January Days at Home

In no particular order, a glimpse into our days this month. Lots of playing and relaxing at home, trying to stay healthy. Busy days sprinkled throughout. Sweet girls. Thankful for this family.

first thing. 

Saturday date with Avery. 

I love this girl and her sense of style. 

"Take a picture of me dancing!"

thug life

first ponytail

I can't believe Mom locked me in here!

Pretty, please, Mommy, let me out?

Ugh, she's just not getting how desperately I want.out.of.here.
(Avery wanted to finish her puzzle, and Eleanor was getting in the way, little-sister style.)

picnics in the living room

playing Shoe Store

sister snuggles

Friday night is movie night at our home. 

Hiding, so "Eleanor won't tear the pages." 

mustache disappears!

post-nap snack. she squats so well.

One Little Word 2013

JOY.

Certainly not because I have joy, but because I long for joy. In contemplating this new year's word, I've realized that the words that choose me are often the ones that I need more of. In finding my word, I find what I'm lacking. I find what God is trying to teach me in that season.

The word always sneaks up on me in the last few weeks of the year, prompted by something I've read. And when I realize that it's my new word, I see it everywhere. For the Christian, joy isn't hard to come by, at least not in your reading. :)

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
¹¹ Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Psalm 51: 7-12

Seems appropriate for a new year, right? A fresh start?

From Dorothy Sayers, quoted in Surprised by Oxford (an excellent read, by the way. I highly recommend it.), "The greatest sin of the Christian is to be joyless."

One Thousand Gifts speaks to the wonders of joy over and over. Joy stemming from gratitude. Joy in the moments, good and bad. Joy in Christ, joy because of Christ alone.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow. Romans 15:13

Oh, the joys of of those who trust the Lord. Psalm 40: 4

How to find joy this year? To seek God's face. To learn to trust. To live in thanksgiving. May you find true joy, joy in the work of Christ done for you already, joy in the grace God continues to bestow on you, in this new year.
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Curious about my previous words? 2012  2011. See here for my original explanation of One Little Word, if you're interested in what started it all.