Early last August, I wrote about identifying the highlight of your year. Similarly to January being a great time to start on or refresh your goals, I think that the end of Summer is an excellent time to reflect on highlights of your year.
What memories have you made so far this year? Have things happened that you were anticipating, or perhaps that you hadn’t even considered?!
Best Year Ever
This has been a fabulous year for me! I turned 30 back in February, and was inspired by a birthday card. Thirty was one of my most exciting years, the card reported. Fantastic, that will be my goal for this year, I quickly decided.
And that decision, that declaration of faith over those written words have given me so many boosts and such encouragement that I wouldn’t have decided on, would not have claimed, if not for that cheery message in my birthday card.
In similar ways, what might you claim based on lovely words you’ve heard or read? Some of the most inspiring ideas come not from our own imaginations, but from something shared by another.
Fresh perspective
In March, I was inspired by new goals – both business and personal. Inspiration is always such a welcome thing – and this fresh perspective has definitely been a highlight of my year!
Projects that I had known about and been working towards on and off, developed new purpose. The vision of their conclusion gave me a new drive! It would mean new possibilities would open and be available to me! Such an exciting highlight!
What about you? What projects are you in the middle of completing? Why haven’t you finished them yet? Perhaps you’ve been working on them faithfully – well done! That truly is so commendable. Or perhaps you’ve lost your vision for their completion.
Whether it is due to loosing your purpose or not wanting to be left with nothing to do, let me just encourage you to finish them. Tie them up with a lovely bow and be done with them! Our lives are filled with so much potential, so many possibilities, but we will not discover them if we are hanging on to the old. We have to step up in joyful expectation – eager to see what God has up next for us!
For rent
Part of this newfound inspiration led me to look for a shop to rent for my clothing boutique. I met new people and experienced such kindness and welcoming.
Around this time a lady that I had met several years back was setting up a shop and wanted to put some clothing in it. A friend from a previous event mentioned that I was looking for a shop for my clothing boutique. An exciting connection was made and God blessed me with a lovely opportunity!
This remarkable, synergistic connection truly fascinates me. I had no idea that God had such a fabulous plan waiting for me. And if I had not begun the search for a shop, it would not have presented itself.
Fast forward a few weeks and my love of historic homes led me to investigate the possibility of purchasing and fixing up a lovely, though rundown, home. I learned more about taxes, insurance, licenses, and logistics of purchasing a home in just a few days time than I had known before in my life.
The thought of actually buying, improving, and living in a piece of history like that is definitely on the highlight role for this year! Even though I haven’t actually bought a home, I’ve loved the opportunity to learn more about these beautiful places.
I truly believe that, though the hints and ideas we have might not come about as we see them through our limited perspective, our faith in pursuing them to the best of what we know will result in fantastic, God-ordained things! Be brave, lovely one, pursuing the things that God puts in your heart!
Vacation bound
Come June, I found myself on a fabulous vacation to Yellowstone! I’ve always thought vacations to see such incredible places such as the Grand Canyon, Mt Rushmore, or Yellowstone would be once in a lifetime things – but I’ve gotten to go multiple times now! And every trip is better than the one before! I do love to travel! These trips are most definitely a highlight, not just of my year, but of my life!
Growing up, I remember thinking it would be amazing to see Mt Rushmore. Some things aren’t at all realistic, but it’s fun to dream, right? I vividly remember writing it down on a list I was making of things I wanted to do, pondering the likelihood of it. Do you know I’ve had the opportunity to see Mount Rushmore four times now?!
Just another incredible example to not limit yourself based on what you can see. God’s plans and vision for your life are astronomically and infinitely more detailed and exciting and more remarkable than you can even begin to imagine.
1 Corinthians 2:9 says it so very well, “That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.'”.
Remember to ask Him for direction. Ask Him to reveal His plans to you, to work in your heart so that you want and long for what He has for you. I guarantee you, seeking a closer relationship with God does not disappoint!
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. One of the most recent highlights to my year was just a few days ago. The day that Give Grace Generously was published actually. This was not just another post on a blog – this post represented my 100th post on The American Lady blog! A real milestone! I was excited about it, but hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, aside from a brief, casual conversation with my father about the blog a week or so before.
On the day that the 100th post was published, he had a special cake made, complete with lovely decorations and such a sweet message! Wasn’t that so very kind?! Definitely another highlight! ♥