New Year, New Dreams

For the first time ever, I asked my Facebook friends to contribute to my blog post today. I asked them to share their hopes for 2012, and mentioned that their responses could be serious, insightful or funny.

They did not disappoint.

I'd like to start with the mixed array of responses to this question. And then I'll share a few of my hopes for 2012. Enjoy...

"My hope is to be consistent in maintaining the relative order I have recently achieved in my home. Living alone, it's often hard to feel like it's worth the effort when no one else sees it. My hope is to continue to see the value of it just because it makes me feel better." Shirley Schuette

"My hope is to be preggers in the next 6 months!!" Monica Cauthorne McClain

"To make an impact." Brandon Lee Hinson

"James 1:27." Elizabeth Coley

"After the baby is here, to be able to look down and see my feet again. :)" Sherrie Lourdon

"To hear God... even if it is a needed rebuke." Dawn Burnett

"My hope is to see my dad healed physically and spiritually, to show love better especially to my family. And as one of the church fathers said to God: to see Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly and follow Thee more nearly." Linda Whaley Johnson

My hope for 2012 is that God takes His time in our lives to show others how BIG He is and that we have the patience to wait on Him." Jennifer Harrison

"That God will bless my family way Beyond Expectations and that we can bless others way beyond expectations!!!!" Venus Newby

"That God will move in a big way to unify my whole family. That parenting will be less stressful and that I will achieve some personal goals. That God would birth some things that I know He has planned for me." Pamela Cole Thorpe

"Lol. My wish is 'to find a seat on the bus and sit down.' Translation: stay put for awhile, enjoy the scenery, settle down, and accept God's direction and timeline." Julie Franklin Haupt (Note: Julie and her husband just relocated their family of five.)

I can relate to each of my friend's hopes for 2012 (except my sweet expectant and wanting-to-be-expecting sisters, that is). I say Amen and Amen to every single hope in my own life (except expecting another baby, that is). Did I mention that already? :)

I'd love to share just a few more dreams for 2012 that I've got running around in my head:

• I want to go deeper in Jesus this year. I want to grow in my knowledge of the Word and grow in my living of the Word. And I want to be more consistent in leading my children to the Word as well. 2011 was a great year of bible study for us, but I want to be more consistent.
• I hope to grow as a writer. I want to write every single day of my life, consistently working on the hundreds of ideas that I have on paper. I want to continue writing my nonfiction book and begin a bible study series on the minor prophets.
• I want to continue caring for orphans (James 1:27 from above), locally and around the world. I hope to use my talents and gifts to create awareness surrounding the needs of the 147 million orphans in the world.
• I hope to encourage pastor's wives around the globe through our Facebook group and soon-to-be launched blog, A Pastor's Wife's Garden (www.pastorswifesgarden.blogspot.com). Check out the first post tomorrow, New Year's Day, and tell your pastor's wife about it!

So, as you can see, I've got lots of hopes and dreams for 2012. I'm sure you do too. Let's walk together as we trust God to give us His dreams for the New Year.

Trusting Him for an Amazing New Year,

Carla