Last January I was pumped. I mean, 2013 was going to be the year that I just tore it up, so to speak. My house was going to be spotless, we were going to take spontaneous trips often, I was going to shoot my little heart out (with a camera, of course) and dig deeper into the Word than ever before. I had high hopes for last year…

…and then I got pregnant…and then I started throwing up…and then the house became messier…and then we never went anywhere because I was sick…and then I started turning down weddings because I thought I would just die from this tiny and perfect little terror that was growing inside of me…and then came summer and my world just sort of fell apart behind the scenes.

Toward the end of December, I started the typical “goal setting and dreaming big” process that we all inevitably fall victim to. The problem with setting goals is that sometimes, I don’t achieve them, and then I feel like I’ve failed. This year, I’ll be focusing on “Goals With Grace”: goals that I’d like to achieve each month but will not beat myself up over them if I don’t.

A friend encouraged me to pick a word for the year. I’ve never done this before and it took me a week or two to nail down a word that could sort of define 2014 for me. Then, I came across this verse…

Renew.

I’m in desperate need of renewing in so many areas of my life, and I know I’m not alone. Feel free to pin this image, right click, download, screenshot, share…whatever you need to do. Big dreams may just have to wait…renewal is necessary.