First of all, a heartfelt THANK YOU to each of my readers for making 2013 a very special year for me as a blogger. I’ve blogged for about 5 years total now, but 2013 is the only year of those years that I blogged with true passion and vision for the ministry God has given me. When I started Embracing Grace, I knew I wanted to write for ministry families, but I didn’t know how that dream would come about. Embracing Grace officially launched on November 1, 2013 as more of a devotional blog for women. Then in April I posted “20 Things Every Pastor’s Wife Wants You to Know About Her” and it went viral. During that week, I sat stunned as I watched God spread my feeble words across the world to over 100 countries. And then the emails started pouring in, and I knew that God had just handed me the ministry I had so longed for- to encourage and minister to pastors’ wives and women in ministry.

THANK YOU for being part of this, and for bringing together such a wonderful community of ministry families. I pray for many of you on a regular basis. If you have ever sent me a private message through my website or other social media, then your name is on my prayer list for pastors’ wives. You are not alone. You are covered in prayer. Those two things I can promise you!

As a way to see 2013 in review, I’d like to share the top 10 posts from the past year. The first 2 are the posts that went viral and continue to be my top viewed posts:

1. 20 Things Every Pastor’s Wife Wants You To Know About Her

2. What Happens When a Pastor’s Wife Gives Up

3. Introducing 31 Days of Fishbowl Grace: Practical Tips For Women in Ministry {This is the landing page for all of the posts in the 31 days series}

4. Give the Gift of Prayer ~ A Free Printable Calendar for Wives

5. Why I Love Being A Pastor’s Wife

6. Issues Pastors’ Wives Face: Dealing With Criticism {Part One}

7. Issues Pastors’ Wives Face: Dealing With Criticism {Part Two}

8. What Your Pastor’s Wife Needs Most From You

9. Letter to the Duchess of Cambridge {From an HG Sister}

10. 4 Words Every Mom Needs to Hear{t}

Also in 2013 I was able to publish my first book, Expecting Grace. God brought so many details together to enable me to produce the book in both Kindle and paperback formats. It is available for purchase here if you’d like to get a copy. I am so thankful for the opportunity to contribute to raising awareness for Hyperemesis!

In order to minister to you more efficiently in 2014, I have put together a reader survey. I would be SO appreciative if you would take 5 minutes to answer the 10 questions on the survey. It will greatly help me to know better what the needs of my readers are. You can click here to take the survey or you can simply look up at the top of my website and click on the button that says “take the survey!”  Thank you in advance for your feedback!

I wish each of you a blessed year of seeking God and receiving His best for your life each day! Let’s spend 2014 living by grace and becoming more Christlike. Join me?

With Grace,

Leah