Goodbye 2011 - eucharisteo!

As we approach the ending of 2011, I am utterly amazed at how fast time has flown by me. Is it because this year was full of such exciting events with the birth of our first son and Joshua's graduation? Is it the fact that I'm a year older and time simply does that with age? Is it that I'm a new momma and days are busier and speedier? Who knows. What I do know is that another year has gone by and we prepare to welcome in the new year with all the hopes, desires, resolutions, and challenges that comes with the flipping of one more calendar page to 2012! 

I'm not a huge fan of making new year resolutions because I often break them which leaves me confused and miserable. But after reading Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, I am reminded of my great responsibility to constantly resolve to love God and to love people with a true passion for God's glory. In today's reading, Spurgeon urges, with such intensity, his readers to come to Jesus! To live a changed life! To repent! And although I have already placed my full faith in Jesus and His incomprehensible work on the cross, I ask myself, "what are you living for??" Am I making an impact for the kingdom of God, loving God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength? Am I dying to self to love people with a Jesus-kind of love? When I examine my heart, even just briefly, I am faced with the ugly reality that I fall much too short of the mark! God has called His children to live radical lives in response to the miraculous work He has done in their lives, yet I often live my ordinary life without much thought to the extraordinary calling I've been given. {shame} 

However, Praise be to God that He doesn't leave me to wallow in a realization that I am utterly unable to live a redeemed life without the help of His Spirit! He gives us promise after promise that He will uphold us and help us live lives to glorify His great name! 

But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you supposed that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down." 2 Chronicles 25:8 

The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7 

As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! Psalm 40:17 

Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. Psalm 54:4May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.  Romans 15:13 

Today is a new day and the last day of another year passed--A year of joy, sorrow, excitement, fear, change, blessings and eucharisteo. I desire that this year would be one of only thanksgiving for everything that God brings into our lives and a year of opportunity to follow Him more closely and to love others radically!! Though I do not like resolutions because of my own weaknesses, I resolve to FIGHT the fight of faith with the help of the Holy Spirit and the graciousness of my husband, family, and friends. I resolve to live a generous life of prayer, studying God's Word, and serving in ways that will bring glory to God! I do not want to live a mundane life and look back with regrets, but I want to look back and see that I was spent for the gospel and for others!

May this year be full of joy, sorrow, excitement, fear, change, and blessings and my heart be full of thanksgiving! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

~~~

Our year in review :)

 Joshua picks up hockey again in January!

February marked my last month of pregnancy!

On March 24th, we welcomed Samuel Norton Clutterham into our lives. {Bliss}

April is full of naps and late-night feedings...Zzzz

 Grandma Ruth meets Samuel for the first time in May! :)

My dear friend, Sandy and her husband Daniel, welcome their baby girl, Madison Joy into the world in June. And we continue to enjoy Samuel's precious smiles! 

In July, Samuel makes his first trip to California to meet his cousins, William, Dylan, Caden, and Riley! What fun! :)

In August, Matt and Amber Riccaboni welcome little Zacchaeus! So great to share this precious time with a precious friend! I love you, Amber-Leigh!

 Joshua experiences his first Gator game in the Swamp (September!). We lose :(

 October is full of celebration when we visit St. Louis for Aaron and Michelle Odle's wedding!

In November, we saw Grandma Ruth for the last time. It was a sweet time of remembering precious moments and making even more. I miss her so much.

December. Oh what a month to remember, cherish, mourn, and offer up thanksgiving. I will never forget this December as it was one of grief and sorrow, yet joy and cheer! This December, we enjoyed picking out our VERY FIRST Christmas tree, welcoming Dad and Jan for a visit to Louisville, celebrating Joshua's accomplishments during his graduation, and marveling at Samuel's wonder of all the newness of the Christmas season.

During the month of December, we also said goodbye to the greatest grandma a girl could have and on that same day found out that we were pregnant with our second child, only a week later to learn that she (we named her Nessah) only lived for a short time in my body. 

Though we had much sorrow this month, we also celebrated the birth of Jesus on Christmas, got away for our 2nd Anniversary! and enjoyed the fun festivities of Samuel's First Hanukkah!!! What a month, eh? We are thankful beyond imagination for God's provision of grace, comfort, peace, friends, family, and everlasting life in His Son, Jesus! We have much more than we deserve and we lift of praises to God!

  

 May this year be the best one yet! Welcome, 2012!