If you had to choose one word

...what would your word for 2016 be?

We've signed on the dotted line. I bought *real* cups and plates. Pots and pans too. Yep, it's official. After almost two years of living life here, there, and everywhere Phil and I are excited to begin what we're affectionately calling "Chapter 4" of our lives as a family.

The last few years living on the road has been the most crazy, stressful, exhilarating season of my life thus far. It was jam packed with fun, adventures, any and every emotion you can think of, blessings and filled with friends - new and old. This crucial leg in our journey has taught us so much about what following God’s leading really looks like. I’d say the biggest lessons we’ve learned (not mastered) are that we, as a family, need to strive for flexibility, for living with purpose and passion, for doing whatever we need to do to give up all that we have for Jesus. These are lessons we’re thankful for and we're committed to continue learning as we start this new chapter.

The decision to commit to San Diego has been one of the more sure and peace filled decisions we’ve made in the past few years. We’re excited to be here for as long as God leads.

Phil and I were talking yesterday, as we sat on the floor in our new, empty of things and full of potential, apartment, about words that could be used to describe this new chapter of our lives starting ironically on December 31st. After throwing around “commit”, “deepen”, and “consistent” (all of which are powerful words and ones that are resonating with us as we begin this new year in a new place with a new lifestyle), the word hit me - Focus. 

We want to be FOCUSED. It's not how many people we can meet or places we can go or projects to do. It's about focusing on what God has and wants us to be investing our time, energy and resources into in this new stage of life and this new year.

We've unpacked our suitcases, hung our clothes in the closet, have pretty new pinstriped sheets on our oh-so-cushy new bed. It's been a relief to be in our own place - yet I'd be lying if I didn't say that I get a sort of mini-panic when I look around and realize we actually need to invest in furniture and other home stuff that we haven't used in what feels like - ever.

Any-whooooo -  since we don't have much furniture at this point (yes, I'm blaming this) I've found myself hanging out on the bed quite a bit more than I should most days...the light in our room and the cushy/cozy factor of our bed add to the draw. Phil brings me coffee every morning and once I've sipped the last drop I have enough oomph to get going, but at some point I'm back to sitting on the bed during the day...(don't judge me too much...remember the pathetic no furniture bit)...working, reading, snuggling the boy, internetting. Honestly, it's just been so long since I've had a space of my own that if I wasn't too busy enjoying it I'd be doing a happy dance all day. Alright, time to FOCUS. And here's to chapter 4...



P.S. I hope you all are doing fantastic...not in the you-have-every-thing-you-want-comfortable-life kind of fantastic...but more of a challenged-and-growing-learning-inspired-pressing-on-no-matter-what fantastic. There's a big difference. Love you guys and have a good one!

- Esther