You guys, how is it already Christmas?  Is it just me or does time pass faster the older we get?  It seems like it was just January, and I was sending you guys out a New Year’s note and telling you how I was gonna write more in 2018. *face palm* And here it is Christmas and I barely wrote anything this year!  I have a lengthy list of post ideas flying around in my head (and in my Notes app) and I PROMISE to do a better job in 2019 of getting them down on paper.

2018 was another amazing year.  I honestly can’t complain.  In addition to time passing faster the older I get, I also uncover more and more about myself with each passing day.  If you would have told me 10 years ago, I would be where I am today (physically, emotionally, spiritually), I never would have believed you.  It’s been equally thrilling and humbling to trace the Lord’s hand in this entire journey.  That’s honestly one of the BEST benefits of getting older.

2018 brought lots of travel (as per the usual, lol).  But probably my favorite trip this year was out to Yellowstone and The Grand Tetons.  This wasn’t my first trip there, but I got to experience it this time with my parents. You guys probably remember about 4 years ago, I decided to start taking a trip every year with my parents.  And honestly, this year’s trip will be hard to top.  Y’all Yellowstone is absolutely magical. If you haven’t been, GET THERE.  I was completely blown away by how pristine and untouched the park is.  I mean, it has to look similar (at least a little bit) to the Garden of Eden.  I really want to go back one day, and hike ALL THE TRAILS going deeper into the park (but please, no bears).

In addition to Montana and Wyoming, this year I was able to visit Arkansas, Tennessee, California and my second home, west Texas.  I probably was in Texas more than I was in Louisiana!

If 2019 pans out the way I’m hoping it will, I should be visiting lots of new places and I HOPE I can get back to Guatemala. My heart is so longing to go and I feel this will be the year. I know for sure I’ll be back in Nashville in November, Texas on and off all year, Arkansas and possibly Miami in June.  I’ll definitely post where I’m at or going to be, and PLEASE let’s grab coffee if I’m in your area!

Guess what else I did in 2018? (And I haven’t really posted about this!) I became an AirBNB host!!!!  Back in 2015, prior to moving back to Louisiana to restore my cottage, I renovated my grandparents’ old home place. (This is where I lived during my renovation.) For about 10 years prior to that, I had it as a rental property, and it was in serious need of TLC. And y’all it’s SOOOOO cute and cozy now.  Rather than rent it out again to a long term renter, I decided to give it a go as an AirBNB host.  (But, truly I was thinking it would be a flop because it’s located in Porterville for crying out loud.) But y’all. OH MY GOODNESS. I stayed busy and even made it to a SUPERHOST! WHAT?!  Who knew Porterville was a happening place!? My property is adjacent to Muddy Bottoms so that is a big a draw.  If you have friends or family coming into town and they need a quiet, comfortable place to stay, please look me up:  Papaw Wheeler’s Wooded Retreat. I would be thrilled to host you!

And lastly, my cottage….you knew it was coming.   Y’all, I’m not even exaggerating.  I stand in awe of this story. I KNEW early in the days of my marriage falling apart, that whatever happened, my story WOULD NOT be lived in vain.  I had no idea what that meant or how this would play out.  Just THIS WEEK I found myself in tears recounting the events of the last 10 years.  I have had a front row seat witnessing the glory of the Lord, and IT HAS ASTOUNDED ME.  Through my tears, I prayed Ephesians 3:20, thanking the Lord that 10 years ago, He already had 2018 all planned out.  He placed a love of old houses on my heart in 1987, and 30 years later, brought that to fruition. You know what excites me the most about Ephesians 3:20?  The things I’m praying and hoping for today, are small compared to the promises yet to unfold!  And this is why I wake up every day with joyful expectation.  I cannot wait for the “suddenly moments” where He reveals the “exceedingly and abundantly more than I could ask or imagine.” I get chills just thinking about it.

 

So, what’s on tap for 2019?  The first thing I’ll share is that I’ve made some exciting, but risky changes with my amazing company, Teacher Created Materials (thank you guys for supporting me and allowing me to be a risk taker!), that’s going to allow me to be home more, give me more time to invest in our community (and oh, I was appointed to our tourism board this year….GO WEBSTER PARISH!), write more (maybe a book?!), grow the Simply Southern Cottage brand (more to come on this), travel more for personal enjoyment and just simply enjoy life.  A lot of fun things are on tap and I’ll share more as things transpire. You guys will never know how much your support means to me.  You are responsible for helping me SHOVE defeat and failure in Satan’s face and spreading the light, joy and hope of redemption. I read every sweet note, comment and text and hear and receive your words of kindness and encouragement.

From the bottom of my heart, MERRY CHRISTMAS.  I love you!  Thank you for loving me abundantly well.  Onwards to 2019, and the plentiful blessings He so richly promises.

All my love,