Giving Back in The New Year

I’ve been blogging for nearly 10 years now (Domestically Blissful’s 10-year anniversary is August 2, 2023!) and have been sharing my New Year’s resolutions for as long as I can remember, but never have I seen them go viral on social media with such odd responses.

I’m a bit nervous to share my 3rd resolution, but it’s one that’s heavy on my heart.

So today I thought I’d share my 3rd New Year’s resolution.

A quick recap: My first resolution is to be more humble (you can read about what led me to this resolution here or here), and the second is to be more kind and pray for those who are unkind towards me either in real life or online.

And the third is to spread love and joy to those in our local community.

Because while I can’t change what people say about me online and trying to explain my good intentions to spread positivity now feels like a lost cause, I can actively do things in my own community to help foster love and joy.

And there are so many ways this can be done and if you are looking to join me in this resolution here is an easy way to do it:

1. Choose something you are passionate about. (This could be helping the homeless, supporting veterans, volunteering at a children’s hospital, etc.)
2. Find a way to get involved. This could be an outreach program or through your local church.
3. Say Consistent! Write it down, set reminders, find accountability (your spouse, a friend, even your children)

For those who have been a part of our journey for the last (nearly) 10 years, you know we have a passion for children and families, specifically single moms and foster families.

Over the years we’ve lent our support as we’ve heard of needs, but this year I want to be more purposeful in seeking out opportunities to help families.

At the end of last year, I shared about some friends who are becoming parents for the first time through foster care.

We plan to shower this family with prayer and support all throughout the year, as the inevitable highs and lows of foster care work their path forwards.

They know they can text us any time they get calls for placements and we will help them get the things they need in preparation for welcoming children into their home.

Through our church, we are also connected to some ministries that help single moms.

My goal is to reach out weekly to one of our connections to see what is needed.

Sometimes it may be a heavy burden in need of great prayer and other times it may simply be a need for diapers.

No matter what the need, my goal is to help spread love and joy to those around us.

And while this is my goal, I know that nothing I do is of any value unless it is done with humility and the knowledge that I am nothing without Christ; all good things are from Him and through Him.