On starting a New Year.

I have always been a big fan of New Year's. It always feels like a great excuse to start afresh, leave some things behind and look toward the future. Last year taught me so much personally. It pushed me harder than ever before, and forced me to really consider my own mental health and to listen to my body when it was telling me I needed to make some changes. I am so glad I reached out for help, and found ways to help myself cope with higher levels of stress. Towards the end of the year, I came across a job opportunity quite by accident and thought I should apply. A few days later I was invited to an interview, and then a 2nd interview. After a slightly anxious wait over the days that followed, I was offered the position and had to hand in my notice. It was a huge decision for me; I loved the team in my previous role and they had been so flexible with me during all the family changes and the sickness period we had from November onwards. Starting a new role has been daunting and quite intensive as we've had several meetings, and met up for a full day of training last week to try and understand the programme as it is a brand new team for a new youth project. My head has been spinning slightly, and it did trigger a migraine which thankfully happened in an evening and Tom was home so I could just go to bed! Things will settle down now as I start to do tasks and wrap my head around the role, but I am very grateful to have found something that is equally flexible and I know they understand the implications of having small children around! This is going to be a great fresh start for us, and it should hopefully see us through until at least Finn starts school, which is something I can't begin to think about right now!! 

Work trip to Belfast

We started off this year by getting the house back into order. I realise now that the weeks of sickness we endured between us led us to neglect some of our space, especially our bedroom, as we just didn't have the surplus energy to stay on top of things. We spent a whole day (in-between naps for the boys!) getting organised, setting up my desk space and putting things away. I felt ready to put away the Christmas decorations and just have some space back. I've worked hard all week to stay on top of everything instead of letting things pile up, and it has helped make our home feel much more peaceful. This weekend we did even more organising; I had to sort through all the boys clothes and moved Zach up to the next size which means we have a huge bag of donations and I listed a bunch of stuff on Vinted. I also went through my books and have sold a box of those through a re-selling scheme (I buy most of my books 2nd hand). This year I really want to simplify, so my plan is to tackle one room at a time and see what things we can sort through and find things we might not need anymore. 

For the past few months I've been watching a lot of YouTube content that is looking at the massive overconsumption that is all over social media, and it has really caused me to reflect on the ways I can be so easily influenced by things I see online. I have known for a while that having breaks from scrolling also takes me away from tempation of seeing things that people have bought or are trying to sell. I can see how much the 'trends' and 'viral' products are especially influencing young girls, and how expensive a lot of the products are, but they feel the pressure to want to be part of that. I think things like elaborate skincare routines are especially dangerous for younger people because their skin doesn't need it, and I worry about the long-term effects of that. A lot of the content that's pushed to me is around 'shopping hauls,' 'restocks,' 'make-up hauls,' and 'home decor,' all of which make you feel the need for more. Now that I am reading a lot more frequently, I find new content of 'book hauls,' and recommendations which can also lead me to grab another book to add to my 'to be read' pile.

A part of simplifying is also looking at what I spend my money on, and really focussing on what is necessary. That for me means doing what I can to escape that kind of content that can leave you feeling inadquate, or that fuels the desire for more. Having used skincare and make-up for many years now, I know the things that work for me and I want to stick to using those rather than being pushed to try something new. I have very sensitive skin (as do the boys), so I have found products that don't irriate me and I am going to stick to those. For Christmas I received a range of Aveeno oat skincare products and a set of Tropic skincare. Both of those ranges have been so good for my skin, so those will be repeat purchases. Other ranges that work well for me are Weleda, Simple and The Body Shop - I use those mainly for bath and shower products as they are all kind to my skin. I love Body Shop products for my hair as well, but I've ended up sharing a lot of that with Tom as it's also good for his beard! My plan is to use up what I have and don't try anything new because I don't need it.

I have always been a person who values experiences more than 'things,' so we have thought about some of the experiences we'd like to have this year, and want to put our resources into those things instead of bringing more toys and such into the house. We have a pot set aside for trips to the local soft play, and we gratefully received annual passes for the aquarium again which means we can go there as often as we'd like. Tom and I would like to go to a few more Belfast Giants (Ice hockey) games, and I'm sure there will be plenty of other local events cropping up throughout the year. To me, the times we spent together having fun and making memories are way more important than having fancy stuff, so that is going to my focus this year, as well as adding whatever we can to savings. 

Coming up in 2025

This week I joined an online session as part of my book club which was a chance to make a 'vision board.' I can't remember if I've made one before, but I found it so helpful to think about the year ahead and what I wanted it to look like. The words and scenes I was drawn to were things like comfort, peace, and cosy, and a lot of what I pictured was centred around being at home. It helped me see that I want to really embrace being home and creating a peaceful atmosphere within it. I want to enjoy slow days, especially at the weekend, where we can spent time together outdoors at parks, the beach or our favourite nature spots and come home to make a nice roast dinner and curl up with a book. I am going to join an in-person book club too which I am looking forward to and I really want to stick to that commitment, as it is so hard to meet new people at this stage in life, but I think it would be so good for me - especially if I know we have a common interest at the outset. I'd also like to start a simple book journal which will allow me to track what I've read and what my thoughts were - the beauty of book clubs is that they boraden your horizons and get you to read things you might not naturally choose. This year I want to read 40 books - last year I managed 25 which I was quite pleased with! 

Soon we will celebrate Zach's first birthday, which is actually making me feel very emotional...I can't believe my baby bear is almost a year old. He is just the most wonderful, loving, laid-back boy and he has brought so much joy to our life. I am excited to have a special party at home for him, and I've gathered most of the decorations for the theme which I will share after! We decided to get him a special teddy and some nice little outfits, but otherwise we will probably focus on saving money for future outings as I mentioned above. 

Then what follows is the biggest event of the year...our wedding is very fast approaching! Most of the planning is done, but there are a few things I want to focus on over the coming weeks. Next week we have time set aside for planning, and Tom has a plan for going suit shopping. I know everything will come together and we still have plenty of time, but every now and then I have a moment of panic about it in case I've forgotten something major! We have decided on where we want to go for our honeymoon and we just need to lock-in the dates. It will be simple and quiet which is just what we want. We can't wait to have everyone gathered with us and to celebrate together. I'm excited for the boys to finally meet everyone from England, and to see them in little suits! 

For now, I want to make our meal plan for the week and then begin my 2nd book of the year which is 'Moon Sister' by Lucinda Riley. The Seven Sisters has been the best series I've read, it is just brilliant and I can't wait to get stuck into the next one! 

Love, Sarah x

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'God loves a cheerful giver...'

I've been thinking a lot lately about giving. Obviously, tis the season to be exchanging gifts, cards and over-eating. Christmas is by FAR my favourite time of year, and I am finally 90% all wrapped up and ready to go. I'm not going to get all preachy and defensive about what Christmas is truly about - I'll leave that to others because I want to talk about why generosity is so important, not just now - but always.

You see, I don't think generosity is merely an act more a lifestyle choice. I think that some of us are natural givers, and others are natural receivers. It is right to come to a balance in some ways, as I know I find it hard to receive things sometimes! So, what are some of the things that stop us from being generous?

Fear - 'What if I don't have enough to live off if I give this away?' Having lived off very little money for the past six months or so, I can say that I have learnt what I need and what I want. Has having little meant that I am not able to give? No. (I'm not sitting here blowing my own trumpet because each time I have got money my first reaction is usually: 'ooh I can buy a dress now.') It is easier than we might think to run fundraisers to help out charities, to put your loose change in a jar and give it away, to donate some tins of  food to local charities that help the homeless, to give a one off donation, to volunteer our time somewhere or even attend a fundraising event. When we have little - what we give is a LOT.


The Widow’s Offering

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

I love this story. It challenges me every single time I read it. Did she find it easy to give everything she had...probably not. Giving it away was worth more to her than keeping it in her pocket. I would imagine she probably thought it was embarrassing to give such a small amount as her offering, what difference could that amount make? Here, Jesus is asking us - why is it more of a sacrifice to give when we have a little? Because sometimes it is all we have. It means more. It is a decision to share what little we have with others. It is a decision to not hoard what we have but to open it up and enjoy it with those around us, even if it means that we ourselves go without something.

Entitlement - 'I earnt this, it's up to me what I do with it.' I get this. There's nothing wrong with saving for the future. But, when we hold on to what we have just because 'It's mine' we forget some important things. 

Treasures in Heaven

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...
²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

When we think about our belongings in the bigger picture, we realise how temporary they really are. Is it better to spend 5 hours a day playing Fifa - or devoting that time to a friend? Which will last? Which will make an impact beyond our days? Life is so fragile, so fleeting and I want to encourage us all to think about how generous we are with our time, as well as our money/possessions. For we will never gain our time back.

I went to see one of my all time favourite bands a couple of weeks back. They are called 'Needtobreathe' and are from a small town in South Carolina. 

I'm just going to take a moment to appreciate my photograph. 

Small town Americans always remind me of Yorkshire folk because we share the same 'no nonsense' approach to life. Say it like it is, even though you may offend some people. They did a beautiful acapella version of their new song called 'Difference Maker.' I haven't stopped listening to it since I first heard it! At first, I thought I had figured out what the song meant until I saw the lead singer, Bear talk about it on a video on YouTube. 

Difference Maker

Yeah ain't it just amazing
How a God can tend a broken man
Yeah let him find a fortune
And then ruin it with his own two hands
Oh isn't it amazing
How a man can find himself alone
Calling through the darkness
For an answer that is never known
He walks on up the hill
The rock on which he stands
Looks back at the crowd
Looks down at his hands and he says
I am a difference maker

Oh I am a difference maker
Oh I am the only one who speaks to him
And I am the friendliest of friends of God

Yeah isn't it amazing
How a man can find himself alone
Calling through the darkness
For an answer that is never known
He walks on up the hill
The rock on which he stands
Looks back at the crowd
Looks down at his hands and he says
I am a difference maker

Oh I am a difference maker
Oh I am the only one that speaks to him
And I am the friendliest of friends of God

Yeah I am on the fence about
Nearly everything I've seen
And I have felt the fire
Put out with too much gasoline
And we're all strangers passing through
Places one afternoon
And life is but a vision
In a window that we're peeking thorough
A hopeless conversation
With a man who says he cares a lot
It's a hopeless confrontation
About who might throw a punch or not
But we are all transgressors
We're all sinners
We're all astronauts
So if you're beating death
Then raise your hand
And shut up if you're not

Hear it here :)

I think they're speaking about how arrogant we can be sometimes. That 'I' am a difference maker when surely it is God making a difference through me. Do I take the credit or do I send that Heavenward? God, in His perfection chose to reach out and love me yet I sit here and think about how good I am. With all my shortfalls and messups and mistakes, the only reason I continue is through His grace. Yet so often, it's all about me. Ultimately, we're all a bunch of messy people, in a broken world that hurts itself day in, day out. My duty is not to fill my life, this blesséd day that I have been given with 'things' that mean nothing. It is to bind broken hearts, offer the same grace I have received, and love until it hurts. Those are the things that last. And when I do something good it is because of Him, not me.

When we recognise that we have a GREAT responsibility in this life to value people over possessions, that is when we become truly generous. I am so blessed to spend my life with so many people who have gone out of their way to do amazing things for me. People who have put me first, saw something and thought of me, put up with sitting 4 hours in a coffee shop because I love talking so much. Those who have invited me along to things, who have missed me when I'm not there, who've text me to see if I'm ok. Those are the things that I treasure and they mean that I will always work hard to ensure I offer good friendship in return. 

'A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.' Proverbs 11:25

The things that I have, are only on loan to me, so I can keep them to myself and enjoy them - or I can make a choice to involve others in enjoying them too. I want to encourage you to give with a joyful and thankful heart, being grateful for all that you have been given, knowing that by giving your time, efforts, or finances, you are making a bigger difference than you could ever know.

Much Love xxx

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