Welcome to 2013! I’m so excited about the possibilities that come with a new year. It’s almost like life is giving us some sort of cosmic do over. And boy do I need it! I missed some of my goals for last year but I’m pressing forward and not dwelling on the past. I hope that you’ll continue to share this journey with me and that you’re just as excited for 2013 as I am…

Morning Coffee {Living Outside the Stacks}

I began today much like I do any other day, with a cup of coffee. This is how I prepare myself for the day’s activities: a cup of coffee and a few minutes of silence. And with this being the beginning of a new year, I used my quiet time to think about all the things I will accomplish.

This year I’ll be turning the big 4~Oh! This is so hard for me to believe. There are days when I feel like I’m barely out of my twenties. And a lot of days when I look at those four teenagers living in my house and wonder why they’re calling me “Mom”. You’d think after nineteen years I’d be used to them by now. I’m not sure what I’m going to do to mark this milestone birthday, but I know I have to do something big.

I’ve joined not one but two photography challenges for this year. Like last year, I’ll be joining in the Photo A Day Challenge hosted by fat mum slim and posting the pictures on Instagram (be sure to follow me there). The second challenge is the one I’m most worried excited about because it requires that I use Nikki (my Nikon D3100). Poor Nikki hasn’t been getting out as often as she used to since I started working. Mostly she’s been relegated to taking outfit pictures but we all know she’s capable of so much more. So I’ll be stretching my creativity and, hopefully, learning some new tricks along the way. You can view my photos from  365: The 2013 Edition by clicking here.

At church I’ll be busy with the women’s group. Pastor Z asked me if I would help lead the women’s group. squee and eek I agreed because I thought it might be fun and since I’m not reading the Bible in 90 Days this year, I thought this would be a fun way to engage myself with other ladies in a study of God’s word. Our first study will be True Woman 101: Divine Design by Mary Kassian and Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I’ve already run it by the ladies and they’re all kinds of excited about the study and the discussions that we’ll be having.

I’ll also be doing some product reviews, sharing some of my favorite books and, hopefully, hosting a whole lot more giveaways. As always, I enjoy reading your comments, so please don’t be shy, leave a comment whether you agree or disagree; life is all about learning and sharing.

And I look forward to sharing 2013 with you! Be blessed and be happy!