Happy New Year! Planning for 2025

Happy New Year, y'all! It's officially 2025! There are a lot of great ways to greet a new year. You can just roll with it as it comes, make resolutions, or have a practice of intentional goal setting, just to name a few. Today on the podcast, Lele and Juli share what they do to meet the new year including finding a word and a verse for the year, reflecting on what to "start, stop, or continue", and creating goals in a few specific areas of their lives. Listen in friends for some inspiration on entering the new year with a kick start! 




Beth Moore "...as we end this year and prepare for the next, I can't think of anything more important in the life of a Jesus-follower than contemplating how we want our lives to turn out and asking ourselves if we're on that trajectory." 

Transcript

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Hey, Hey, Happy New Year. Welcome to 2025. It's here. We're almost three weeks in already, which is crazy. And we're kicking off a new season of my Tennessee table. And this is season three. We're so excited just to be back. We are. And it was a good break, but we're ready to be back together too. We've been like apart as well. Mm hmm. Our podcast week gives us time to be together, but Christmas and holiday and fun and friends and memories have been great. Yes. I've missed you. I've missed you too. I know. Back at the table. I know. You were gone for a long time. I was gone for a long time. Yes. We were gone for about three weeks from Nashville area in Wyoming with family and it was wonderful. It was a great time. We'll talk about that, but it was fun, but it sure is nice to be home. Yeah. It is good to be home. Well, before we dive into you, all of we're going to talk about today, new year, new goals, new, all the newness that, a new year brings, which is like, it's exciting. I like a new year. I like a fresh start. It's like clean slate. It is. Yeah. I kind of like a Monday, you know, it's like a new week. So anyway, I don't have the Monday scaries a lot. I'm like, Ooh, it's new. Here we go. Yeah, me too. Um, but yeah, But anyway, before we dive into that, maybe let's talk a little bit about how your holiday was. How was your break? Okay. Well, it was good. Like I said, we went to Wyoming, which we had snow, not a ton, you know, I kind of thought maybe we'd get more. Yeah. We came home to get snow. Yeah, you did. We did. We got snow. Yep, we did. We got in the day before Nashville got snow. So we didn't have a whole lot in Wyoming and Kane, but it, we had a wonderful time. We had time with family again, the grandbabies and that's always, a joy and wonderful and our youngest grandchild's three. So he gets it this year. Oh, he was like, I'm going to wake up and there's going to be presents. Yes. I love that. Yes. Embraced every second. And it was such a, don't you think, I mean, the holiday is about Jesus. Yes. And the joy that kids have at the hall, I mean, I like it, but just watching those sweet babies just be so happy was, that's why Jesus just loved the children. Yeah. Jesus loves the little children. Yeah. Yes. It was, they just have all in wonder and everything's exciting. Even the dumbest stuff. They like, just, they did. He called that up. Lights on the tree. He called them. Um, what does he call them? Sparklers. Sparklers. Like 4th of July. We have sparklers. What do your grandkids call you? Mimi. Mimi. I always want to, I always think it's like Juju or something because of your name. Oh, well Juju. Some people call me Juju. I know. Yeah. Well, yeah, it was super fun and lots of memory making and we got lots of time. So we got to see friends too, cause we're from Wyoming. So we got to visit some friends we haven't seen for quite some time. Celebrated our 35th anniversary. Wow. Wow. We were there. Cause you were babies when you got married. Let's just remind people. We were babies. You were not. We were babies. You were babies. Yes. Yeah. Explains our behavior in our first several years of marriage. We were babies. We were babies raising babies, but yes. So that was wonderful. We had a great time. Again, a little bit of snow, not a ton. most of it was wonderful. I had a little, most of it, a little bump, a little bump towards the end. I had a little hospital visit for, a couple of days, unplanned, mostly they're not planned I suppose, but this one definitely not, but feeling better. You look great for, I know you guys can't see us cause you're listening to us, but when I walked in, I was like, Oh Julie, you look okay. Like I was worried that I was going to come in and she's going to look sad and tired. Yeah. Yeah. Just a little. Frail and she looks good. Thank you. You're coming back. I'm coming back. Yeah. Yeah. All's good. We just don't ever want to revisit that. Nope. Happening again. So, so highlight, family, memories, laughter, joy. Yes. It was great. Low light. Yeah. With the hospital. I mean, that's a low point of, you know, your year for some people. Although. Although. So there God is so good. I was telling you lately before we started. I am a chicken. I just am like God was so faithful each step of the way through every kind of yucky medical thing that had to happen in order to get me well and so faithful and the nurses and the doctors were there Absolutely. Amazing. Very kind to me. Our daughter, faith actually used to work on the floor that I was on the nursing floor. So that probably helped. Thank you, Jesus. But, God is so good and so kind and I had some time to think probably should have thought more than I did, but some time alone and, just gratefulness that there's always something to be grateful for. This was very, it was serious, but it was a kind of a precautionary. I think. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You're okay. I'm okay. You're okay. And the Lord intervened before it was worse than it was. So lots of praise all around. I just, anyways, so thankful for that. What about you? What about Christmas? What happened in the last three and a half weeks? I know. I'm like, it feels like a long time ago. I was telling my husband, I was like, man, this break feels like it was like really long, but then it also went by really fast at the same time. Like it was, it was crazy. It was full of just family time. We, Made a little quick trip to Ohio super quick. Oh, I didn't know that. We did. We went to visit my in laws We normally go over Thanksgiving. We didn't have to go this year So we were like we got to see him over the holidays and this is good when we can go and so we were there Like barely 48 hours, but we but we went long in the drive It's about six hours. Okay. Yeah. If you time it right, um, you can get there in a little less than six hours, but so, so we, we, we got lucky. We timed it right. So anyway, that was fun. My husband is a Ohio state Buckeyes fan. Guess what's happening. So they're in the national championship. So he, he went up there. He actually drove up by himself the weekend before. Did he see the game? He went to the game. He went to the game. Oh my gosh. He was there. Good for him. He had the best time. I know we are my Tennessee table and a lot of you guys might be. We love college football, but college football is so exciting. And honestly, it didn't really get exciting till that point in the playoffs. And so I thought it was a lot of fun. I mean, obviously I went to Auburn. I love Auburn football. We're not good this year. We haven't been good in a couple of years. So in some ways it's like nice to like vicariously live through my husband because it's a hue of your color. Yeah. There. What's Auburn? What's Auburn? We're, we're blue and orange. We actually hate red because Alabama is our rival. No, no, I'm thinking of not. I'm not thinking of Auburn. I'm so sorry. Okay. Yeah. You're like, Oh. I'm sorry. I was like, no, no, no, no, no red. In fact, I've said I will never drive a red car. And my husband's like, why wouldn't you drive a red car? I was like, I have been trained to hate that color my whole life. Yes. My granddad played football at Auburn. My mom went to Auburn. I went to Auburn. Two of my siblings went to Auburn. My dad actually did go to Alabama and one of my brothers went to Alabama and my sister in law. So they, there is some, you know, there's some rivalry in there, but anyway, back to the Buckeyes. They're headed to the national championship. And um, Are y'all going? No. It's in Atlanta. It's in Atlanta, which would be such an easy way to place to get to, but he has, he will be out of town for work next week. So he will actually not even be able to watch it at home. Oh shoot. I know. Can he watch it at all? Yeah. He'll watch it in New Jersey. He'll be watching the game from New Jersey. Oh, so bless his heart. It is very exciting. It's super exciting. It is super exciting. So anyway, I hope they take the whole thing. I think it's going to, I think it's just been a really fun season. I've enjoyed the playoffs being, you know, with more teams than they were before. I thought it's been really good. So anyway, we're not ESPN, by the way, we are My Tennessee Table. So back to college football, back to my holidays. It was great. Lots of time with family. Got to see my mom, got to see my dad, got to see all my siblings and nieces and nephews. And then, like I said, got to Ohio and saw. The, that side of the family, glad you got to go and just had a lot of like slow mornings. I love a slow morning. And so it was really nice just to be like, Let's just take it slow and easy kids and my kids like a slow morning too. So we just had a lot of that happening and then, and then my kids kind of went back to school. Yes. Cause we did have some snow and ice and a day off here and then a day off there. And then I actually went to Florida with some girlfriends. Yes. Tell us about that. It was great. Escaped the snow. got out just in the nick of time. actually. Right after the nick of time and smooth sailing, but it was very warm and sunny. I even got a little sunburn while I was there. I know your little nose looks even a little pink. I know, I know my nose is in my shoulders. So anyway, it was lovely. It was wonderful. Put my feet in the sand and in the ocean and we went south, south Florida because we wanted, we were chasing the warm weather. Yes, you were. It was wonderful. Good. Okay. I've been waiting to ask you about the mom's stocking. Oh yeah. Remember we talked about the most useless, Christmas decoration is the mom's doggie. So here's what happened. I have a 14 year old daughter. That is what happened. She took my husband to Target. She filled it with my favorite mascara. She filled it with some Lululemon, Uh, like hair rubber bands, 14 year old daughter, right? So, you know, if you don't have a 14 year old daughter, get you, get you one, find you one. My friend, Sarah has three boys and I'm like, you ever need to borrow her? She was asking about makeup. She was on the girls trip with me and she was like, so like what makeup are you using? I just, I was like, listen, I'll tell you, I do use this. This is like. Not what Lainey uses, but I do go try her stuff to see what I like that new blush that everybody is wearing. And I get to sample it from her. So it's, it's very nice to have a 14 year old and she filled my stocking with all of the fun little makeup goodies and the things that you would hope that the really the things you would have picked out for yourself, probably a job. So now, I mean, here on out, it's like free sailing here on out, Eric's like, I've got this figured out. She's yeah. She's got you. Mm hmm. And then one day Emi will be, you'll have two, you'll have two girls shopping for your stocking. Emi's going to keep me young. I mean, she already does. She would shop for your stocking now though, Emi. Yeah. I mean, she could tell Eric to pick some stuff for you. Yeah, she might, I might end up with like Squish O Mellos and I got a Squish O Mello. Chocolate or something. From my granddaughter. Oh, you got one? I did. She brought it to the hospital. She had her, my daughter, Chelsea, buy it for me. Oh, that's so sweet. My granddaughter did, yes. And, she's seven, so she got me a little bracelet from the school store. No. And this is what it says. It's a little green bracelet, and the little, little tag says, in case you forgot, you're awesome. This is your reminder. Because you are awesome. Was that so thoughtful? Sweet girl. That's amazing. I know she got Papa a little coffee cup because she knows he's a coffee drinker. We don't spend a ton of time with her, but you know these girls are good. You did over the summer. She knows you. Gift giving, that's true. They are good. Girls are, guys, guys can be thoughtful. They can be, but girls tend to just pay attention more. Like, Oh, I know that this person likes this and this person likes that. So anyway, with that, my family, my stocking got full. Good for you. I'm so happy. I've been holding on to that one to ask you about it. And because I thought that was so funny. I kind of forgot about it. So, so funny. Well, before we dive into like happy 2025, I just want to say thank you all so much. Some of you have left a review or you've rated the podcast and we're so, we're so And we're just so grateful for that. And I've also heard of some of you sharing with a friend, the podcast, my aunt shared it with some previous colleagues of hers. And then at small group Bible study at our church, one of the other leaders said, Hey, some of your content from one of your podcasts came up in group and some of the other ladies hadn't heard about yet. So we told him about my Tennessee table. guys. So I was like, So, and not for us, but just so that we can all just be in this real conversation about real life with Jesus just makes my heart so happy. So thank you all. And it's just so encouraging. Like, I don't think people know like how encouraging it is when somebody says, Oh, I know you like some, Girl walked up to me at church and was like, I didn't know her and she was like, I know you. I listened to your podcast. It was like, you do? What's your name? And then we like met and stuff. And it just like filled my heart to the brim to be like, Oh wow, people are listening and like God is doing something. So I'm just really thankful. Thank you guys. Yes. Thank you. Because I wish we could have you all at the table, like around the table. We just have a great afternoon of conversation. So thank you all for listening. well, as we roll into, well, we are, we have rolled into, we are ready. We're there. We're there 2025. So Lili, how are you approaching? Well, maybe not just this year. do you have something you do each year at the beginning that you say you like a new start, fresh start? I do. I love it. Do you plan? What do you do? So, this year looked a little bit different. I tweaked it a little bit, but usually, yeah, I, I don't necessarily have a new year's resolution. I don't. I don't love a New Year's resolution because like everybody already says like, Oh, people quit those within like the first like seven days. And then since they've said that, I think, well, I guess I'm going to quit. That's right. It's like it sets you up. So I'm like, Nope. I'm not going to do that. Yeah. but I do like goals. I'm a goal, goal oriented person. I like. I like evaluating things and, looking towards the future. I tend to be a future oriented think, thinker. So I think that's why I'm like fresh start 2025. What's going to happen? I don't even know, but like, I'm excited. And where do I want to see things go? So last year, I think I made kind of a vision board, which I had never done before, and that was kind of cool. and then this year I was actually, I was actually, Somehow I've never listened to this person's podcast before. She's a very popular podcaster, author. I don't really know what she is like guru, kind of a, life coach kind of person, but Mel Robbins had this great, or maybe put on socials. I think I put on my, my social listening to that. it was really good. She had a lot of good, like helpful. just questions to ask yourself as you're looking. Forwards to the new year. And, so anyway, I scheduled that the first day my kids went back to school, I scheduled on my calendar, I'm going to have a coffee date with myself and I took my journal and I took my Bible and I had these questions and I just sat down and kind of went through them and I thought it was really, Really great, because like I said, I'm a forward thinker, I think kind of in the future tense, but one thing she told me to do, or she suggested was before you do that, go back and think about this last year, and she suggested pulling up your photos. So, take your phone with you, pull up your photos and start in January 2024 and look at your photos from last year. And write down just kind of the things that stood out to you, like things that you really loved or maybe things that were missing. Like maybe you worked too much or something and you're like, wow, I didn't even take a lot of pictures last year. So What did that look like? So for me, that was super helpful because there's things that happened last year that I like kind of didn't even remember. Like I'd kind of forgotten that I spur of the moment took my kids to the beach for spring break. Like very last minute was like, we don't have any plans yet. Let's go to the beach. The weather looks great. And I just took them to the beach. I was like, I forgot I did that. So I thought that was really great. And really helpful, especially as I'm like looking forward going, what did I do last year? And last year, I, I do also like to have a word of the year and scripture of the year. And so last year, my word of the year was joy and present. And so. I've never actually like thought, okay, that was my word of the year. Did I like, what did that look like last year? Cause you have this word that you come up with and some people do this, not everybody does this, but you have this word that you come up with and then you're like, okay, well, that's my word of the year. And you just kind of like hope and pray that something happens and then, and you remember it. Yeah. And then like, I don't know that I really take time to look back and reflect and be like, well, Was my year full filled with a lot of joy and presence. And my verse was, this is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Well, so looking back on all of my photos, I was like, Oh my gosh, I had so much fun this last year. Like I traveled constantly, which I love to travel with my kids, with my husband, with friends all over the place. And, and obviously I was present. Like. If you are traveling, you guys probably know this. I mean, I, at least I do this. I tend to be more present when I'm on a trip. Cause I'm like, kind of just don't pick up my phone as much. And I just kind of been like, I'm on vacation or whatever. And some of my trips weren't necessarily vacations, but I just had a lot of fun. I was like, Oh Lord, like what you did this last year. Like it really was full of so much joy and so much presence. And I'm so glad that I took the time to look back before I looked forward. Yes. And, So that was super helpful. Such a good suggestion. It's like, a visual journal. Yeah. Like not written, but the pictures are historic for you for this year. Yeah. And then just journal by month. I haven't thought about doing it. That's a great idea. I know. So anyway, so we'll, we'll talk a little bit more about our goals and you know, uh, our words of the year, but you know, what do you do, Julie? How do you prepare for kind of the new year? Do you do anything? Well, I do a similar thing and I started that, oh goll, I don't know, several years ago. Before that I just kind of slid into the new year, I guess. I don't know what I did. I was raising kids and. My hair was on fire. I don't even know, but I did start a couple years ago doing that very same thing and, just set some time aside quietly. I usually start praying about that prior to the new year during Christmas season and then post Christmas, as you move into the new year, just, about a word for the year and or scripture for the year. There have been years. I've just had a scripture. No. Word for the year. this year the Lord, provided both and I don't want to sound like it's so mystical or something you have to do, or you're not hearing from the Lord. I don't mean that. It's just something that positions my heart and expectation for the upcoming year and to remind me that, he's my source, he's my hope. He's my everything. So I do that too. And usually it's a new journal this year. I didn't get a new one because I had a really big one. Oh, last year. So what I did was put last year's 2024 goals page. I just flipped it and did 2025 on the very next page. So I can reference back. Yeah. And again, similar goals for the, as last year. So, and we'll again, get into that, but spiritual goals or relationship goals, professional goals, those kinds of things. So, I do spend a little time and I reflected back on last year's. And I was totally, I didn't, I didn't meet a lot of them. Yeah, I mean, I probably have five or six school categories. Yeah, maybe three total out of all of them and some of them Have rolled into this year. They're ongoing. Yeah, but surprisingly just grace for myself to think okay, it's alright Yeah, the year was good, nonetheless, whether those things happen. I should make a new category, and I did have it on my goals last year, my goal sheet that said just God surprises, things that I just are completely unplanned. I'm a planner also, as you, and so there have been some wonderful surprises too. Yeah, last year. So yeah, I plan. I try to plan a little bit. You totally do. You're a planner. Now some people don't like the word goals. It seems, I don't know if that's cold or clinical, but like planning or outlining, you know, typically we don't get where we're going unless, I mean, if we want to go somewhere, if you don't want to chill, that's okay. You can chill. 25 the year of the chill. Yeah. Whatever. Maybe your words chill. Maybe that'll be my next year's. I don't know. But, it's not this year. largely we don't get again anywhere without it. Like we're taking a trip like you did with your friends. Somebody's planning the lodging, somebody's planning flights, there's planning involved in that. And I ran across a, quote by Beth Moore over the holiday season while I was. praying about goals for the year and what the Lord would have for me. And she had said, this is Beth Morgan, as we end this year and prepare for the next, I can't think of anything more important in the life of a Jesus follower than contemplating how we want our lives to turn out and asking ourselves, are we on that trajectory? now I can't say I sat and prayed and asked God how he wants my life to turn out. I do think that's a really. I think that's a great place to sit and spend some time with the Lord. I'm gonna need a lot more time than that. because I'm praying as I'm creating goals, but I'm not necessarily, looking at the ultimate end goal. Like what do you want my life to be? Is there some thing? am I on that trajectory? I haven't done that part, but I did do the goals. Nonetheless, I think it's helpful if you want to, unless you want to, yeah, to set some goals, I think so too. I love it for the year. so I came across a few questions, as we do this and, to kind of help y'all and maybe help us too, as we refine or kind of clarify our goals. if you look back kind of like you did on your visual journal, going back into your photos, what would you repeat? From last year, what would you change? That's I think a pretty fair question to think. Are there some things I definitely would avoid? I'm not going to do that again. or maybe there's some things that, yeah, that was super fun travel or vacation with your kids at the beach. Like, yeah, I want to repeat some of those kinds of things. Kind of a good question to ask yourself as you create those goals. And then, another one was, what are some things that I quit? what are some things I just didn't follow through with that maybe I wish I kind of would have yeah stuck out question So have you I don't know if you have time to even think about those yet, but does anything come to mind? Well, so I in when I had my little coffee date with myself. I I did I kind of had Not I didn't not necessarily answer those specific questions, right? But mine were more like behaviors and I want to stop doing behaviors I want to start doing and things I want to continue to do Okay, so like kind of as you look back on or as I looked back on last year I kind of was like, oh, what were things that I did and I don't want to do that anymore, right? And so I I did. I wrote down a list. I said, people pleasing. I can tend to be a people pleaser. So I kind of want to stop doing that. I'm scrolling on my phone. Mindless endless scrolling. I mean, I do think like it's good to get on Instagram and you know, check out what's going on You can read some good advice You can see what your friends have been up to that you don't see all the time Those things are great But when you're just kind of like finding yourself like every time there's just a pause in your day Just picking up your phone and scroll scroll scroll and the next thing, you know, like 15 20 30 minutes has gone by But I don't I don't want to do that so I want to stop scrolling and then this is one thing I, I can have a bad attitude sometimes about things and I was like, just kind of thinking, what good does that do me when I have a bad attitude about a situation or a circumstance or something I'm walking into? I'm like, Having a bad attitude is not helping me. It's not helping the people I'm around. So just put on my big girl panties, have a good attitude about it and make it fun when it maybe wouldn't be fun before. So I kind of, those are things I want to shed and then some things I want to start doing or just, kind of to do with scrolling, but putting, putting my phone away at 8 PM. I've been. Kind of been doing this. Maybe that's a continuing. I kind of fell off the wagon a little bit over the holidays, because when bedtimes are different, it, it messes with me. So, that's something I want to continue doing and traveling with my family I want to continue doing. Taking long walks. I want to keep doing that. but some things I want to start doing are, I really, I like being creative. I'm a creative person. I like using my hands. And so that I wrote that on my list. I don't know what that's going to look like. I will make things and be creative with my hands. So we'll see. Good. Stay tuned on that. That's kind of a fun thing. So is that a goal then? It's kind of a goal. Not necessarily a goal. It's just, these are just start stop behaviors, really. I'll talk more about my goals in a minute. Yes, I'm going to ask you in my, in my words. Because I'm interested. Yes, okay. Yeah, my words of the year. But, those are kind of things. Paint, I like to paint. I didn't know that. Like paint, paint, like paint a picture, paint? Yeah, like for Christmas I painted my mom a picture. What? Yeah. What? Yeah. Not like just paint the wall, like paint a No, like paint a, paint a abstract. I like abstract paintings and I paint them. paint. Yes. So I do that in my spare time. I know. I love this. It's like small group where you get to know your people. It's an icebreaker. I've known you for three years. That's not like super spiritual, but, but it can be, it can be like a spiritual thing that you can do. So that's, that's on my list of things to start doing. I need to see a picture of the painting. I painted. Yes. That's awesome. So anyway, those are kind of my start, stop behavioral things. Like what about you? You use the words, things that you quit. Repeat, quit. Yes. Well, I quit the ukulele, which I think, I think I told you that one already. My brother, listen, my, I have a twin brother and my sweet brother had this ukulele made for me. Because you wanted to start playing the ukulele? No, because he thought I would enjoy the ukulele playing the ukulele, which is fine. Do you play instruments? Well, I play guitar for a little bit. I play the flute for a little bit. I sang for years. Yes, and he He plays ukulele and guitar. Okay, you know takes lessons and it's beautiful and he gave it to me It might have been my 50th birthday. I can't remember. Oh nonetheless. It's in my closet And I just, and I did play for a while, he got me lessons. So you did start. Oh yeah. Like I have recordings. I'm not. It's not great. Trust me. It's nothing. Here's what's coming up on the Instagram page. It's Lily's paintings. Julie's recording. Sunshine. That's the song. You'll get my, you're my, cause I sang it to all my grandkids, you know, any who. So I quit the ukulele. which I should probably just get that baby down again. And then I had started to write, a small group study on Ephesians and I'm halfway done. Yeah. So, you know, half the work's done. I should just, you should pick that baby back up because you're smart and I bet it's really good. Well, the people need that. Well, so I, I hope it's a blessing when I should probably do that. I got it out the other day. So I started it. You don't know. Oh my gosh. God did all of it. Yeah. I read through it. The other day, have you ever had that experience where you watch something or read through something or listen to your, even the podcast, and you think that wasn't me. Yes. That's the Holy Spirit. I am not, I'm, I'm not anything. He is, if anything good and perfect and wonderful comes down from him. Not anyway, so, but he did gift you with a really good brain, so Well, thank you. You're smart. Thank you, Lord. You're a smart cookie. So I quit those things. Some things that I wanna keep doing Yes. Is our commitment to my Tennessee table. Here we go. I committed last year for a year, so I'm so excited. Hopefully I'll go. Long, long time. Yeah. retirement goals, some travel we didn't necessarily get to last year and we're blessed. We got to see family and do some fun things, but, and then one of my sections on my goal page is like biggest prayer, like shoot the moon. And I was not faithful about praying about that biggest prayer last year. So I just want to do better this year on that. And, and then just change, just spend some more time, just resting. In his presence and just relaxing. Yeah. I don't know if I want to say striving, but I am, I'm, I'm kind of half task, half people oriented. So give me a good task and I'd love it. My brain doesn't rest very well. It's a doo doo. So anyways, rest in his presence would be, love that be one of mine. So there's, there's more, but, okay. So are you willing to share a goal or two or categories or something? Yeah, yeah, yeah. From yours. Just as an example. Okay. I wanna share my words of the year. Oh, no. Yeah. Do your word. Okay. I wanna share my word. I have words. Yeah. Plural. I have plural. Okay. Wait, I got to write them down. And, and I have, and I'll share my, my goals. I did not. So yes, I love a goal, but I wrote down instead of goal, I wrote prioritize because that's what I walked away with after my time. my coffee shop date with myself was these are the things I want to prioritize in 2025. So that's kind of where I'm going with this. So my words, plural yas. Okay, here we go. I know I'm so excited. Drum roll, please. Anyway. so my first word, and this was the word that as I was headed into Christmas, I just kept. Like just hearing it over and over again. I was like, I don't really understand what this means, but okay. but abundance. Love it. So abundance is, just this word that the Lord just kept bringing to my heart. And I just kept thinking, okay, abundance is a good word. And then the next word that I kept hearing, hearing, just in my spirit was rise up. That's two words. Sorry. So rise up. Yep. Okay. Rise up. So I'm not going to go back and explain these because I really think these are their song. Rise up. And I'll rise up. Yeah. Yeah, I know. I know. Anyway. Okay. So, and then my third word is totally not fun. Oh, you have another one. Yeah. Three words. Words. I told you. I know I got two. Okay. But this one is so practical, but it is just, it's, I felt like the Lord is like, Nope, this is it girl. Budget. Oh. Budget. Okay. Okay. Is it like money, time, people, space? Money. Marginal money. Financial budget. Okay. Okay. So I'm going to start from the top. A bun Okay. Well, actually, on my, on my trip to Florida. Yeah. I was talking with my friends and we were, I was like, what, does everybody have a word of the year? What are your words? Let's share our words. And some of them have words. Some of them are like still working on Oh, for sure. For sure. They make me pray at dinner. And yes. All right. In fact, we went to dinner and I was where the food was coming and I already had my hands folded and they were like, so you, you're going to pray for us girl. And I was like, yeah, yeah. Jesus. Okay. Here we go. Bow your head. But anyway, so as I was sharing my three words, they were all like, huh abundance and budget, how did they go together? That seems like contradictive and I was like actually I think it's really beautiful Because here's the thing. I'm not a budget girl. My husband will tell you what? All day long. Nope. She don't like sticking to a budget. You cannot control her. Like, please take away my credit card. Like I, I don't want her to have the money. So I don't, I don't, I don't like a budget, but, my husband went to anesthesia school and that was kind of. A cost a lot of money and so we're still have student loan debt from that. And so I've been like, we're paying off the student loan debt and I'm kind of an all or nothing person. So when I got this in my head, I was like, how are we going to do this? And it's like, Oh, we stick to the budget. Yeah. So I felt like the Lord's like, this is the year of the budget, which It's interesting that it's paired up with abundance because I've already found myself trying to stick to the budget and trying to like find ways like where can I cut or where can we save or whatever like this and then when God gives me more or when he gifts something out of the blue, it feels good. So abundant, it feels like, Oh God, you are the provider. You do have the whole world in your hands and it's all yours and everything in it. And so I love that those are the two words that I have for this year, because I really think at the end of the year, when I go back and look through my photo collection, I'm going to be like, but like somehow, God, you like, Did this amazing thing in me through that year. So then my other word is rise up words, sorry, words, two words, because I don't really know. I don't know what this means, but I do feel like I've kind of sat dormant a little bit for the last three years and coming out of, working at a church. And I think it was needed. I think God was like, I want you to rest. I want to remind you who you are and me and all the things about you. But now I feel like God's like, okay, You had you had a good long rest. Yeah. Now I have made you for something more than this and so it's time to rise up. So I don't know what that looks like this year, but those are my words and we're just gonna like We're just going to go with it and see what happens. And then like kind of from my words, I just, and from going through the start, stop behaviors and looking through all my pictures from last year, these are the things I want to prioritize and it's time with my family. I really just loved that last year being with God and in his word, loving my husband well, doing work that brings me joy and then being creative. Yeah, very good. Those are my goals, priorities, whatever. Those are the things that I'm like looking forward to in 2025. So anyway, I don't know listeners as you're out there. I hope that that encourages you in some way, but that's just what God's doing to me. So, and so, and And part of the beauty of it and the praise to the Lord is that as you move through the year, for sure. But next year, when we get to 2026 and you look back and reflect, like you said, yeah, and you get to see all these occasions of God's faithfulness but then there's things that will happen that you had no idea. Yeah. We're going to happen or how it will be shaped. And again, we get to give him praise for that. Yeah. It's just a recognition helps us recognize him more steadily in our lives, I think. And I love the word abundance and budget together. Isn't it interesting that that's what God is like? I mean, it's a juxtaposition, but it's true. It's, it's, it is, it's beautiful. I know. So I'm excited. I don't know. I just love that clarity that you have been given. That's so good. Well, what about you? I want to hear about your words. Okay. Or goals or whatever you want to share. All that. Well, I'll do what you did. Okay. So I'll do, I'll do my, word. Yes. I only have one. No, it's okay. I, I usually just have one. So, but, but I'm feeling good about it. And I, I almost like traded in for another one. Cause I wasn't quite sure. I was like, so before I'm going to trade this one and God, give me a different God. Can I do a different Lord knows there's plenty for, you know, that I need to work on. So. Um, mine is fearless, which in itself is frightening, which is a little already brave in the new year and your hospital stay. Yes. God, God did it. I'll tell you. So fearless was before the new year and then after the new year I was like, okay, but how do I articulate it? Because it's not just in not doing things, In fear because like I said, I could be a chicken. Yeah. So a lot of times I'm fearful about things I mean, I may go ahead and do it but I'm like, like my tummies and knots or oh, I just I'm fearful Yeah, and there's probably lots of reasons for that. I probably need to unpack that a little bit. So not just not being fearful and doing things but almost in How could I say it? Don't be fearful in being Oh, um, in my resting place prior to an action that is a byproduct of an emotion, don't do that. So don't be fearful. So that I don't act in fear. Um, Julie getting deep over here. I don't know. It's not totally, I'm gonna let the Holy spirit kind of sort that out. But, but I do, you know, it sounds, I don't know, it sounds crazy, but I feel it in my gut, like That's it. And, and, and, and I think it reflects onto a lot of things that maybe I don't know yet, but having the word for the year, it will come up. Okay. So I told you, I'm going to tell you my story. I want to hear it about my verse. So I didn't have a verse yet. I thought of one in Timothy. the Lord didn't give us a spirit of fear, but a power and love and sound mind. I thought of that one. I thought that was pretty good. And then what other one did I think of? I can't remember. Maybe it was a Joshua one. Okay. But anyways, so yesterday I'm still without a verse, I'm like, well, I'll look up some. So all I did was the Google, you know, good old Google, the Google. And I put fearlessly, no, no, this is what I did. I thought of, there's a scripture, a couple that says, be not afraid. That's the words that came to my mind be not afraid. Mm hmm. So I googled be not afraid. Well, then I get Someone's a journal page or a small group study with I'm literally probably a hundred verses Wow either Old Testament New Testament. Yeah, whether it's in the prophets whether it's in the Psalms whether it's in the Bible Anyways, gospels. And so I pick one. Now, mind you, it's on just pages and pages and pages on Google. It's not a live link. I can't hit it and open it. I can just read it. So I just read it. And so it's, Isaiah 41, 13. I'm trying to memorize it. I don't have it all down yet, but it's, Before I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand. It is I who say to you, Do not fear. I will help you. So okay, there's a verse prior to that that was kind of applicable, but I gravitated towards, Isaiah 41, 13. So I have my phone open. I'm writing it down in my gold journal. for the year and you version pops onto my screen cause I get notifications. So you version pops onto my screen. Y'all, that was the verse for yesterday. Isaiah 41 13. Wow. While I'm writing it for my verse. That's your, is that remarkable? Okay. I'm taking it. Yeah. Yeah. I'm taking it. So that's my verse. So we'll see how that progresses. Check back with me. Cause I need to be held accountable on that whole fearless business. so we'll see. Wow. Anyways. Okay. That's good. I know I told Lance, he was like, what? I go, I know. Can you believe it? Don't you just love that? It's like, my screen. Not that God like has to confirm things for us, but like when he does, you're like, Oh, you're so good. I believe he does that because he loves us so much. He does. So that we can know that he loves us so much. So anyways, goals for the year. let's see. I have some of my spiritual goals, just my Bible reading. Again, pray my biggest prayer. yes, I love that. I wanna take that one too so I can, remember to do that. Scripture memorization, is one that I've, I've done throughout the years here and there, but mm-hmm have started to, memorize chapters instead of verses, which is, so I'm gonna try and see. I don't have a ton, but I'm gonna, you're so smart. Try and add a couple more, which, when you can't sleep. Turn out great because you just recite your memorized verses, which is super and then I usually fall asleep so Anyways, there's lots more but oh, I know I want to tell you this one. Don't ask me why maybe it's a hospital visit But a little clean living. I don't know if that's what you call it It's not like drugs. I don't do drugs. But like, she doesn't. Like in my home. So I've got non toxic dishwasher soap now. I have non toxic dish soap, hand soap, laundry soap, fabric softeners. Y'all want to know what I did that's non toxic? Um, glass containers. I gave away aerosol hairspray. They actually make pump hairspray. Yeah. So anyways, that's what I'm working on. Julia, switch deodorants. Oh, have you done that? Well, I did several years ago just because I had a little scare. Okay. So I switched to natural. I, I use natural deodorants and I have told my friends like you have, like, you tell me if I smell of BO, you better tell me. Well, listen, I did. I switched and I will have to compare brands. Okay. Yeah. I won't say it on the podcast. Well, so far, and I have like, one of my friends, I call her my truth teller friend because she will literally tell me the truth. And. And she has said, you don't smell bad. And I'm like, okay, you're going to need to tell me your brand. I'll tell you. Of course. I'm also like. Yeah. Perimenopausal. So I get hot sweats. So, and I, I don't know. I might be getting there too. I don't know. Okay. Well, we're going to compare. Okay. Because it is way better for you to use the natural deodorant. So non toxic. Yes. I do have some strong stuff on standby in case I got to teach or something and I just can't. You got to do it. I put it on. I still sweat with the other stuff. Yeah. It makes you sweat more. You sweat more. Yeah. Yeah. I know. I know. Okay. Well, okay. There you go. There's our goal. So y'all good luck. Here we go. You know, a year and your new year and your goal and know that we're just, right there beside you thinking of you and listen, guys, we're like, what, like halfway into the month of January. If you haven't sat down and done this, it's okay. Like, don't no rush. Yeah. I waited till my kids were back in school and had like a little moment, you know, maybe if you want to do this, maybe put it on your calendar, like give yourself an hour or something and if it takes a couple of days, it takes a couple of days or a week or two. I mean. It's uh, what do you call it, document, living document, what do you call that? It's just ongoing. A living document? You keep, or is that your will? Anyway. It's a document that's open. I don't know, Julie. That you keep, that you keep. Anyways. Anyhow. We digress. Okay. Give yourself time is what I'm trying to say. Oh my gosh. Anyway. Well. So. We're kind of wrapping up this episode and can I announce it? What we're doing? Oh, no. Yeah, yeah, Season three. This is season three. We've made great plans. We have some great french fries at Restoration Hardware. They're so good, you guys. If you haven't been to Restoration Hardware and had their french fries, they're so good. Just get those. But yes, that's all you need. Don't get anything else. In the environment. It's beautiful. Coke or something. Yeah. To go with it. French fries and coke. That's such a good combo. Um, so yeah, we sat down and we just had some time and we just thought and prayed and just asked God to just let us know, Hey God, fill us in. What should we talk about? This podcast is yours and we're just your tools and your mouthpieces. And so what we felt like came out of it was a season on spiritual formation, which you're Just big words, sounds super intimidating, spiritual formation. Some of you guys might already kind of be in that space and know something about spiritual formation and some of you may be like, Oh, spiritual formations. This sounds so cool. It's like tough, like deep, like what does that mean? But really we're just going to be here to like talk through this and show you it's not that complicated. Spiritual formation is, it's so good for us and it just helps us to grow and become more like Jesus. And if our goal is just to follow him. And to be more like him, then we should do what he did. There's some practices that help us. And it's, it's things that Jesus did. And so we're going to look at that this year or this season. And we're gonna, we're just going to talk about that with you. So I hope you guys are excited about this too. We're excited. We are. Well, y'all, thank you so much for being at the table with us today. We've enjoyed today's discussion. I hope you have. And if you have, would you consider leaving a review or rating or share the podcast with the friend? remember you always have a seat at the table with us every time, anytime. friends, we hope you have the best week and we'll see you next week at my Tennessee table.