Establishing a word of the year is one of my favorite ways to welcome a brand new year. I spend time sitting, thinking, praying over themes that God has for me. In 2024, I went into the year certain that the word, “awe” my word. In my declarative Instagram post about my 2024 word of the year, I said this:
In 2024 I want to have a posture of AWE. In my everyday experiences, on mountaintops, & in valleys.
I want to approach life with stark awareness of all God is doing in, around, and through me. I want to rest confidently that when something goes wrong, He is preparing to demonstrate again just how mighty he is.
I want to have AWE for the people I’m blessed to call family and friends. My goal is to see the very best in them, to celebrate with them, and encourage them endlessly.
I also want to have AWE for the simple things and choose to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. I want this year to be full of AWE no matter how close or far from home I travel.
I hadn’t read those words for months – maybe not since posting it in January. As I reflect on all that I intended, and the belief I had that God would show up, I am so amazed to see just how true my year of “awe” was.
The Valleys
The year began with emergency surgery on New Year’s Day to remove my appendix. A couple weeks later, my daughter broke her foot while my husband and I were out of the country. Things were off to a strange start! The year is ending with another broken bone in our house – this time a finger resulting in a cast up to her elbow. We had other valleys and hardships this year to include my husband’s grandmother passing away and the weight of grief that accompanies loss.
Just as I had hoped, God was near in the hard moments and made us feel wrapped in His love each and every step of the way. Truly, it evokes awe to see Him with us in the valleys and as we walk through challenging times.
The Mountain Tops
As the year has progressed I have experienced some amazing, mountaintop moments. Like my son choosing to follow Jesus and getting baptized to declare his decision. That has been my #1 most beautiful moment in 2024 – hands down.
Personally, I’ve been able to keynote at women’s events and proclaim God’s love to others. It has been a dream come true! Getting to encourage other women to grab onto their God-given worth and the freedom He offers is simply the best. I pray that 2025 is full of more of this!
And recently, my book, Worth It & Wonderful, was released to audio! How cool is that!? You can now listen to it on Audible. I continue to be in awe of how God has used my book to bless others and in the process, bless me.
Awe Away from Home
Until I stopped to reflect, I didn’t realize just how much travel my year held. I got to travel to Disney to celebrate my sister-in-law’s 40th birthday and that girls trip was one of the most epic weekends ever! We even did all 4 parks in one day and laughed the entirety of the way (except the brief moment I broke Popcorn-Puma’s foot – but that’s another blog for another day!).
I have bopped all over the country and even a couple international trips. From Hershey, PA to Charlotte, NC and Long Island, NY to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. I found myself both in Ft.Wayne Indiana and Maine twice. We took a trip with our kids to a cabin in TN and hunkered down for a family-focused staycation.
All this travel allowed me to take in new sights, tastes, and best of all – people. As I have traveled, I have enjoyed SO much meeting new people and learning about their lives and experiences. The best part of travel is the people. Yes, I stand in awe of God’s creation, with people being the best of all!
The Extraordinary in the Ordinary
Then there have been the everyday ordinary moments that have made life so sweet. Family walks are now a regular rhythm in our days. My son got 2nd place in the science fair. My daughter decided to give cross country a try and ended up loving it – and turns out she is fast too! My husband and I also have been able to travel just the two of us and really invest in our marriage.
Our family watched The Chosen together and are regulars at the local Mexican restaurant. I see how over the years our family has established traditions (like nachos for dinner on Thanksgiving) and habits that are uniquely ours. Something about that makes me smile and then my heart feels awe. God is so kind. He is so kind to bless our family with this type of connection and love.
Rest Confidently
In my awe-focused-Instagram-post I said that I wanted to rest confidently in God, even in the unexpected. As I wrap up 2024 I am preparing to transition off of the New Hope Girls staff. While I conclude a nearly 4-year opportunity to contribute to their work of rescue, refuge and restoration I remain in awe of how God provides. I am resting confidently in how He will provide for New Hope Girls and how he is already providing for my family as I lean fully into my consulting business, Connect 936.
Part of resting in Him is realizing that I have a daily choice to make. I can choose obedience no matter how I may feel and trust that He will keep His promises. Radical obedience is how I have been led to wrap up this current year and I plan to move into the new year in the same way.
Another way that I have rested confidently is by being very intentional with the type of content I consume and how I’m fueling my heart and mind. I’ve been reading, reading, and reading some more! With favorite books including Life is Hard, God is Good, Let’s Dance by Bret Hansen, Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole, Good Boundaries & Good Byes by Lysa Terkeurst, and Blessed Are the Misfits by Bret Hansen (yes, he has quickly become a favorite author!).
What’s my word of the year for 2025?
Stay tuned. I’m not sure yet. I have some ideas swirling around and this reflection on 2024 helped quite a bit. With the weeks that remain in this year I’ll continue to still myself, listen well, and consider all that God has for me in the year to come. What I do know is that 2025 will be a year that I walk closer than ever with God. I want to be so close that if I turn around, I bump into Him.
I also know that in 2025 I want to be laser focused on the people who matter most. In addition to my family, I am planning to continue leading a Growth Group for women. This group has become so dear to me! Leaning more into these life-giving relationships is so important to me!
What’s your word for 2025?
I’ve told you all about my word for 2024, and now where my head and heart are trending for 2025. What about YOU? Have you picked a word yet? If this isn’t “your thing” are you choosing something else – like a resolution, goal, Bible verse, or phrase? Tell me all about it! Reflecting together is one of my favorite things to do.