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So I haven't written the traditional Christmas post yet because... well... I find them kind of boring. Is that mean? Because honestly, I do. I even avoided reading other people's blog posts about Christmas for a while because they all sound the same: we opened presents, ate good food, visited family, the kids were adorable, etc. All good things, and all things that were true at our house as well. I loved our Christmas celebrations. So I promise to get over it soon and write that holiday update. I know I will want it to look back on in years to come.

I also haven't felt the need to write the traditional New Year's post this year. I wrote one last year (on January 1st, even--how punctual of me!) describing my resolutions--only one of which was actually successful. (I'll let you guess which one.) I'm not feeling the need for a lot of changes or fresh starts, which I suppose is a good thing. Instead, I'm just enjoying practicing the presence of God. It's something that has been shifting in my life over the past few months, and I'm grateful for it. It's hard to put into words, but it has come out of the trials and challenges we have faced in the last few years. During each difficult day, I would ask God to increase my faith. My biggest fear was never the trials themselves. My biggest fear was that I would come out on the other side of them more bitter and less faithful. Although I wanted the trials to end, I know that God's word tells us to take joy in trials of all kinds because they lead to faith and perseverance. So that's what I asked for, and God always honors that prayer. I feel Him with me more often during the day, I talk to Him frequently, and I feel more grateful. I am enjoying hiding in the secret of His presence.

The last two years I have chosen a word for the year (which you can read more about in last year's post). This year, I thought about choosing another word, but I just couldn't decide. Instead, I read this verse the other night and it spoke to me, so I am choosing this as my verse of the year. It's now on the right side of the blog, so I can be reminded of it every time I check in here.

"...in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to You..." ~Psalm 63:7-8

So often we think of faith as a private thing, and that's true in the sense that it is very personal. But it feels odd to be in the presence of God all day long and not talk about it. Thanks for letting me share with you here.