Hey Friends –

Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season was filled with much love, joy, peace and celebration!

My past few weeks have been a whirlwind of fun activities and amazing family time–but also late night ambulance rides, intense conversations, deep hurts, floods, sick kids, and now #snowpocalypse2014.

(Click on my picture below if you want to see what nearly 15 inches of snow looks like!)

My Winter Wonderland i.e backyard

I had hoped to fill you in how I survived thrived during our messy Christmas, lessons  learned from having 3 fireman and 2 EMT’s in my bedroom at 2 AM, new exciting “red hot” updates, why I dream “red neck” these days, and much more–

but school is now cancelled, I have two sick little girls, and one son “stuck” in Florida (who gets to come home to a flooded apartment)–so the new post will have to wait. Bummer.

In the mean time, you’ve been on my heart and mind so much, my dear bloggy friend, and I couldn’t wait any longer to share two very important things I need you to remember.

1. Please know that you matter.

2. Please know that you are loved.

In the hustle and bustle of enjoying a new year, with our exciting resolutions, fresh goals and dreams, healthy challenges, de-cluttering and the joy of a clean calendar and pure slate —

I want to remind you that you are dearly and lavishly loved…just the way that you are.

Even —

• with the extra holiday “padding” around your waist.
• although Christmas decorations are still scattered everywhere, and
• your words haven’t been as encouraging as you’d like and
• your Christmas season was exhausting and you are glad “it’s” over.

Know that you matter, and know that you are loved.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve got my long list of healthy aspirations for 2014, and eagerly look forward to new habits (hopefully), and thank God for fresh starts and do-overs.

BUT, whether we lose 5 or 10 or 50 pounds, organize all of our cupboards, play hours of board games, or commit to reading the Bible and journaling every single day –

It doesn’t increase our worth. It doesn’t enhance our “love-ability.” Our value doesn’t suddenly shoot up two points.

Know that you matter, and know that you are loved.

Can I be honest with you?

My feelings were hurt over the holidays, and I had some pretty sad days.

I had to remind myself of this transformational Truth over and over. Now sometimes I feel like a weirdo saying to myself, “Cindy, know that you matter, know that you are loved.”

But here’s what I’m learning, friends — 

Even if others around us don’t always get it — we matter. we are loved. 

And when we finally “get” this Truth and allow it to enter into the deepest parts of our inner being, we really can live differently.

We really can live free.

Take it from someone who spent nearly 30+ years trying to earn love. Always trying to work harder, lose the weight, dress the right way, wear the right brand, have the right decorations or bake the right bread…it is so freeing to just rest in the Truth of what God says about us.

You matter, friend. A whole stinkin’ lot.

You are loved. Lavishly. Deeply. Unconditionally.

Not when you _____________  (lose the weight, have the right job, clean up the house) — but lavishly loved. Period.

Is it just me? Or do you too wrestle with allowing these Truths to shape your heart, mind, and actions? Do you live loved? I’d love to hear from you!

Sweet friend, how I pray that 2014 is a year filled with much hope, joy, laughter, and freedom.

We don’t have to earn His love. 

Let’s just receive it, rest in it, and then reflect it to everyone else around us.

Happy New Year!

P.S. Thanks to www.sweetblessings.com, click here to print out your own copy of the Loved printable!

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