start off this year on the right foot, with the right attitude, and equipped with the right tools: God, my Bible, my family, and perseverance.

Dear 2018,
Please be nice.