Close of 2015!

Without a shadow of doubt, I can confidently say that 2015 has been my best year yet. God showed me abundant Mercy in every area of my life. I can honestly testify to God’s goodness in my life without it being one of those cliché statements or conversations that Christians should have at their disposal. 

When I think about how Faithful and Merciful God has been to me this year, it brings me to tears. I would be doing myself a great disservice if I do not continue to say THANK YOU. It seems like as the year comes to a close He continues to surprise me even more! I have been consciously teaching myself to trust God. Not just to trust Him, but to FULLY TRUST Him without reservations. It has been hard because sometimes when I commit stuff to God’s hand, I still try to use my own power to make things work. Now, I’m not saying just pray about things and expect God to be a magician without you taking necessary steps. Is it possible for Him to move as a magician? Absolutely! It’s called favor. However, I’m talking about when you’ve done all you can and you say “God take over, I don’t know what else to do”. At that point, if you’re still trying to work things out, trust in God is lacking. There are a couple of things in the past weeks that I put in God’s hands and walked away. I’m talking about when the thought of those things came up I blasted it out and filled my mind with other things or just did something to keep busy so I won’t think about it. I kid you not, I’ve seen God move in those areas and He is not finished yet!

While I’m thankful for God’s faithfulness, I also realize that there are people who have been through it this year. It’s on the news every day, and it hits closer to home when I see it on my Facebook news feed. Things happen at times and it causes me to question God because I simply do not understand why. All I know to do is pray. For anyone going through a rough time, I pray that the Holy Spirit will comfort you and send you His Peace that passes every understanding.

Well this year for the first time in my adult life, probably my life ever! I can’t say I’ll be at church on New Year’s Eve for a watch night service. Matter of fact I’m clueless on what I’ll be doing but I know for a fact that I’ll be having a good time with my baby boo and our babies boos.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Regardless of what you’re going through, please have an expectant heart and faith/Trust in God for 2016. All it takes is a mustard seed. I’ll leave you with this Bible verse:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Cheers to 2015!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

A few weeks ago, the kids took some pictures in their traditional Nigerian outfits and the photos turned out great. Hubby and I decided we would select a few and use them for our Christmas cards. The plan was to use the kids ONLY and not include us this year.

Hubby handles Christmas cards every year. He started it the first year and that has remained his household department. He puts design together online and selects pictures with my consent, sends to print and picks up and I address and mail. When he worked on the design this year and showed it to me, we some how were on it contrary to our plan. I laughed and thought to myself, dude you just couldn't help yourself. This guy dug up our traditional pictures from when we got married and included them!! I wasn't too crazy about it but I let it be because it seemed like he had put a lot of thought into it. LOL!!! Anyhow...

From my family to yours MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Check out our previous Christmas cards..

2012 2013 2014 

Peeking!

In a few more days, we will say good bye to 2015. That is so wild to me. I can’t believe this year is gone! Just like that!

Looking back, I’m kinda sad that I didn’t blog as much as I would have loved to. I just went through my blog and it made my heart smile. Trust me when I’m not blogging it is abandoned totally. I read a post from earlier this year where I promised to blog more. Looking at the stats from 2012 when I started, let us just say if we threw the numbers up on a bar chart, it wouldn’t be one I would be pleased to stare at if I were looking at my growth numbers at work.

I’ve missed out on sharing so much. From my 29th birthday (hello!!! Last year of my 20’s), to me hosting my entire family right here in Northwest Arkansas for Thanksgiving! Now for people who know me, hell that was a BIG DEAL!!!I would still love to share, so if not before the end of the year, I’ll carry it into the New Year.

Let me be honest, I love blogging. Not so much to have family, friends, and random people all around the world that I probably will never meet read it but because I think it’s a special way for me to preserve memories. I pray Mo and Demi will appreciate this someday. I can only imagine what joy it would have been for me if I had something to go back to and read and know exactly how I was as a kid. Hubby and I do our best to capture the kids through, photos, videos, voice recordings and of course I also want to with this blog.

Thank you so much to everyone who encourages me about it. My sisters are constantly asking when next I’ll blog. Hubby asked me about it about a month ago, and I thought to myself… huh? That’s random. Trust me it was like so out of nowhere! Just yesterday a friend of mine left a message on one of my photos. It read #bringtheblogback and before I had a chance to respond, she left another “#Lauretbringbacktheblog”. So this is dedicated to you Nana and all who have inquired. I appreciate you!

A couple of Sundays ago, we were photo giddy before church and decided to snap away. I thought I’d share…