Four Years Old

Today marks the fourth birthday of Kaylee Ruth Blackwell.  I love this girl.  Her big sister, Kelsey is in the background of this picture, and as you can tell, is much older.  Kaylee is a true blessing and if her brother, Brock, hadn't been born almost six years ago, we wouldn't have Kaylee.  After the Brock "surprise," Beth and Kelly (Mommy and Daddy) decided to have another one so Brock wouldn't be alone, given his brother and sister were teenagers.  Two years later, Kaylee was born.  This picture is from last year's Mickey and Minnie Mouse Birthday party and her "Ariel" birthday party is this weekend.

I have a lot of adopted nieces and nephews.  Being an only child and single, I don't have children and no true nieces and nephews by marriage.  So when sweet ones like this cutie call me "Aunt Rose," I melt.

Yesterday her Mom called to share this conversation she and Kaylee had that morning...

Kaylee:  Mommy, do you have any sisters?
Mommy:  No, Kaylee, I just have one brother, Uncle Dave.
Kaylee:  I have a sister!
Mommy:  Yes, you do.  You know, Mommy has someone that is like a sister.  You know Aunt Rose?  
Kaylee:  Yes!
Mommy:  You call her Aunt Rose because I love her like she is my sister.  Even though we have different parents, we're like sisters.  
Kaylee:  YAY, we have TWO sisters!

Doesn't get much more precious than that folks. 

Great I Am

There may be nothing that can jump start my soul than a good worship song.  With the cold weather and, well, it's a Monday, this song makes my heart sing.  And it's a performance from our church's Worship Night in September 2013.  I know I'm biased, but I love our worship more than I can express.  They take us before the throne of God like this every week.  This performance, however, hit a record decibel level.  "There is no power in hell, or any who can stand, before the power and the presence of the Great I AM."

What Can Thaw a Frozen Heart

I'm truly over the winter cold.  I'm normally fairly content with the seasonal changes experienced here in the Ohio Valley, but this single digit/sub-zero temperature laced with snow and ice has stayed quite long enough, thank you. It dawned on me yesterday that I'd enjoy this much more if I could have a sparkly dress like Elsa in the movie Frozen and wave my hand to freeze things at will.  Or if I had Olaf by my side to make me laugh.  But, alas, neither has happened, and the closest I'll get to a sidekick named Olaf is if I get a dog and name him that one day.  

If you haven't seen Frozen yet, go.  If for no other reason than it's cold and it will make you love winter for the hour and a half you are in the warm theater.  It's another beautifully produced story by the geniuses at Disney about the two daughters of the King and Queen of Arendelle.  One, Elsa, is cursed with the ability to freeze everything she touches and is separated from her sister, Anna, to protect her from hurting Anna.  The movie is replete with endearing characters and stunning music (the soundtrack is worth the $6.99 download on iTunes).  The movie ends (spoilers ahead!) when Anna is slowly freezing and soon to freeze to death when Elsa is able to break the spell by her love for Anna.  An act of love will thaw a frozen heart.

It's a story that hails a theme we hear often ....love conquers all....love can melt the hardest heart.  As I do, I like to see Jesus in every movie I watch and this one is no exception.  Our hearts are hard, frozen.  We are born sinful and rebellious, wanting to live our own way.  But God loved us so much that He embraced us in the warm hug of Jesus' sacrificial life to soften our heart and let Him come in as ruler of our lives.  An act of love that can thaw a frozen heart.  On the coldest of days, both physically and emotionally, I know my Savior loves me.  I know He is holding me and embracing me with a love that will never let go.  That is why God is love.  He is the One who can thaw a truly frozen heart.

2014: Be Intentional

In lieu of resolutions, the hip new thing to do these days is to don a word as your "One Word" of the year and focus on that as it permeates your life.  Since I can't say my name in less than 5 minutes, I have opted for One Phrase.  Last year, I chose the phrase "It's Yours, Lord" and looking back on that year in light of my phrase, it has taught me much.  

For 2014, I began thinking and praying about my phrase in December.  One day while driving down the road, and coupled with other events of my life at that time, I settled upon "Be Intentional."  The word "intentional" means "done on purpose, deliberate" and seems pretty straightforward.  But being intentional isn't easy.

With the hustle and bustle of life, being intentional is tough.  This past year I went back to school to get my MBA.  Although all my classes are online, the time I have to devote to my studies has cut into other intentional things I previously had more than enough time to accomplish.  I promised myself I wouldn't compromise my life (too much) by going back to school and end up in a hermitized state.  Thankfully I haven't but it has taken its toll.  I also lost my Dad, my rock, my only surviving parent.  I wouldn't trade any moment I spent with him the year before he passed, or any year before that.  I'll treasure those memories forever.  Along with his loss, so many of my friends encountered loss of loved ones this past year.  A simple phrase was uttered by one of my Mom's dearest friends who is like another Mom to me, "Time is fleeting."  Well said, Martha, well said.  

So in 2014 I'm being intentional.  You may ask, "What does that look like?"  I'm not entirely sure.  I know I want to be more expressive in sharing how I feel to those I love.  I want to be an unexpected blessing to those who may need the encouragement.  I want to do the little things that are done behind the scenes that nobody sees but mean the world to the person on the receiving end.  I have some specific ideas that I'll withhold from public consumption and hope that the results are significant enough to share in my 2014 recap.  

I encourage everyone to pick a word, a phrase, something to permeate your life in 2014.  You won't regret. it.  

2013: It's Yours, Lord

Last New Year's Eve, I decided upon my phrase for 2013:  It's Yours, Lord.  I had felt the need for reset and focus for 2013, and that is what God laid upon my heart for the new year.  In the blog post I wrote, here was my final words...."I pray that the year ahead is full of blessings.  But no matter, I know that God is planning all for my good. And in that promise is where I rest."

Wow.  How true those words became.  

I love my blog for no other reason then the journal it provides me to reflect upon. I committed my year to the Lord and to get the "I" and "My" out of my plans and put "His" in first place.  I believe that was all ordained from the Lord for me to walk the journey that was 2013.  As I do at this time of year, I'll reflect on the year that was....

After much prayer for about three months, I decided in March to get my MBA.  I still am in awe that I'm truly doing this, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt it is exactly what the Lord wants me to do.  With three classes behind me, and three A's (yay!), I am thankful for this break at the end of the year to take a breath.  

The Louisville Cardinals won the NCAA Basketball Championship in April.  I'm a Louisville girl and proud of it.  It was an amazing run and my love of college basketball came from my Dad who taught me to love sports....since he didn't have a son.  I was oh so grateful I got to watch many of their games at Dad's side this past season.

Shortly after basketball season ended, Dad had some health problems, and he passed from this life to the next on Derby Day, May 4.  I still find it surreal that he is gone, but there have been so many lessons God has taught me through it all.  I miss him and my Mom terribly now but know they are in a much better place...together....praising our Savior.  Dad was so proud I was getting my MBA and that is one of the kabillion reasons I know the timing of that was perfect.

In June I served in VBS for the first time in years.  I worked in the Preschool craft room (Mom would have been in heaven there), and loved every exhausting minute of it.  I took vacation time and it was my "mission" trip for the year.  To see so many of the children that attended VBS be baptized since then makes my heart sing.  And knowing the seeds we planted in those preschoolers will take root one day and hopefully grow makes me look forward to next year's VBS already.

I visited my Alabama family for the Fourth of July holiday.  I wanted to get away after the loss of my Dad and the Fourth of July was perfect.  It would have been my Mom's 85th birthday.  The rain never stopped on July 4th, and most of my visit there, but it was absolutely wonderful as always.

Our annual trip to see the Todds was delayed until September, but was a wonderful time.  Seeing Allison and Logan and how they've grown was big fun.  And great food and fun with the Gentrys is always some of my favorite times of our visits.  Laughing and hanging out with the Todds is the best part of all.

I traveled to Northern California 3 times this year for work and each time was special.  The first trip out there after my Dad passed was so needed.  I drove out to the coast and ate overlooking the ocean.  It was peaceful and such a great reminder of how the Creator of the universe cares about the smallest of details in my life.  

Speaking of work, I am so grateful for my team.  From the passing of Dad, through helping them through their tough times and changes, I absolutely have the best team on the planet.  Hands down.  I manage 14 people, which may seem daunting, but I love them all.  I have been diligent to pray for each of them this year by name regularly and hope I have been a manager that has set the proper example for them.  To me, managing people is my favorite part of the job....the part that drives most managers crazy.  Realizing that helps me know I'm right where i'm supposed to be.

The last few days of the Christmas holiday have been beyond glorious.  I may never understand why God blesses me with friends that are family (I refer to as "friendily") and love me so.  Christmas Eve was spent with the Roederers and their new puppy, Penny.  I'm an aunt again!  I wish I had live tweeted the event because it's like a Cosby show waiting to happen.  I love this family and how they let me be a part of their family Christmas.  On Christmas, I was able to spend it with the Blackwells.  Beth is a sister from another mister and her husband, Kelly takes good care of me.  Kelly carted Brock and Kaylee over to wash my car one day and I am so thankful for those kind of surprises.  Dad would be so glad I have Kelly (and other Kellys) around to take care of me.  Makes me very thankful I asked Kelly to be a pall bearer for my Dad.  Kaylee was quick to show me all her gifts and even Lexi, her cousin, became my BFF.  Yesterday I got to spend the day with Christie, my NOK (next of kin), and her Mom.  Again, they are family to me and her Mom is one of many who take care of me like a Momma....especially on those days when I miss my Momma so much.  Tonight I get to hang out with the Thelma to my Louise, Amy....eating Thai food and crafting....and catching up on life.  I love her so.   The Lord sovereignly arranged all of these friendships in such a way that He knew who I would need in my life.  Blessed seems so minor to describe how I feel.

When I sat in the church last New Year's Eve, praying about the coming year, I had no idea what God was doing in my heart.  Oh, He did, and He was preparing me for the year ahead.  Reading the words I wrote reminds me how much better it is with God in control.  I look back and see He was planning all for my good.  And the year was full of blessings....even with the loss of my Dad, leaving me without my parents.  His love for me is immeasurable.  Lord, may I always make my life Yours.