La Vie Est Belle 2015: Inspiration for the Year to Come

A New Year is such a delicious thing. Old years (while full of blessings, joy, and delight) are full of pain, mistakes, past-darkness, and fears. Not that the bad outweighs the good. At this time last year, I was unpublished, unemployed, and wondering what on earth I meant to do for money. Exactly twelve months later, I am well-established as a nanny, have two novels independently published, a novella more or less traditionally published, and a children's book ready to make the rounds. I went to Romania and came back, I traveled to work two summer camps, my best friend and best big brother got married, I had a whirlwind 24-hour jaunt to DC to see my other best friend after 2 1/2 years apart, and I fulfilled a long-held dream of acting as Stylist for a client or two. Another close friend got married, so many became engaged, babies were born everywhere, and God has continued to provide for our needs in miraculous ways.  So while twenty-fourteen was a hugely happy year full of new paths, new accomplishments, new jobs and relationships and lessons and faithfulness, I am also conscious that it was a year of turmoil for many people. I think of the unrest in Russia and Ukraine, Syria, Israel, the riots and mobs over racial matters in our country, the terror of ISIS and the many sadistic crimes it has committed...I think of several people who will not be living 2015 and the empty spaces they leave in the lives of their families and friends. Twenty-fourteen was a BIG year. For me, it was a good year. But I am tired of those twelve-months. Tired in a way I have seldom been tired before. It's funny how finishing with your tail whipped in a marathon and finishing triumphant feel nearly the same: you're still winded and breathless and ready to rest. It's time to bury 2014 in the gentle, winter snow (which has yet to appear) and to look forward with joyful anticipation to the fresh year ahead and all God intends to do in my life for His glory in it.

I have goals marked out for 2015, but enough about that in a different post. For now, I will give you the gift some of the beautiful images that have begun to serve as inspiration for this infant year due any day now. I have let myself wander through Pinterest in my Christmas break, pulling from here and there images that inspire me creatively, stylistically, spiritually, and practically. The funny thing about nearly every one of these pictures is its simplicity. I think I'm craving a rest from the craziness that was 2014. So funny how your subconscious tells on you! One of my main goals for 2015 is "Less of okay, more of excellent," in many many aspects of life. Including the things I allow to crowd my life. The simplifying begins with a series of photos I have given myself time to enjoy:

What is your gift to yourself before 2015 starts?

(you can find these images and more on my "Essentially Rachel" board)