Happy NYE everyone! I wanted to say a quick THANK YOU to all of you who have followed along with me, inspired me, and kept me going these last 9 months. I can’t wait to continue this journey with you in the new year.

This post is a little different than a traditional resolutions post. I love resolutions but I find myself feeling so much pressure to stick to them and then giving up too easily, so this year I wanted to create a list of prayers. Prayers for this year and for the years to come.

I pray for good health for myself and my family.

The past couple of years have been tough for me health-wise. After having a stretch of major pain in 2016 the doctors determined I need have my gallbladder out and my pancreas examined. It has been an uphill battle since then. I have had many painful days and nights with my stomach since then and the doctors haven’t been able to figure out what it is. It has gotten better with some recent treatments, tests, and medicine swaps so I pray that it continues to improve.

As far as my family we have so many exciting new things happening so I pray that they all stay happy and healthy!

I pray for patience.

There are so many times that I wish I was more patient and less quick to judge a situation. It can be so hard sometimes to change habits you have always had so I pray that I don’t give up on my resolutions, that I keep working and striving to be the best I can be, and that I give up control and let things happen on Gods timing instead of my own.

I pray for authenticity and to inspire that in others.

I find myself judging my blog, my career, where I am at in my life and so many other things when I compare them to others yet I am realizing more and more that this platform is mine and it is a place to be 100% authentic and to share good things and bad. I am realizing I don’t have to be perfect or put together all of the time. So this year, I pray that got gives me the courage to be 100% authentic without fear of judgment.

I pray that my family, Russel, and I will find new adventures.

There are few things I love more than getting to see the world with Russel and my family. It is the most amazing thing to get away from the world and hang out with them for a few days so I pray that this year we will find new adventures and we are currently working to plan some!

I pray that God will grant us peace and understanding in this confusing world.

I find my self always wondering what the world will be like a few years from now with all that is going on in the world. This year my prayer is to let go and trust that God has a plan and that my worrying will not change the outcome.

I pray that God continues to allow me to mentor Kassandra and do good in my city.

One of the best things to happen to me in the last two years was being able to mentor a little girl named Kassandra. She has quickly become so special to me and I cherish the hours each month I get to spend with her. My prayer is that God will give me the right things to say to empower her, to give her courage, and to show her that she can change the world even if those in her family life don’t.

I pray that this year I will be present.

In 2017 I was trying so hard to get my blog off the ground. It was something I loved to do and something that gave me so much creative freedom. But, I found myself constantly on my phone and computer all of the time. I pray that God will help me find the perfect balance between real life and work so that I don’t miss out on something truly incredible.

I pray that Russel and I will continue to grow in God

This is probably one of the most important to me. I love my parents more than anything in the world and I am so blessed that they showed me God and helped me grow my relationship with him so early in my life. I pray that this year Russell and I will continue attending church and that we will grow our relationship in life and in the Lord together.

I would love to hear your resolutions or what you are praying for this year!

XO – Courtney