Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

My blogging patterns left a lot to be desired in 2016. I was gosh darn terrible at it. I'm so sorry. Goal for 2017? Get it together, Holly. Ha!

As I sit here... and if I'm being honest, feeling kinda sorry for myself (I have a nasty, NASTY headcold, pink eye in both eyes, the sorest throat of life, haven't showered in days, company here from Ottawa and I don't feel well enough to do anything or entertain them... SHEEEEESH) and feeling all kinds of regret for what I didn't get done in 2016:

- lose weight
- get a walk in every day
- blog all of my weddings & sessions
- update sample albums
- update branding, new logo
- update USBs with previously mentioned new branding
- learn something new photography-related
- take a J&M lighting course
- update my hair/style
- eat less/eat less junk
- get a massage
- get more sleep

I have to remind myself that 2016 was still a good year. I have an amazing family, a husband who loves me and would do anything for me, my kids are all healthy and well and happy. They've all got great teachers this year and are doing well in school. Mom & dad are healthy and doing great, Joe's folks too. My business kind of thrived this year. Lots of wonderful feedback from clients. Client care really took off for my business this year. I got all of my weddings and edits done and back to couples & families in time for the holidays (which is a 1st for me! It was all done before Dec 1st!). At the beginning of the year, I did a 40th birthday shoot with Chera Yorke as a present to myself. We drove to Ottawa to visit Heather & Steve on our vacation. I finally got into physio for my ankle. It was a big Grand Opening year for our Church, which we are thrilled to be a part of, etc etc...

And God is Good. He always has been and is and always will be. This song by Housefires has been a fave of mine all year. Such a powerful reminder that God can be trusted, and He's a good, good Father to me.

 

So I'm not going to make a list of goals and things I want to accomplish by the end of 2017 (ackkkkk, 2017. SEVENTEEN. That's a magazine, not a year. ha!).

Instead, I'm choosing a word.

My word for 2017 is BEYOND. Going beyond whatever I thought was possible. In business, motherhood, relationships, creativity. All of it.

This is my prayer.

Ephesians 3:14-21,
"...when I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely (BEYOND) more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the Church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever. Amen."


That's it. That's my last post of 2016. I think it's a good one.

Be blessed, friends. The happiest of New Years from me to you.