Monday, December 31, 2012

New Year's Resolution 2013 - Grateful Jar

Happy New Year's everyone!

As I am thinking about the year coming to an end I reflected back on all I have learned, experiences and my heart is full of gratefulness. So, I came up with an alternative to the New Year resolution list and I am doing a New Year's grateful jar. The reason behind this is a bit long, but I am going to give you the short version. Three years ago my husband lost his job, but in those three years we have done so much growing then we can ever imagine. It was tough, scary and we (I, mostly) worried a lot, but I remember what my former pastor always told me over and over "What the devil meant for bad God will turned it around for good" and "You are NEVER too old to learn". With this great advise I slowly (through prayers) started to unlearned what I have learned, meaning I needed to stop worrying and trust God's word. I needed to learn to venture out of my comfort zone and learn new things, for example how to shoot photos and edited them (still learning). I needed to change my bad/negative thinking into what I have learned and heard for years, I can do anything with God, who is for me. I know I don't ever talk about my faith on my blog, because my blog is about what I have created, but along this journey of blogging I am recreating a new me. I am opening up and being real with you all today, which by the way is hard for me to do on my blog, because this is the Internet of course. But in doing this I hope to encourage you and inspire you to not look to just what you want to accomplish in 2013, but also appreciate all you have accomplished and having a grateful heart.  So when you experience hard times you can go into your New Year grateful jar and remember and gain strength to see you through the difficult times. You see I am a believer you can do all things, because God had put it in you to create and inspire many, not with your DIY's but with your words. You will never ever see me saying or leaving negative comments on anyone's blog or if I am talking to you I will always encourage you and uplift you. I genuinely care for my families, friends and strangers. I care for peoples well being and I know we have a will to choose what road we want to take, but I pray it will be a road of growth, building up, creating, sharing and loving. Dare to change and improve on you and change those unlovable bad habits and see how much your world will change. You will see things so differently. Yes, changing can be a difficult thing, but I keep it real with myself and point to myself when I make a mistake and missed the mark. I also have a very loving and amazing husband who will point out to me (in a loving manner, of course) my shortcomings. Now, remember don't ever point out people's shortcomings and how they should improvement, but look at yourself. I have found people who are doing the finger pointing are the ones that need the most improvement. I don't care if you are 20 or 87 you are never, I mean NEVER EVER to young or old to unlearn, relearn and learn. This another great piece of advise my pastor told me and he is 83 years old.

Clean jar and chalkboard paint.
Tape it off and just painted the center of the jar. Let dry and spray paint the lid.

Here is my grateful jar and every week I will put in my jar what I am grateful for and I can go back into my jar any time and read what I wrote so I can remind myself how far I have come. I love to think of this project as a project that is changing my heart into one of gratefulness. By the end of 2013 I will go through each one and remember and thank God for all is goodness and benefits and also come up with a plan to take those notes and add them to a DIY project.

Me! Plan on taking professional pics soon. 
Happy New Year's to you and yours and be safe. Praying for a prosperous year for you! See you next year! : - )

Hugs,

Vanessa

13 comments:

  1. I love this so much! You are inspiring! I think we all could stand to be a little more grateful.

    Have a safe & happy new year!

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  2. Hi Vanessa!
    Thank you for sharing what you did! It really made me think. I appreciate all you shared. Very good advice.

    And I really ♥ your jar...it's such a great idea, and it's super cute! Love how you showed how to make one!

    HAPPY NEW YEAR sweet friend. My wish for you is a WONDERFUL 2013!!

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  3. Love your grateful jar - it's a wonderful idea!
    Happy New Year to you. May it be full of blessings and joy!

    Hugs,
    Stephanie

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  4. New Year's Blessings to you! LOVE the idea for the Grateful Jar! :D I hope that 2013 is full of health and happiness for you and yours.

    xo,
    Ricki Jill

    PS Your pastor rocks!

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    1. Hi, Ricki

      Thank you so much for your sweet comment and yes, my Pastor does rock! He is an amazing man. Have a great week.

      Hugs,
      Vanessa

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  5. Happy New Year! Thanks for you kind visit. Glad to have ya and look forward to meeting you more. Love your chalkboard project.

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  6. I totally love this idea...and you know I definitely love anything with chalkboard paint! Too cute, V!

    Jessica @ Mom 4 Real

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  7. Vanessa what a 'lov-er-ly ' young lady you are! Great Pic!We all need something to encouage or nudge us to count our blessings..whatver works!I vividly recall the night I came home in 1997 and my husband told me he had lost his job-he was two yes 2 years too young to take early retirement..talk about the 'wind out of your sails' feeling..I can feel it now as I recall. It was such an adventure we began that night..so many things God showed us, taught us and ooomy HIS PROVISION! i cannot imagine "our story" [testimony] without that turn in the road we took. Indeed He did USE what was meant for defeat.
    btw..thanks for the twitter heads up...I have not been able to resolve that..
    I wish for you MORE THAN simply a HAPPY NEW YEAR...I pray it will be filled with HIS MOLDING AND SHAPING AND FINE TUNING...& provision...
    I welcome feedback re my blog..am having diff 'writing' ...need to learn how to use the tech to gather a larger audience. That's where my "blog focus' is for 2013-

    Jonell

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  8. your grateful jar is an inspired idea. I think you are wonderful and hope your year is filled with happy xoi

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  9. Vanessa, your post inspired me! I now want to make a 'grateful jar'! I love the reminder of focusing on the positive things and accomplishments rather than what we think we can't do. And thank you for always being so encouraging and uplifting w/ your comments on my blog! Hope your 2013 brings you lots of happiness :)
    Susan

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  10. What a great post Vanessa. You have the gift of encouragement, for sure. I love hear stories of how God redeems. Thank you for the post!

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  11. I love your spirit. And what a cute lady you are! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving the kind compliment and for the follow. I'm following back as soon as I find the button. :)

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