I'm predicting some changes for our family in 2015--good changes, but startlingly big. There's the little one who's due date is today. (Whenever you're ready, little one, we'd love to meet you!). There's a summer-long stay in France that may extend into autumn if I stay a few weeks longer with our children. And once we're all home, we may begin building a house if God opens the door to some land that we'd like to purchase. All of these changes hold so much hope! Just knowing that they are possible reminds me that we are extravagantly blessed beyond anything we deserve.

*Landscape with a Double Rainbow by John Constable, 1812*

So, with the possibilities of this year in mind, rather than making a list of resolutions, I'm narrowing my focus to one word: peace.

Peace. It means taking a deep breath in the midst of these transitions. It means turning to God for solace and trusting that His ways are wisest despite my hopes for our family's path. It means staying close to Him through the stress that inevitably comes with change--even positive change.

Peace will apply to my parenting too. In the crucible of these early parenting years, I've learned that I'm prone to outbursts of anger that even I find excessive. I'll never be a perfect parent, but I am learning to change my patterns of response. Reading God's Word in the morning, getting more sleep, and taking time to reflect on parenting (through blogging and reading books like these) are the catalysts that are helping me change. I want my children to remember their home as a place of uncommon kindness, and their mama as a woman of infinite patience. I want to model peace.

What are your hopes for 2015? What New Year's resolution(s) or word are you dwelling on? Let's share the journey! And may your heart be filled with peace, whatever this year brings.

Worthy Goals for the New Year