Birthdays are cause for celebration!
You didn’t have to tell Little J that twice – he made me feel like the most important, special person in the whole world on my birthday. I felt totally celebrated by all of my guys!
I’m also finding my birthday to be a great time of reflection and dreaming! Instead of lamenting turning another year older, I did some birthday praying and dreaming about all God has in store for the next year!
It almost feels a little like New Year’s to me, but I’m not making resolutions to lose weight or get more organized. I’m taking my God-sized dreams and laying out a few areas that I want to see grow in the next year. God spoke three things very clearly into my life as we celebrated my birthday yesterday. Seriously, there was no mistaking what He wants to work in me as I move towards 33…
1. I want to understand grace more fully and practice it more regularly, especially within our family.
Grace is not a new word to me, but after having read Connecting Church & Home
2. I want to experience greater intimacy with God and with The Hubby.
Our busy lives don’t allow much time for depth of relationship. I’m not ok with that. I want a closer, deeper relationship with my Savior, not just cramming in Bible study before the kids wake up. I want spend more time talking and connecting with The Hubby, particularly when his schedule only allows for us to see each a couple hours a day.
3. I want to discover what a true Sabbath looks and feels like for our family.
I took last weekend “off” from social media. It was the most restful two days I’ve had in as long as I remember. But that’s just a piece of figuring out how our family is best refreshed on the weekends, or another Sabbath day when The Hubby’s work hours don’t allow for Sunday rest. My sister gave me 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life
I feel like this is the real-life living out of my God-sized dream – the nuts and bolts of being able to grow closer to God, bless my family, and write to encourage other families with integrity and without burning out!
What areas do you hope to grow in as you approach another birthday, whether it is next week or next year?
Read more stories of God-sized dreams lived out in real-life over at Holley’s place today!
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I'm Erin, a wife, boy mom x 3, writer, and runner in Nebraska! I'm excited to share all my favorites relating to faith, family, fashion, and fitness in this space! Enjoy! 
I love the areas that you laid out. I feel like God is calling me to grow in the area of intimacy with Him through deeper study. Over the last couple of years I have truly fallen in love with His word and desire to continue sharing it with anyone that will listen. However, I want to make sure that I don’t just share the head knowledge but make sure I show a heart love. (visiting from FMF and enjoyed reading your heart)
I TOTALLY resonate with what you said about intimacy with God through His Word – I can’t get enough of it! I want it to sink in past the head as well!
Hey there I am stopping over from GSD team. I love the 3 areas you are wanting to focus on this next year. Especially the Sabbath one. Gosh, this is hard for me to practice. I’m a busy body, I know this. But I know that God has called me to take some time to rest and sit with him, change it up a bit. Thanks for sharing your heart here.
And happy birthday!
I am such a busy body, too! I always have to be doing something! I’m having to teach myself to STOP and just do one thing at a time for a change 🙂 Thanks for your encouraging words!
I haven’t read 24/6, but it is written by a man named Matthew Sleeth. He also authored a fantastic book called Serve God, Save the Planet. Very impactful! If you like 24/6, you might enjoy Serve God, Save the Planet, too.
Thanks for the recommendation, Allison! I’m really enjoying 24/6 so far, so this is going on my list!