Now that Abby and I have moved back to New England, our time has been stretched. So many changes happening so suddenly that it is easy to forget to breathe and take some time out just for the two of us. We have been trying real hard to keep time carved out for each other and this Saturday we decided to hop on down to Boston…one of our favorite places.

We also had a chance to browse one of our favorite stores, West Elm…We wanted everything

Twas a great day.

Have you gone on any little trips lately?

Well folks, here is some news on the Wallace family front:

We are moving back to New Hampshire!

We will miss Tennessee but are looking forward to the next chapter of our lives back in New England. We are both pursuing some other career opportunities and will enjoy being closer to our families.

More details to follow!

“In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.” Proverbs 24:14

We have an amazing gift at our fingertips…The Bible. Contained inside it is the wisdom, words, and character of our Savior. Every one of us wants a bright future and to go through this life with hope. In this book, we can find the answers to our questions. We can find how to have hope in the middle of a storm, joy in the midst of sorrow, and peace in the midst of turmoil.

For 2013, I challenge you to dive into this book more than you ever have. In this book you will find out God’s will for you life. You will discover the character of the God we serve and the type of person He is.

There is no downside to studying His Word. And the benefits can be life-changing.

Join me this year in discovering more of the riches in this book than ever before.

Thank you Pinterest for the funnies this week!

Enjoy.

What were you born to accomplish with your life? One Big Thing will help you discover what you were born to do and allow it to revolutionize your business, your ministry, and your life. In today’s distracted, digital culture, it’s harder than ever to identify your calling, get your voice heard, and achieve your dreams. To stand out and communicate your ideas and message, you need to cut through the clutter and get noticed. Making that happen means focusing on the one thing that drives you, inspires your passion, and separates you from the pack. If you’ve ever felt pulled in different directions or wondered what to do with your varied talents and interests, Phil Cooke will teach you the secrets of living a life-on-purpose that rises above the noise and leaves a lasting mark on the world. [Synopsis]

Phil Cooke in this book, will help you do just that, find your One Big Thing. There are a few people who “preach” this message: “Don’t just be average at a lot of things, but be great at one thing.” Phil Cooke is one, Marcus Buckingham and John Maxwell are others. And I would have to agree with that message. I am a believer in the One Big Thing concept. In today’s cult-throat world, it is simply not enough to be just average at a lot of things, You have to be focused and great at something specific. I believe we all have that something specific inside of us, and this book will help you draw that out.

“Plenty of people want to change the world, but not enough want to change themselves.” Phil Cooke

Phil helps you examine not just your external circumstances but the state of your internals as well. Your heart, your passions, and how you were wired. One of the major positive marks for this book is that Phil encourages you to live a passionate life and one unashamed of your values. He lets you know that it’s ok to stand up for what you believe in and that really the only way to sleep soundly every night is to know that you are whole-heartedly being the person God created you to be.

I would recommend this book. It will be one that I will use as a resource throughout my journey.

A simple yet potentially difficult question:

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

Basically, what is your dream job?

2013!

Wow.

With each new year, it’s a great time to reflect on the year past and re-think your strategies and make some goals for the year ahead. But have you ever wondered why we make resolutions or where the tradition came from?

According to THIS site, the history of making new year’s resolutions is ancient.

The tradition of the New Year’s Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C.  The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.  In the Medieval era, knights took the “peacock vow” at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry. The Roman began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named. Janus is the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances, he is always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back, so he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new and thus he became the ancient symbol for resolutions.

Here are a few tips I came up with for being more successful on your resolutions:

1. Be specific! (i.e. I will lose 2 pound a week…not, I will lose weight)
2. Have  accountability. (Go public with your resolutions and get friends involved.)
3. Be realistic. (It sounds awesome that you want to do 1,000 push-ups a day but probably not that realistic.)
4. Persevere. (Most resolutions are abandoned within a month. When the going gets tough, push through it.)
5. Don’t get de-railed by slip-ups or slow results. (Dust yourself off and try again.)

Let 2013 be your best year.

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3

I hope you find and experience many blessings in 2013!

Be blessed.

One simple question to think about today:

What does the Christmas season truly mean to you?

What feelings does it stir up inside you?

It’s one of the most important events for Christians and totally worth celebrating.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Abby and I just returned from our honeymoon cruise last week. We have been married a year now and finally had the opportunity to go on our honeymoon. We both got extremely sick the day before (Abby) and the day after (me) our wedding so we had to postpone our original plans. But finally we set out and had such a wonderful time. We highly recommend Royal Caribbean and of course the Caribbean itself.

Enjoy of few of our moments together.