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HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope that y’all had a very Merry Christmas and a great start to 2019. First of all I’d like to state for the record that this year started a WHOLE lot better than last year! Thankfully we’re all healthy and ready to get this year started. We’ve already begun planning some of the different things we’d like to do this year and I have to say it’s getting me excited. I foresee lots of time being spent outside, lots more farm fresh eggs (which are SO MUCH better than store bought), and hopefully a garden!
But before I get too far ahead of myself I wanted to tell y’all about my BIG goal for 2019.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
~Ephesians 2:10
Bailey Sue,
“Be your own kind of beautiful”,
“Own It”, be who God made you to be…
“Play your part in His story”!
“This could change everything…
This is THE moment!”
“Let it begin!”
So, “devil…
NOT TODAY!”
Again this year’s theme is based on some of my favorite songs. Jason Gray’s “Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful”, Bailey Bryan’s “Own It”, Francesca Battistelli’s “This Could Change Everything” and Hillsong United’s “Not Today”.
As the time came to start thinking about what I wanted to focus on in 2019 I kept thinking of the word “confidence”. I almost made that my word for 2018 but changed my mind and went with All In on The Great Adventure. I just couldn’t figure out precisely how to word “Confidence” to convey what I wanted to work on. Once I heard Bailey Bryan’s “Own It” it really helped to refine what it is I wanted to work on…
You see, I’ve been SO blessed in my career already. I love being able to share my story and what’s made me, me. I hope that by sharing the lessons that I’m learning and the photos that I take it will encourage you in your own life, to embrace where God has placed you and that you realize the impact that you have. I hope that by sharing my journey toward contentment it will inspire you to go on that same journey yourself.
This job offers SO much flexibility! I’m able to arrange my work around the important things in my life. I’ve never had to miss a family function because I’m working. I just get to work a little harder before the event to schedule things out…For example, this past Christmas Daddy got to come home TWO days early! So, I worked a little longer on Monday and Tuesday so that I could be done with work the same time he was.
Often when I think of conducting a business meeting my mind pictures suits and ties, a conference room and a strict itinerary. However I usually conduct my business meetings in my comfy pants or pajamas sitting on one end of the couch, Mom on the other and JoJo somewhere nearby. Discussing goals and different projects I want to begin. How I want to word a particular post, and what pictures should go in what collection and on what product. And any other random ideas that I have that may or may not pertain to my business.
When I take pictures I find it fun! Once I get the scene set up I can usually get the image I want in a matter of 10 minutes give or take, sometimes it does take longer but that’s not often. As a result it honestly doesn’t feel like work, I kind of feel like I’m just playing around. I also get to enjoy listening to music while I work, and I don’t have to worry about getting reprimanded for finding just the right song.
Something that I’ve noticed amid all these blessings is the nagging feeling that this job of mine isn’t as significant as someone else who gets up every day and drives to work. Someone who works a solid 4 hours with just a couple of 15-minute breaks or actually has to miss some special event because they HAVE to work.
I know that deep down God created me to be doing this thing. I can SEE that evidently in the doors that He’s opened, the support that I’ve been given, and the confidence that I’ve already gained. Now, it’s my turn to keep pursuing the dream that He gave me while relying on Him each step of the way. To accept and embrace the flexibility that this job offers me knowing that just because my job looks different doesn’t mean that it’s any less significant. And to be thankful that God knows all things and truly has the best plans for me. I was telling Mom the other day that the idea of working long hours without any real processing time sounds exhausting…He knows that I tend to overthink and analyze things. That I need time to think things through and make sure they sound just so…Often exercising my mental muscles long before the physical ones…and this job gives me that opportunity and so much more!
In an effort to really be who it is that God made me to be I’m really working on embracing the life that I have—the life that God gave me. As a result I hope that this lessens the inner comparison game I so often play. I made a few other smaller goals to help with this…
This all really boils down to the goal that each of us as Christians should have. To glorify God in all that we do. I’m hoping that by becoming who it is that God wants me be and being confident in this and my relationship with Him I will be able to better glorify Him in the days to come.
Since the first of the year I’ve had a really good feeling about this year…It’s going to bring it’s fair share of changes and challenges but I know that with God on my side I can (and will) conquer them. I’d love to hear some of your goals and resolutions for the coming year in the comments below!
Until next time,
Bailey Sue
I pray that you can accomplish all of your goals.
Thank you! (: