With Christmas here, I’ll be taking a short break from posting until after the New Year arrives. I look forward to spending time with the family and church members in the coming days and I am especially looking forward to making plans and goals for the coming year. I don’t know if it is because we are women and we know what it means to birth new life, but women seem to understand the need for fresh starts and new beginnings. Something inside of us regularly pushes us to plan, set goals, aspire and achieve.

New beginnings are exciting- what will this year hold? For me it is a chance to do better, to be better, to love more, and to live more… what is a New Year for you? Right now for me is the time for reflection, what do I want to do differently, what do I NEVER want to do again? It is time to pray and plan for my goals and dreams. Once the New year arrives, it is time to get in gear and implement my goals.

This coming year will be one of my busiest ever. From graduating my oldest into adulthood in his final year of formal homeschooling, to starting basic preschool with my youngest, I have five sons that will all need me to be on the ball as mom. I have organizational goals for the home this year, as well as scheduling goals to help my household run more efficiently than it did this past year- and I plan to share what I am working on week-to-week here at Fruitful Vine if you’d like to follow along. There are personal aspirations for health, and music ministry and of course, for my writing. Our entire family is already underway with goals concerning our relationships with each other and with our Lord.

The truth is though, a fresh start doesn’t have to wait for a New Year to roll around… some of our goals are already being worked on, some have a personal deadline throughout the year. With the Lord, His mercies are new every morning, and every day with Jesus is a fresh start! Don’t feel like you have to wait for a special moment or day to begin anew, right now is as good a time as any! What would you like to see happen in the coming year? How would you personally like to improve as a person, wife, mom, etc? Do you want to spend more time with others, or more time on projects important to you? It’s a great time of year to reflect and plan to be more fruitful in your life, but remember- January 1st. isn’t the only day that fresh starts are available to you, trust in Him and He’ll give you one every single day!

We will continue with the Mother Roar Series after the New Year. May you be blessed to the fullest measure this Christmas and I’ll see you next year! –Nicci

This week:

In the Kitchen with Mama Nicci

Fresh Homemade Everyday Bread