2012 has been quite a year. We've seen changes like never before. These changes were sought after and welcomed, but once we started to test the waters a bit, we realized just how hard these changes were going to be. In one short year we've packed up life as we knew it and decided to raise our girls in the little Texas town that we both grew up in, hoping to give them a childhood like no other....one with grandparents and cousins and family...a childhood with open fields and less demands and more of whatever it is that we thought that we were missing by living just outside of the city.
If I could share one thing with you that I've learned from this move, it is this:
Possessions don't matter. People do.
As I type, there are two storage buildings full of things that at once we thought were "must haves". Of course, there ARE necessities in there...a bed to sleep in, a couch to sit on, dishes to eat off of. But I promise that there is an embarrassing amount of excess in there as well. We've been living without most of the stuff for months now, and only on rare occasions have we ever "needed" any of it.
We've learned to live with less, and our goal for 2013 is to do just that. Live with less. I see a lot of organization projects in my future! My goal is to send half of the packed boxes to be donated. I think it's possible. Who needs old birthday party decorations, or baby clothes, or more than one set of mixing bowls? When it's all said and done, not a single bit of any of that "stuff" will matter one bit.
Possessions are overrated.
Another goal for 2013 is to be extremely intentional with our family time. Living apart for 5 months (and counting) has made me realize how much I miss it! I will never again take for granted a meal where all four of us sit together, or a free afternoon spent playing in the backyard together, or a quiet bedtime story read with the four of us piled in together. Together is good.
In 2008, I started blogging because 1)my family lived far away and 2)everyone else was doing it! I was doing pretty good keeping up with the family pictures, making little books here and there, but I was missing the stories behind the pictures. I was never a good scrapbooker. I actually hate it. But I do love the idea of the pictures and the stories all being there. Stories are important.
As for the decision to stop blogging, it was one that I have wrestled with for quite some time. I absolutely love connecting with my friends in this way, and connecting with people from all over the world and learning about their lives as well. Over the past 5 years, I have become quite attached to my little spot in the blog world. I even had a precious chevron design ready to roll out with my designer who was getting ready to update the "look." But, all good things must come to an end, and today is the day for The Gillaspie Family blog to say goodbye.
I hope that our stories have reached you in some way, that my words have been a blessing, and that our lives have pointed you to Jesus.
To Ben: Living apart from you and watching the seasons come and go just makes me more anxious for the next season of our own life. I cannot wait to hear you coming through the door in the afternoon and having you stay. I cannot wait for the day that you can stop packing bags and saying goodbye. I miss you terribly and I cherish every single second that we have together. I am looking forward to settling in here and making new memories together...I love you.
To Audrey: Sweet girl, your little life is what spurred Mommy on to start writing down our stories. What a blessing and a privilege it is to call you my own. You are so incredibly smart, you are kind, you are witty, you are spirited, and I know that God has big things ahead for you, baby girl. I am so sorry that we uprooted your little world, but I promise that soon enough, this will all be a memory. You WILL have your own room again. Pinky promise! However, I'm not sure that you are going to want one now that you've had a chance to spend so much time with Abby. You are a leader, and I pray that God will continue to mold and shape you to follow Him so that your life will be an example as you grow.
To Abby: Oh little love, your joy is contagious. You were not even in this world when I started sharing our stories, and your whole little life has been documented with each new milestone that you've met. In less than four short years, you have already learned so many things, but most importantly, you've learned how to love. You have a heart like no other, and your incessant "I love you's" never get old. Everyone you meet just can't get enough of you, and it is a joy that I get to be your Mommy.
To my dear readers: Thank you. What an honor it has been to share our lives with you. My stats show readership all over the world....blog hoppers that have landed on our page and stuck around. I'm amazed that anyone even finds us that interesting! I truly hope that our stories have been a blessing to you in some way, that something we have said or done over the years has helped you to be a better person, too. I hope that I have shown you a glimpse into our perfectly imperfect life, and that through it all, Jesus is the reason why we have joy...why we have hope...why we have peace.
Do you know Him? The hope and promise of Heaven is something that I don't want you to miss out on. We believe that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins, but accepting Him as your savior will take your old life away and give you a new life. God does not promise us an easy life or a perfect life, but He does promise that trusting him will change your eternity.
Thank you for reading. Blessings to you from The Gillaspie Family!
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
