2020 // just some thoughts and letters

today is a new year. a new set of 365 days. a fresh start.
almost as if we have been given a blank slate. never been marked.

we set New Years resolutions. or maybe just re-prioritize some goals.
our goals may be daunting. maybe even terrifying. setting the bar high.

or maybe we set the bar low, afraid to fail. because we've failed before.
even still, we know all we can do is our best.

~*~

twenty twenty offers new chances to grow, to change.
to learn from the past. to overcome new challenges.

there will be highs. there will be lows.
just as 2019 had both joys and trials.

we have four seasons of opportunities. spring blossoms. summer sunshine. fall leaves. winter frost.
even still, as the time passes, we will become stronger. wiser.

~*~

we all have our own roads to travel. have our own paths. lives to live.
sometimes we don't know where the trails lead.

but we know Someone who does.
because the Author of our story has written our map. because of this, we can be sure-footed.

He will give us the strength. to overcome. the strength to smile. to change.
even still, He guides us through the still waters. and the raging ones also.

~*~

the resolutions may fail. His love will not.
in our weakness, we will find our Savior's grace. forgiveness. hope. strength to rise.

some goals will be met. others might change.
but God's plan for us is steadfast. unmovable. tested and sure. anchored.

and when fear tries to stop our progress. it will not win in the end.
even still, with God all things are possible.

~*~

so in this new blank slate. this blank sheet of paper.
lets let God write our story.

let God move us. do amazing things for us. teach us.
let him mold us. cleanse us.

let Him be our Heavenly Father. Who's love has no end.
even still, lets let Jesus into our hearts. because He's knocking.

~*~

twenty nineteen has come to a close.
even still, twenty twenty is a new chapter for our story.
Lets embark on this journey. lets find joy in this journey.
happy New Years!

Dear twenty nineteen, 

Wow! What a whirlwind! 2019, you sure kept me on my toes. I say all years fly by, but you really did. I remember just yesterday that it was New Years last year... we stayed up until midnight to welcome you. Overall, you were a good year. You taught me a lot. Your days were full of many memories. Both of laughter and tears. You gave me some challenges, twenty nineteen. Some real hard ones. Then again, you gave me some amazing times too. Memories I won't soon forget! 

This last year, I have been so thankful for my growing skills as a writer. I'm no professional by any means, but my love for writing has deepened. Even in my writing slumps, deep down, I still know it's what I need in my life. To write. 

I stepped and stumbled outside of my comfort zone many times in 2019. I'm so glad I did! Because got the chance to meet not only one, but two online friends in person! As well as video chatted with two other dear friends. Seriously, I'm so thankful for every single one of my blogger friends! <3

I'm so thankful for the friendships I have been given the opportunity to have through this blog. Showers of Blessings has truly been a blessing to me. Like I would have never imagined. 

We went on a couple amazing adventures this year such as staying on a houseboat, helping clean up from a tornado, spontaneous trip to the beach, 5k races, etc!

I've grown a lot in this year. God has taught me so many things, it's truly amazing how He leads me and guides me. He has shown me how to h e a l. And has given me so many opportunities to grow. I still fear the unknown, yet I've seen his peace in action. And I know that God will go before me through whatever 2020 may have in store! 

Love, 

Ben

~*~

Dear twenty twenty, 

A new decade. Twenty twenty, you may be a tad bit daunting, but I'm ready. Or as ready as I'll ever be, lol. You are going to have your own set of plot twists, I know that. But it is my goal, to never give up, to persevere. To overcome those challenges. 

There are so many new and exciting things around the corner. In this new chapter, I have already  made many goals. Some of which may change as time goes on, but some of which I will accomplish. And I want to celebrate those small victories. 

I wish to give myself and others grace in this new year. I wish to write for God's glory and not my own. I want to surrender my plans. To have faith in the unknown. I wish to be a better sister, daughter, niece, and friend.

So hello, 2020! You better watch out, because I may not change the world, but that doesn't mean I still can't be a world-changer. 

Love, 

Ben

~*~

Check out last year's New Year post HERE.

God has amazing things for you this new year. 

I hope y'all have a blessed 2020! 

TWENTY NINETEEN!

Today, I'm posting two letters. Sometimes I'm weird and I write letters to things that aren't people. It wouldn't feel right without doing something for the New Year, so I thought writing these letters would be a way to end last year and begin this year! I have also linked to some of my blog posts throughout 2018 that I want to keep alive. Also, at the end of this post, I am giving you some really important insider information about what's happening on Showers of Blessings in the new year! 

(So, if you are new to Showers of Blessings or even if you are not a new follower, feel free to check out the older blog posts linked below in context to what I'm saying in the letters. Also for new followers, one of my nicknames is "Ben" so just letting you know so you don't get confused...)

~~~

Dear twenty eighteen, 

For a year that has gone by so fast, you have sure put a lot of changes in my path. Overall, you were a good year, you definitely had your ups and downs. This year was filled with many blessings, but also so many challenges. But through those rough patches, I am a better person for it, because I grew closer and closer to my Savior.               

This last year, one of the things that I am so thankful for is to have been given the opportunity to start a blog and join this amazing blogging community (aka the blogosphere), where there is just as many deep and heartfelt posts out there as there are fangirl confetti. I have "met" so many girls that share the same interests as I do and it is so awesome to see how God works through Showers of Blessings! I can't wait to see where He takes this blog in the new year. 

There were so many adventures I went on in 2018! I tried many new things and went on quite a few vacations. I went zip lining, parasailing, mud runs, and triathlons for the very first time in my life. I stepped out of my comfort zone and did things like shadowing future job options and taking my written driving test to get my temporary drivers license.

In this last year, I have also realized my dream for writing a book and becoming self-published! 

In 2018, I turned 18, which is a milestone! 

This past year, I have and still am learning about trusting God in the unknown, even when I don't know Why certain things happen. I am so grateful to have been given another year. 

Twenty eighteen, I will look back on you with fondness, because even through the tough times, I would like to think of those times as refining me. I don't mean to sound melancholy, but goodbye 2018. May I always remember the memories I made in this year! 

Love, 

Ben 

~~~

Dear twenty nineteen, 

I have to admit, saying twenty nineteen does not have near as good a ring to it as it was saying twenty eighteen. You know, new year, I'm not scared of you like I probably should be.   Your just another 12 months, 52.143 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, and 525,600 minutes. No, I didn't do all that math by myself! Ok, so you might be just a little bit intimidating, but... moving on! 

Twenty nineteen, you will no doubt have your many ups and downs, your joys and trials, but it is my hope that I will turn to God in those bad times as well as the good times. 

In this next year, I want to accomplish my goals, but also rely on His plan for this year. I want to be able to step out of my comfort zone more and be bold for God. I want to cultivate my writing and if it is in His will, I might just become a author and not just a writer. I want to love those around me and cherish the time I have with those who are with me through thick and thin. I want to be still and know that He is God. I want to watch Him paint my Brokenness into Masterpieces. I want to find my Special Mission.

I wish to Stay Awestruck of of my Creator and live more fully because of Him. I wish to be a witness through the words I write and also to the people I meet. I wish to strengthen my trust, knowing that I have a Trust Rope to hang on too when I'm falling. I wish to be more knowledgeable of the Bible. I wish to find True Joy and not just search for temporary happiness. I wish to be a better sister, daughter, and friend.

So many adventures await in the year of 2019, and it is my hope that I will be ready for all that this coming year brings.

In 2019, I will learn a abundance of new things, and in this next chapter, I will grow. I will grow stronger and closer to Jesus. Because He will never fail me. His love for me never fails. So, hello 2019, may I live this year with memories and not just dreams! 

Love,

Ben

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without boarders,

 let me walk upon the waters 

wherever You would call me. 

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my Faith will be made stronger 

in the presence of my Savior"

Happy New Year y'all! This time of year is not just for looking back on the last 12 months of our lives, but also looking forward to what the next chapter has in store of us! That is why I wrote these two letters and I thought I would share them with you. Maybe they can encourage you, because if you are anything like me, change can be hard. So, I am praying for you in this new year, may we all stand strong in Christ! 

I encourage you to write a letter to 2018 and 2019. You don't need to share it with anyone, you could hide it under your bed if you want! But it's good to acknowledge the good times and the difficult times over the year. 

I see a lot of girls around the blogosphere that are picking words for their years. I thought this was a really good idea and started thinking about my word all the way back in the early weeks of December. And I have to admit, it was so hard picking one word, there are so many words that I could pick! Words such as courage, joyful, simple, trusting, faithful, bold. All of these are so good, but the word I chose wasn't of that list. 

I chose a humbling word Unfinished. 

God is refining and molding me. I am not done yet. Although my Creator is perfect, I am still a work-in-progress. He is writing my story and He knows the paths I will take. I want to rely on His plans. I don't know exactly why I picked this word, or why it stood out to me. To me it's like describing a semicolon. "There is more to be said" it's unfinished. There is so much ahead of me, so many things to be discovered and opportunities to take, I have barely scratched the surface! :)

~~~

New year blog changes: 

Don't worry, nothing big at all, because I am rather happy with my blog design! I'm not sure when I will get these changes up, but I would like too soon! I want to tell you all some of my ideas and give you a heads up as to whats going on. 

-I am going to put some quotes on my sidebar.

-Reorganize my Pages and add Pages.

-Maybe tweak the header.

-Figure out how to do a picture and About Me intro on the sidebar.

-Change my sign-off signature. 

-Maybe post a (life or writing or bookish or tag) post once a month on a day other than Wednesday?

Tell me your thoughts on these ideas! I want to hear what Showers of Blessings' readers like about my blog and how to make it more user friendly and better displayed. 

Posts to look forward too: 

January will be the usual posting schedule of posting every Wednesday trading off between a devotional and poem. The last Wednesday of January will have a wrap up post as usual.

For each Wednesday in the month of February, I am celebrating my one year blogging anniversary! That means that I will be doing some really fun posts and hosting a GIVEAWAY!!! Yes, your read that right! I am already starting to put the giveaway prize together and let me just say, I wish I could win it! (Ya, that sounded really bad, I know!) 

March will be another fun month because I have asked each of my immediate family members to take over my blog for every Wednesday and post whatever they would like too! They could talk about some of there interests, life on Winds of Faith, photo dumps, recipes, devotionals, interviews, whatever they would like to share! It's going to be a blast! 

***Because those two months are already planned, I am going to NOT be doing monthly wrap-up posts for February and March. I know you all really like reading my wrap-ups, so I am by no means stopping them, but I do not want to take away from the other things I have planned (plus I need that extra Wednesday!) Wrap-up posts will continue on after March.***

So tell me what you think of my ideas! 

Have you ever written your year a letter? What did you do to celebrate the New Year? Is there anything fun that you are looking forward to in 2019? Were you able to look over the older posts linked throughout the letters? What is your word for twenty nineteen? Do you have any changes you would like to see around Showers of Blessings? Comment below! :)

P.S. This is my 50th post!!!