dream a little - er - BIG dream

Hello! I'm back. For today anyway :)

I have so many things I'd like to post and hope to get back in the swing of it here soon. But, for today, I'm just going to unload a little.

Do you pick a word for the year? I know a lot of people that do and I love hearing their words and watching them develop over the year. Words like: intentional, secure, trusting, and hope have stood out to me. All good words and all great things to improve in a year.

But I've never done the word thing - maybe it's because I don't stick to too many things I start out on and knowing me, I'd probably lose sight of my word within the first couple of months, if not weeks or maybe it's something else.

But this year I wanted to have a word.

Something to improve on daily. Something that I'm really not very good at. Something that would hopefully change my life.

I thought and thought and prayed about what my word could be. I think I started thinking in December.

But, I never could settle on a word. Maybe because I'm just so great at everything that there's little room for improvement? kidding.

January came and still no word.



I gave up on having a word for the year and quit thinking about it.

And wouldn't you know, when I quit on having a word, one plopped right down in the middle of my life and kind of screamed at me!

Before I tell you me word, I'm going to fess up to something.

I'm a pessimist.



I lack a certain optimism when it comes to my own life. For others though, I'm really optimistic and think the best things will happen for them.

But me, not so much. It's not that I don't think good things will happen in my life because they do. Every single day.



It's more about when I'm faced with change or opportunity that I tend to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. I've always said it's being realistic but you know, that's not really it at all because more often than not, the good happens and the worst never comes close!

I've always looked at my pessimism as a way to protect me from being dissappointed when my dreams don't come true. But you know what I'm realizing? My pessimism has caused me not to dream.

I mean, I have wishes and goals. Small things that I'd like to accomplish. Things that I leave up to myself to make happen. Things that I feel if I work hard enough, I can accomplish all on my own.

How selfish, prideful and sad does that sound?

Instead of dreaming big dreams that I can't do on my own, like I ever did anything on my own anyway, but you know what I mean, I settled with little wishes that don't even really matter.

Instead of opening my heart and mind to a world of possibilities that only God can accomplish, I've been content struggling on my own just to make baby steps.

My pessimism has been a crutch and I want to live a more hopeful, optimistic life. A life full of big dreams.

So that, my folks, is my word for the year: DREAM.

Que, "I had a dream once..." (yet another Tangled reference on the blog.)

Anyway, this year I'm opening myself up to dreaming big dreams. Dreams that I can't do on my own. Dreams that only God can make happen. Dreams that I don't even know I have yet, but dreams that I pray God will place on my heart and then use me to his glory to make happen.



It may not sound like much to a lot of you and that's fine. My word is for me and trust me when I say, this is a major step for me.

As a reward for sticking with me on this mega long post, and to encourage and remind you to dream too, I'm doing a little giveaway!

Two people with win one of my new prints in my shop:





To enter, leave me a comment telling me what your dream is or if you have a "word" for the year. Make sure you include a way to contact you if you win.

**Update - giveaway closed. Last counting comment Sandy W.** I'll accept entries until Friday night and announce the winners on Monday!

Oh, and while I'm talking shop-talk, I have some new cards in ready for Valentine's day.



Here's a code for 20% off your entire purchase from now until Friday night: DREAMYLOVE.

Okay, that's it. Happy Wednesday and good luck!