Find the right color lip gloss and use it.
Don’t be afraid to cry and tell a friend when you need a listening ear.
Carry a notebook around at all times. You never know when inspiration will come.
It’s okay to lose your mind after a miscarriage. It takes time but it will get easier, I promise.
Travel with your spouse as much as you can. Precious golden memories are created here.
Don’t be afraid to say no when you just don’t want to do something. Only say “yes” when you are certain it’s the best “yes” God has for you.
Be still more often so He can speak. Silence is painfully beautiful.
Being 30 is wonderful. Embrace new decades because not everyone gets that chance.
Don’t be afraid to take a picture of a precious moment. You’ll be thankful you did.
Always say yes to trips to Hawaii with your best friends.
Fresh air + books + music + time can heal the most shattered soul.
Don’t be afraid to have boundaries up when boundaries are needed.
If you really love the shirt, buy it in every color before it disappears forever.
Write even when it’s hard. Get it out of your head even if it never makes it off your computer screen or notebook pages.
Being brave doesn’t mean staying strong all the time, but instead, acknowledging how fragile you are.
Get your eyebrows shaped by a professional. Worth. Every. Penny.
Harry Potter World is magical. Frozen butterbeer is delicious.
If someone continues to take you for granted, walk away gracefully.
Time spent helping others is important. If you are feeling burned out, find a new place to serve. Volunteer at church, lead a small group, offer your time. Giving is a blessing.
Don’t be afraid to hug someone you usually don’t hug.
Make new traditions with people you love, doing things you love.
Tell people when you are thinking about them. Send a note, text, or email.
Don’t binge watch an intense show. It will destroy your sleep patterns and mind.
Stay up late laughing with the people who restore your heart.
It’s okay to feel restless. Use it as an opportunity to allow God to settle you.
Parasail. Over the ocean if possible. It will all make sense in the clouds.
Write your story down if God leads you to write your story down. Don’t rely on feedback to know you’re obeying Him.
If someone tells you they don’t have time to be a good friend, don’t keep pushing them. It will only frustrate you in the end.
The right planner will make life significantly more organized.
The dollar spot at Target is a dangerous place.
It’s okay to acknowledge your grief and ask others to do that same. Pretending it’s not there isn’t healthy or helpful for anyone.
New York City is one of the best cities on earth. The steak frites at Sarabeth’s and the steak tartar at Saju Bistro will make your taste buds rejoice.
Listen to instrumental music. The landscapes painted by orchestras are calming.
It’s a blessing to celebrate 10 years of marriage with someone who makes you laugh. Don’t take this for granted.
The house project you have been dreading won’t take as long as you think it will. It will feel wonderful once it’s done.
Let go of the small slights faster. Holding on to them will only make you bitter and frustrated.
Self care is important. Stay an extra hour at the coffee shop.
It’s okay to ask questions and wrestle with God for answers. There’s healing in the search.
Writing a devotional is really hard and really rewarding. Trust Him.
The people in your life who give your dog gifts are good, good people. They get you.
Have coffee mugs that make you smile while you sip every morning.
Trust God more.
2015. A year with high highs and low lows. In the end, a powerful reminder not to be afraid of the unknowns, the future, the restlessness. Each year that passes is never what I expect, but when I close them out, I realize they hold everything that life is made out. The good, the bad, the tears, the laughs, the memories. Let’s savor each day, considering them a blessing, a gift, a building block.
Here’s to the God-given lessons to be learned in 2016.
Looking for a great tool to use while you reflect on 2015? You have to check out this fabulous resource my friend Ashley at Graced & Co designed. It’s a MUST when it comes to sitting with God and processing your 2015. Ashley, thanks so much for letting me share this with my readers! (PS – Her products are really really really beautiful too.)
Trials Bring Joy 
I love this! It made my day! Happy weekend to you!
~Amanda Koch
Loved this! My year was so so so hard, but you and the other ladies helped me end on a better note with the devotional. I will always cherish that book and the daily meetings.
I love all of your lessons learned in 2015. I am also a fan of buying a shirt in every color. My closet is full of the same shirts just in many different colors. Cheers to learning more life lessons in 2016. xo
What is this Hawaii you speak of? I just lost my job and have time to travel…;-) Thanks for this – such healing to my fragmented soul. What a week and it’s not even over yet…
Lovely. Thank you for sharing. I do hope to try butterbeer ASAP!! Love the reflection sheet too! You are always in my prayers.
Oh goodness…Chelsea, my Friend, I LOVE this list! And I’m so THANKFUL that even though it was really hard, that you and the other ladies wrote that devotional. It’s changing lives! I found myself nodding at so many lessons on your list. Here’s to a new year of lessons and Blessings!!!
Thanks for your blog. I’m on day 3 of Follistim and Menopur, this is my first time doing IVF. Reaching out for prayer warriors, if you would be so kind!
Thank you for your blog !
I love this! Thanks for sharing what you learned and for sharing the reflection sheet. I copied down the questions in my journal to use each year.
I love these ❤️
These are so good. The saying no one is the one I am really trying to work on this year. I’m learning that “because I don’t feel like it” or “I just don’t want to” is a perfectly good reason to politely decline an invitation. I don’t have to be on my deathbed to turn down a dinner invitation.
Have you ever read “The Best Yes” by Lysa T or “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” (can’t remember the author …). Both of those were great guiding resources for me in this issue!