Grace in this new year...

*tap, tap...anyone here?*

I've neglected this little corner of the blogosphere over the past year...and as my fingers hover indecisively over the keyboard this morning, I remember why. I'm not sure I have much to contribute to the "conversation," but the personal discipline of regularly chronicling things -- Scripture memory, books I'm reading, goals, life in general -- gives me a measure of motivation...accountability, that I need.

So, here goes. 2013 -- what will it hold? I'm kicking off the year in Scripture memory by keeping it simple. I want to focus on "grace" -- receiving it and extending it to others -- so I'm drawn to passages that reflect this. I'm going to work on three verses in 1 Peter 4, but I'm going to do it one. verse. at. a. time. First up:

"Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins."

1 Peter 4:8, NIV

I also love it in the Amplified translation:

"Above all things, have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins (forgives and disregards the offenses of others)."
talk about grace!

And I can't resist including The Message version:

"Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything."

In addition to a year of drawing closer to God by spending time in His Word, I want to cultivate more prayerfulness this year and to serve others at every opportunity. (Thanks for the inspiration, Brian, recapped by Hannah!)

And I plan to spend as much time as possible with this sweet face...

...and to celebrate my entire family at every opportunity. What a gift!

I hope to continue the discipline of counting gifts...never discounting the small.

And, of course, I have the uber-predictable goal of eating healthier, exercising regularly and getting more fit. But seriously, I'm pretty motivated when I look at the sweet faces above. I want to be able to keep up with my kids and grandkids for a lot of years!

So...it's a new year. Grace. May it abound.