DIARY // ONE WORD 2012

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so, i started writing a post about my one word for 2013 but then i thought, oh man i should really reflect on my one word for 2012 first.

one word-

you can read about picking one word here. i was inspired to have one word define your year. not a list of resolutions but one word. so last january i prayed and felt God lead me to one word for 2012. the word was bold. i blogged about it here.

“God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.” -2 Timothy 7 MESSAGE 

in 2012 i faced a lot of things that took some boldness.

i had the privilege to speak on 4 occasions on the topic of purity. a topic that was one of the last things i wanted to speak on. but God took me on a journey and showed me the importance of obeying Him and the importance of purity. over 400 girls heard that same message. God also made me bold enough to speak on purity to girls & guys at a conference in edmonton.

i prayed for some boldness as i stepped out of my comfort zone and applied to be a volunteer youth worker at the blanshard community centre (my first shift is tomorrow, yeaaah!)

i made two big, bold, decisions with 3 words… yes & i do.

i became a wife. :)

i threw out my ridiculous expectations of marriage and clung boldly to Jesus. 

and in the last month of 2012 i saw a bold lioness arise in me. my friend christina (who blogs beautifully here) wrote about how wive’s are needed to be strong, strong like lions. so i prayed for Jesus to make me strong and bold like a lioness.

2012 turned out to be my best year yet as i boldly went where i haven’t been before (with much help from my God, who is full of endless patience and goodness). 

over & out,

s.s.♥.

DIARY // GOODBYE 2012 + WEDDING VIDEO!

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oh 2012, you were a gooder.

yes, i’m aware that we’re now well into 2013 but before i can run ahead, i want to glance behind.

as i look back on 2012 i look upon my best but hardest year. but are years really any good if there isn’t any overcoming? if there isn’t any surrendering? if there isn’t any dying to yourself? no, i didn’t think so.

what i can say at the end of it is, God is faithful and soooo good. this past year i have come to know God’s faithfulness like no other.

in 2012 i made the best decision of my life thus far (besides surrendering my life to Jesus, duh!) and said yes when james peter liira got down on one knee and proposed on march 20th (you can read about that story here)

august 24th, 2012 was truly the best day of my life as i married the man of my dreams.

it was absolutely perfect. my absolutely favourite moment of the day (besides the kiss) was when james surprised me…i was busy chatting to friends and then all of a sudden i hear his voice through the mic. he’s on stage with a guitar and starts to sing me a song he wrote for me…and he also secretly recorded the song a few days before the wedding so logan could add it to the video (thank you to everyone who was involved with that!)

so here it is…(thank you so much natasha for filming and logan for editing this beauty!!! you guys are true gems!!!)

so enjoy!

and happy new year! may 2013 be your best yet!!!

xoxo,

s.s.♥.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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Merry Christmas from my heart to yours! we just got back from our huge italian feast and now we’re bunkering down for a quiet Christmas eve. we decided to open presents tonight as tomorrow will be a full but amazing day visiting two sets of families.

we’re also building a fort in our living room tonight. i’m so excited to sleep under the Christmas tree…oh Christmas is good. i hope you all are having wonderful times with your family.

God is so good. Thank you Lord for the greatest gift we have ever received…JESUS!!!

s.s.♥.

ps. check out this video (O Holy Night) of my incredibly talented hubby and incredibly talented friend..!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd7FaplMKhc&feature=share&list=PL26C3364E20F91F8C