Bye Bye 2009

So I didn't have time to do this on the actual New Years. But I like the way my friend Greta Did it so here I go.

Our Year in nutshell.

January started off with a Bang in the Bahamas

February I got myPermit again

March We made a much needed trip to Birmingham to see friends and family. and I got more serious about wellness

April I had a hard time with aging over the 25 hump Turning 26
Also had an awesome New Hampshire Easter with Friends
Also went through aTough Thing

In May a trip to Newburyportto a B&B and celebrating 3 years of Marriage

In June had my First Shoot and things picked up in the Photography department from there! I booked my first Wedding

In July and August was the Tourist Season at the Cannon House Hold! And I had what I thought was a Stomach Bug and Baby Mackayla was Born


In September I found out what it Really Was
And My friend Rachel took a road trip to Montreal

In October Josh and I celebrated 6 Years of Dating

In November had our first Thanksgiving with our Friends

December was busy but ended with a Cruise and lots of Cruisin

There has been good and bad in 2009 and now more than ever do I believe 2010 is just going to take Josh and I deeper in our Marriage and with Christ. Ready for a Renewal and Fresh Start. Happy New Year everyone.

A Fresh Start....

So we had an amazing Holiday with my family in Quebec. It was picture perfect! I am so happy most of all for my mom. She has had such a hard year and this Christmas was for her. It was beautiful! From the Cabin, and playing card games to the fresh snow Christmas morning God provided such a great time.

We have been so busy we hardly know what to do with ourselves! We are pulling out all our flip flops and shorts to head to the Bahamas bright and early tomorrow morning. What a great start to 2009!
I don't know what it is but I have a great feeling about this year! I just know God is going to do some great things in Josh and I this year and I am excited to see all He has in store. As I contemplate what I want 2009 to mean to me this year I think my theme is Stewardship. I want to live well and be a good steward of all the blessings God has given me.
A good steward of my:
Relationship with God
Marriage
Money
Things
Body
Time
and my Family.

I am learning more and more the balance of seeking to live a good holy life. I used to try and be holy because I thought that is how to stay in good relationship with God. I have learned more and more through the Gospel He has payed for my sin and it is covered and seeking to live for God is response of love. I seek to live in a way that honors God not to earn my righteousness but because in living a life that honors Him I delight Him. A life that is lived well for HIS glory is the deepest way to honor the one who lived and died to serve and save us. We desire to make ourselves into images of him.
As Tim Keller says:
"In religion we go to God because he is useful for getting the things our hearts most want. In the GOSPEL we go to God because HE is beautiful. We go simply to get GOD himself. WE want to sense His presence and we know that living a life imitating HIM is the way to do that."

I love that the New Year brings a fresh start. A fresh start to seek to live life well to honor HIM. But the awesome thing is for us who are in Christ "His mercies are new every morning".

Here is hoping that 2009 brings you and I a fresh start in to a deeper Gospel relationship with God. Far different from religion.