Hi friends! Can you believe that today is New Years Eve? Yah, me neither. Wow! 2015 flew by & I’m not going to lie, even though the year had a million highs, it had it’s share of lows as well. 2015 was a year of adapting. We settled in our new home in Michigan, new jobs, new state, new lifestyle, new everything. That was hard. I had so many moments where I missed our old life in North Carolina, our friends, our home, the state we fell in love with, the memories, everything. It’s been a hard year with adjusting to our new life & trying to not let missing our old life get in the way. We have created a new life here in Michigan that has been blossoming into another part of our amazing journey together, & God has really been showing us that this is where He wants us. Two other low moments of 2015 were losing two of our babies. We now have six babies in heaven with the Lord & we know that this is the plan for us, but those goodbyes are never easy. I was so busy this year with so many things that I feel like as I type this it’s the first moment I actually realized that we lost two babies this year & how hard that really was. One good thing that came out of that? We discovered some awesome doctors here in Michigan that have provided such great care that we were not receiving in North Carolina. Another reason why I know He put us here. There were so many highs with my job like flying to LA with Marshalls for an interior design shoot, working with some amazing companies, being in People magazine along with some other great prints. I couldn’t be happier with the growth & how far I have come in my dream job. Another big one is that I am opening up a store with two amazing people I look up to & even though it’s opening up in 2016 [14 days!! See our grand opening page [here]], the idea was born in 2015 & that was amazing. We were all in a place in life that we were uncomfortable in, not living up to our fullest potential, & being held down & not being encouraged to be our best & we said that we couldn’t do it anymore. We knew that we wanted to do amazing things, we wanted to make a difference, & we wanted to spread our wings… so the store, The Found Cottage, was born. The Found Cottage has made this last part of 2015 so crazy & busy, but I know that it will make 2016 amazing. So, that brings me to my word for 2016…
Authenticity.
As I was driving home from the new store tonight I was on the phone with Jose chatting about 2015 ending & he randomly said the word authenticity. It stopped me in my tracks. There were a lot of things that happened in 2015 that I won’t discuss on here, but they were hard times & I think they could have been less hard if I had stood up for my beliefs, stood up for myself, & really made decisions that were authentic to what I love. One of my qualities that I want to address & change in 2016 is my need to please everyone & to put everyone before myself. WAIT, before you think I’m a terrible person for saying it’s a bad thing to put others before myself.. it’s also one of my good qualities that I want to keep, BUT I think I do it to a fault where it damages my life, puts me in bad situations, doesn’t benefit my family, & stops me from being authentic to myself. I found myself in a few situations in 2015 that were uncomfortable & unhealthy. If I were being authentic to myself in those moments I would have left before things got bad, but I wanted to be nice & I wanted to benefit the other parties so I stayed. I was unhappy, I was being taken for granted, & I was not focusing on things that were important to me. I finally removed myself, but I was mad at myself. I was wondering why I let it go on for so long & I was wondering why I still felt guilty for leaving the situation when it was clearly justified. Jose said it in one word. I wasn’t, & still am not, being authentic. I was putting others before my beliefs & being loyal to things that I shouldn’t have been loyal to. In 2015 my biggest lesson was to walk away from something that I know is wrong & forgive myself & others even when it’s not asked for. In 2016 I want to be firm in my beliefs. I want to stand tall knowing that I am being honest with my Savior, myself, & others. I want to know my family is benefiting from every move that I make. I want to commit my work to God always. I want to be able to lay in bed every night & be proud of myself knowing that I was authentic with myself even if it’s not the easy path to take. I want to lift others up & encourage others. I want to do what I love everyday. I want to be proud of myself in the way I handle my achievements & my mistakes. I want to grow. I want to be authentic in every move I make. 2016 Here I come.
I want to live with authenticity in 2016. I truly hope that 2016 is amazing for every single one of you. I hope that whatever happened in 2015, good or bad, helps you be a better you in the new year & that you grow from it all. I also hope that you all feel the confidence & loyalty to yourself to be authentic in everything that you do. Happy New Year friends. Thank you for an amazing year here on the blog, thank you for always making me want to share what I love, thank you for lifting me up and encouraging me through the good & the bad, & thank you for making me feel like I can be my authentic self. Cheers to 2016! What is your word of the year? Share it with me in the comments below, find me on Facebook, or chat with me on Instagram. xx
Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
See my best blog posts from 2015 [click here]
The best rustic winter decor [click here]
The best winter decor [click here]
God Bless you Liz. Thank you for a great year of ideas and inspiration. May this coming year bring you more happiness than you can even imagine.
My dearest Elizabeth, u are a most beautiful loving , caring woman, and very very talented in every part of your life, i am and are family are so proud of u and love u very much.you are a Godly woman as am I but through His Strength and the Holy Spirit who is always around us I can know at almost 51 and was not able to have any children of my own with my husband Stanleyof almost 30 years that His hand is in every thing and the more we relate to Him and try to get close to Him and stay connected to Him our lives become free and much more peaceful Remember when we praise we raise ???? you are amazing Elizabeth , know I will pray for you in all parts of your life ????congrats on the new store to all , you girls are good you go,keep up the good work☀️By the by just to let u know how much I must love u because this is the first post I have ever written, thanks Elizabeth for all your encouragement to us, keep up the good work!!!!!!! Luv u auntie Shelly p.s remember who u are a wonderful talented child of God ????
I love the word you have chosen. Your words about people pleasing resonate with me. It’s my biggest trap, and the very worst of who I am because it steals my mind and my effort and my health.
I have been on the couch for five days and just barely escaped the hospital from asthma complications. But I’ve been forced to rest and when you have anxiety, it’s time to think and go over the details of things that do not need going back over. And this anxiety adds danger to the asthma situation yet I find myself unable to stop. Having your blog post before my eyes this morning has been a touch from God.
As I read your words, it became clear that a moment that threatens to derail my heart has no clout because in the moment where I was being corrected by someone for the way I was handling something, my authenticity is what mattered the most to God. That’s really hard to reconcile with that when you’re a people pleaser- wanting to please God and everyone else, so thank you for your tenderness of heart and wearing it on your sleeve because you truly helped me this morning.
My word for this year comes from Isiaiah 55- “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life.” This is all about hearing what God has to say over my life over any other voice. My word this year is listen.
What a beautiful post! I am so excited to follow along with you in the new year. My word for 2016 is stewardship. I want to be a better steward of the hearts and minds closest to me, my health, and our resources. I have a lot of work to do! :). Happy New Year Liz!
Looking forward to following along on your journey through 2016.
Wishing you many wonderful moments. xo
You will be great in whatever you do,believe in yourself and GOD BLESS YOU. I love your site and can’t wait to visit your store in the spring.
Wow Liz! I just turned 40 and “people pleasing” has been my entire life. I’ve always compromised my physical and mental health for the benefit of others. I decided that my 40th year would be different. Liz, as much as I love and look forward to your daily post, please don’t feel the need to “please” us either. If you’re exhausted, or overwhelmed and not able to write/post on a paticular day, we, your loyal readers, will completely understand and patiently wait until your next post. I’ve suffered w/people pleasing AND super woman syndrome… not fun 😉
Anyway, wishing you nothing but the very best.
God bless you Liz! You have always been authentic to me. Everytime you post something on this blog I can feel that it is coming from the heart. I guess this is your special place. I wish you health and happiness in the coming year and will continue to pray for you and hope for the best! Thank you for shring so much of yourself with us and for your great designer’s eye!
Hmm, after reading this post I think I will spend some time figuring out what my 2016 word will be. I am leaning towards patience. I think life is all about making the most of what God gives us, and it sure seems like you are. Many congratulations on opening up shop! Thank you for sharing your New Year’s thoughts!
What a wonderful post. I love your heart. Many blessings on your new year and can’t wait to see even more authentic moments.
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