January 2023 Newsletter

Welcome 2023

Happy New Year! Another page has turned and another chapter has begun in our world. With January here, we are now, with our everyday lives, starting to write the 365 page story of 2023. I hope that as you begin this new year you take some time to reflect on the year prior -the joys, the struggles, the lessons learned, etc. For me, 2022 certainly ebbed and flowed. It began with a long-held dream finally getting some traction, only to then seemingly stall. It also included a great family loss. However, it ended with that dream coming true - I opened the bookshop! - and it included wonderful family additions. Such is life; mine, and I suspect, yours as well. Thankfully, our all-knowing, ever-loving God is with us, never leaving or forsaking us, no matter what we encounter as we live out our stories year after year. And He has the best for us! So, welcome 2023! We’re glad you’re here, and we’re happy to be here, writing this year’s story, with God guiding our pens.

Book of the Month

This month, I’m highlighting Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin. This New York Times bestseller is an ideal book to read at the start of a new year as we consider what we want to bring into 2023 and what we want to leave behind, because it is all about habits. In this book, Rubin dives deep into how we form habits, how we change them, and how we can successfully maintain the ones that serve us well. On the surface, it may not sound like the most exciting read, but as the saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover. In Better Than Before, Rubin takes her extensive research on habits, tests it out on herself as well as draws on the experiences of her friends & family, and then shares her findings and strategies with readers through wonderful, honest, and often times humorous, storytelling. You’ll be entertained while also learning more about yourself, the habits you have and why you have them, and how you can best implement the habits you really want in your life. According to Rubin, “change is possible. When we master our habits, we can make our lives better than before.” I hope you’ll join me in reading this book this January as we all seek to get 2023 started off on the right foot.

New Items in the Bookshop

Handmade natural soy candles - porch boards - Lifeway/Broadman products including bulletins, certificates, etc. - a variety of new books - new Christian t-shirt designs, caps, & jewelry - Valentine items

Word of the Year

Many folks make resolutions for the new year, and while that can be beneficial, have you ever thought of simply picking a word for 2023? We never know what the upcoming year will entail, but through it all, you could have one word to come back to, to help ground and guide you. How people choose their word varies. Some pick a word they like from a list (such lists are plentiful online). Others may notice that a specific word repeatedly stands out to them as they read Scripture, so they make that word their focus for the next 365 days. If you need a little assistance in determining your word for 2023, DaySpring is here to help. As their website says, “With Scripture, God gives us the answers we crave as we cling to the hope that this year will be different than the last. So let's turn to His Word as we focus on a direction for the next twelve months rather than resolutions that only last a few days. Let's look to the Lord as we choose one specific theme, one word that will help us intentionally live our faith in 2023. Let us help you discover a theme from God's Word that will meet you exactly where you are and help you make decisions, manage emotions, and make the best of every day this year.” They provide this help via a short “Word of the Year Quiz” you can take at https://www.dayspring.com/yourwordquiz. I took the quiz recently to discover my word, and I am excited to focus on being more “rooted” in this new year. I’m currently searching Scripture for specific verses about being “rooted,” and I’m brainstorming ways to keep my word in focus as the year progresses, such as memorizing those aforementioned Bible verses, getting a wearable reminder like a bracelet featuring the word, etc. If you too choose to focus on a particular word in 2023, I’d love to hear about it!