New Year, Same God

We leave 2016 behind us with full and  grateful hearts, feeling so blessed for all that God has done in our lives and our hearts this (and every) year! It’s a New Year, but our God is the same and for that I am so thankful that He is the one constant that never changes, as the year’s fly by. I am definitely not the same person I was when the year started, but isn’t that what this life is all about? If we aren’t learning, we aren’t living. 

We spent the New Year at our farmhouse in South Georgia with our family for some much needed rest, relaxation and reflection. The country is our escape from the demanding city life and a wide open space for us to think, dream and live simply. I love being there and watching Knox get to experience a whole different way of life, the way his daddy grew up. Knox said his favorite part of being here has been riding the tractor with PaPa and going to the brand new Piggly Wiggly! He even got a  t-shirt to rock! LOL. He also got to shoot his first BB gun and I couldn’t help but keep thinking about Ralphie in The Christmas Story and the Red Ryder that would shoot his eye out. Heaven help me, I’m in over my head! Taking down Christmas decorations, along with being on the farm, has given me much time for self reflection. There is no doubt that God has been weaving my past with my present, and if there is one thing I’ve learned this year, it is that He will do immeasurably more than we can ever imagine. I have a feeling that 2017 is going to be full of the “more” and that is so exciting!!! So, let’s pop open some champagne and celebrate the year to come!This was a year full of hard work, growth, excitement, and a few disappointments and set backs along the way, but through every experience I have always felt God’s presence leading me exactly where He wants me to be. Nothing is perfect and I want to continue to live in authenticity with purpose and intention. I can’t wait to start reading the book I just got ‘Present Over Perfect,” that helps us let go of the constant pressure to perform faster, push harder, and produce more, all while maintaining an exhausting image of perfection. I have a crystal clear vision and direction heading into 2017, and I know through God’s grace and His constant promise, that He will do immeasurably more for all of us. I’m trusting God’s direction for not just my life, but for Fred and Knox’s, too! Knox is entering the New Year healthy and thriving and our prayer is that he will enter the cancer survivorship program this month! Wouldn’t that be a major way to kick off the New Year?!?!  As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of our story! I am so grateful for YOU and your constant love and support. Crockpot Empire would not be successful without each and every one of you and I would love to hear what some of your favorite posts were this year and what you would like for me to continue to do more of in 2017. Please email by responding to this message and let me know! It makes my heart SO happy when I hear from you,  and your feedback helps this blog grow and flourish! 

Don’t set a resolution this year…make it a personal revolution. My revolution is to go deeper with God and to get a few steps closer to finding out who He created me to be! What’s your’s?!

This is your year to sparkle, Empresses!!! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in 2017! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!