Happy 2014 everyone!!
I love New Years because it is a time of reflection and hope. It is a perfect time to start over and begin anew! 2013 was a roller coaster ride for me. I had some of my happiest moments in 2013 and also some of the most challenging. I'm not about to detail the trials of 2013 because we all have them and there is no use in pointing them out. But I will remember everything I learned and experienced this year. It truly has been so great and FULL of blessings!!
You know that saying, "When it rains, it pours?" well I really feel like that right now in my life, but this gives me no reason to give up hope. In fact, I stumbled upon this speech this morning which was perfect for the new year. Below are some of my favorite quotes from it, along with the YouTube link for your viewing pleasure (Source for quotes). Oh and some cute pictures of me and my best friend are interspersed below as well, so make sure to scroll all the way through to catch them all. :)
I love this speech because it reminds us how to stay hopeful even through the darkest of days.
But how do we do this? How do we draw closer to the light, when everything is dark?:
When we rely on the Lord Jesus Christ and hope in a bright future, we will see the light! This promise is comforting:
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| Thanksgiving Day 2013 |
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| Winter Solstice 2013. I love all of the ice sculptures around Fairbanks. |
"It is part of our condition as mortal beings to sometimes feel as though we are surrounded by darkness...but even though we may feel lost in the midst of our current circumstances, God promises the hope of His light--He promises to illuminate the way before us and show us the way out of darkness."
"You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. To you and to all of us, I repeat a wonderful and certain truth: God's light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things. It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn."
1. Start where you are. "...the heavens begin to part and the blessings of heaven begin to distill upon us with the very first steps we take toward the light...The very moment you begin to seek your Heavenly Father,...the hope of His light will begin to awaken, enliven, and ennoble your soul."
2. Turn your heart towards the Lord. "Pour out your heart and express your gratitude...Ask that your ears may be opened, that you may hear His voice. Ask that your eyes may be opened, that you may see His light."
3. Walk in the Light. "Your Heavenly Father knows you will make mistakes...but He loves you. He desires that you rise up and become the person you were designed to be...He sent His Son to this earth to illuminate the way and show us how to safely cross the stumbling blocks placed in our path."
"The darkness will surely fade, because it cannot exist in the presence of light. As we draw near to God, He will draw near to us."As I step forward into the new year, I am going to keep relying on my Savior because He is the only sure thing in this world. I know that through Him I can do hard things. I am so excited to make 2014 the best year yet!
Go forward, make mistakes, pick yourself back up with a smile, have hope, and as always, have many many wonderful adventures!
LOVE it. You are always such an amazing example of being positive and pushing forward. The ice pictures are super fun, too. And you always look beautiful, but you look especially pretty in the very first picture from Thanksgiving - you're gorgeous!
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