I Am Thankful For:
A sense of peace
Christmas cookies
Spotting the "Christmas Star" on December 21
The grand kid's pride at his report card
Crafts with the grandkid
Time to do some personal crochet
Getting it all done
My family is all healthy
Having some help
Dogs in sweaters
New journals
Leftovers
A new light for the dining room
When the internet comes back on
Getting back on track
Meal plans
Pretty yarn
My One Word for 2020 was "Intentional'. When life as we know it suddenly came to a screeching halt a few months into the year, I felt that trying to be intentional in the midst of a global pandemic was impossible. How was I supposed to be intentional about things when life was so uncertain and topsy-turvy?
I was wrong. 2020 taught me more about being intentional than I could have imagined when the year began.
It taught me what's really important by making me take a look at what I was able to easily let go of and what was really important to me. Health. Family. Home. Those are things that this past year taught me to cherish.
I became intentional about memorizing Bible verses. Somedays those were the words holding me together when I felt the worry, the anxiety, and the panic start to rise. Days when thinking about all that I was missing out on had me sad and miserable - the Word of God helped me to refocus and think about what is true, lovely, and praise-worthy.
It taught me to be intentional about what I want to read since books had to be placed on hold and picked up curbside at the library. No longer could I just wander the stacks pulling out whatever caught my eye.
I learned to embrace delivery services and curbside pickup. This meant that I had to be intentional as I planned for meals and shopping. Running down to the local grocery store to grab a few items I wanted or needed was no longer an option. I had to think about what I wanted to prepare in the days to come. Plan a complete grocery list and be sure I scheduled a delivery ahead of time so that I would have what I needed when I needed it.
I had to be intentional with my business as I learned to take supply chain disruptions and shipping delays into consideration. Especially as the busy Christmas season began, virus cases increased and the postal system became bogged down with shipments.
And toilet paper. Surely we all learned to be intentional about our TP usage. Right?
I think we can agree that 2020 was not fun, predictable, or easy. It was an anxious year. The Covid-19 pandemic, lockdowns, remote learning, unemployment, the elections, and social unrest had many of us feeling stressed to our absolute limits.
It was a year to let go of expectations, plans, and control to some degree. It was a year when graduations, weddings, and other celebrations were canceled. Sports seasons were delayed and games canceled. It was a year of loss. Hundreds of thousands lost their lives to the pandemic. We said goodbye to beloved and well-known names. RBG, John Lewis, Chadwick Boseman, Sean Connery, Alex Trebeck, Regis Philbin, and Eddie Van Halen - to name just a few.
But we also learned how creative we could be as we learned to celebrate in our own ways and make our own fun. We learned to embrace disruptions to our daily schedules and lives and go with the flow.
We figured out how to work or learn from home. In the comfort of our pajamas and lounge-wear.
Some of us learned to bake. Not me - but based on all the sourdough bread I saw showing up on Instagram, many of you did.
We cheered on our essential workers as they worked long hours to save lives, often without the proper equipment to protect themselves. We developed a newfound respect for healthcare workers and teachers.
We learned how to use Zoom and Skype. Not just for work and school - but to stay in touch with friends and family.
We made ourselves feel as if our lives were a little less crazy by comparing them to the drama lived out by a bunch of tiger owners. We finally caught up on all those tv shows and movies we've been meaning to watch. We fell even deeper into our infatuation with Baby Yoda.
It was a tough year. One we probably wouldn't choose to live through again. But it also taught us valuable lessons about ourselves. Our strength. Our resourcefulness. Our capacity for kindness.
Here's hoping for a happy, healthy, peaceful 2021.
I Am Thankful For:
Dog stockings
Christmas shopping complete
Monday night football games
1 crockpot = 2 meals
Chocolate
A productive afternoon
Not much ice
Puppy eyes
Christmas music
Christmas cards
Christmas lights
Hot cocoa
Last Christmas order completed
Watching Home Alone with the grandkid
A new light for the dining room
Going to bed early
I Am Thankful For:
Shelter from the wind
More orders ready to ship
Silence
Peppermint mocha
Dental insurance
Stocking stuffers
Puppy kisses
Last minute orders
The ability to have almost anything delivered
Pink sky sunset
A fresh new day
Picking out a new book with the grand kid
Homemade pizza
An afternoon at the dog park
When the Man of the House makes me laugh
Slow cooker pot roast
Open windows in December
Nasal spray
If you're like me, this has been the year when you fully utilized the various delivery services available in your area. From Instacart to Amazon, to Shipt - I have tried them all over the course of 2020. Between grocery delivery for most of the year and now having done all of my Christmas shopping online - the delivery drivers could probably find my house blindfolded by now. (You know... if they really had to. I personally wouldn't recommend trying it)
I wanted to do something to thank the delivery drivers for all their hard work throughout the past year. They have made it so much easier for me to stay in isolation as much as possible and keep myself safer from the pandemic. So, when I saw this idea on Pinterest I thought it was just perfect for the situation.
I ordered a variety of individually wrapped snacks. In this case - trail mix, granola bars, crackers, some rice krispie bars for any sweet tooths (sweet teeth?), and some bottled waters.
I set up a selection of the snacks in a small basket along with a few of the water bottles, printed up a cute free sign that I found HERE. (Thank you MoneyFitMoms.com!)
When I placed the basket by the front door where it was sure to be seen last week, I had some doubts about how the whole thing would work. But each day when I brought it inside, a few snacks would be gone, along with a bottle of water or two.
I even heard the UPS driver call out "Thank you!" from the front porch. And one Instacart driver sent me a message through the app that it was "the sweetest thing ever!"
I hope it has helped them to know that their work to keep the rest of us well-supplied through the difficulties that 2020 sent our way is greatly appreciated!
I Am Thankful For:
A simple cup of coffee
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
My neti pot
Leggings
Streaming TV services
Access to clean drinking water
Christmas pillows
The grand kid's laugh
Craft stories
Craft stores
A warm place to sleep
The smell of brewing coffee
Christmas music
Quiet mornings
I Am Thankful For:
A trip to the dog park
Christmas decorations
Orders completed
The "Zoomies"
Kisses that take my breath away
Snow flurries
When the school day is over
Taco Tuesday
Welcome to December! Y'all - we have almost made it! One more month and we can put this whole phenomenon of 2020 behind us. It's true that all the stress that followed us through this year won't just disappear at the stroke of midnight when we roll into 2021, but at least we can put this year behind us and consider this a fresh start of sorts.
Working On: Lots of Etsy orders. I am happy to say that it's been a good holiday season for my shop so far. I hope that continues on into the new year!
I've also been decorating for Christmas. I was ready to start putting out my Christmas decor back at the beginning of November, but when I mentioned that to the two fella in the house I was told by one that I shouldn't decorate until the 15th of November. The other one told me to wait until after Thanksgiving. So, I waited...
Celebrating: It seems pretty obvious, right? It's December and that means Christmas! I'm looking forward to a nice, quiet focused on the things that really matter during this season.
I'm also celebrating that after a dismal first and second quarter, (as well as most of the third) for my Etsy shop, the last few months have been some of the best I have had since starting.
Loving: For a few years now I have been thinking about getting a Christmas tree for the dining room. A thin "pencil" tree to fit in front of the sliding glass door beside the coffee station. I finally decided to go for it this year. And I am just thrilled with it! It was worth the wait. I put all of my gingerbread and Christmas candy decorations. It's such a nice touch to that space.
Wanting/Needing: I need to sort out my One Word for next year. There's; a word that keeps coming up; that I feel as if I am being pressed toward. But truth be told - I'm resisting it. It is not a word I would normally think of or select, especially after the year we've just been through. So, I keep hoping that I'll find another word.
Dreaming About: Snow! Am I crazy? Maybe. They are calling for a few inches in the mountains just north of here tonight into tomorrow. And I wish we would see at least a few flurries down this way. That would really make it feel like the Christmas season!
December Goals:
Keeping it very simple for the busiest month of the year!
Are you ready for this month? Drop a comment and let me know what you have planned for the holiday season.
A special "Thank you" to everyone that followed along this month, especially those that participated on their own blogs or social media!
Today I Am Thankful For:
Christmas trees
Baby Yoda
A puppy sleeping in my lap
Running a little behind getting this posted today. As I said in the previous post - I am more than a little scatterbrained right now.
Today I Am Thankful For:
Family games
What feels like a lazy day, but you actually got a lot done
Christmas shopping
Today I Am Thankful For:
Taking a deep breath
Grandkid made Christmas ornaments
The first star at sunset
Today I Am Thankful For:
Seeing my mom for the first time in months
Online shopping
Pumpkin bread
Today I Am Thankful For:
Family
Comfort food
Keeping things simple
Today I Am Thankful For:
A life-long friend
Christmas lights
A new coffeemaker
Today I Am Thankful For:
Having the means to put Thanksgiving dinner on the table
And the ability to donate to help others do the same
Hearing the cat purr from across the room
Today I Am Thankful For:
Covid-friendly anniversary plans
Eating dinner at an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Small steps
Today I Am Thankful For:
Dental floss
Hugs from my grand son
Frost sparkling in the morning sun
Today I Am Thankful For:
28 years of marriage
Being married to my best friend
Memories
Hopes for the future
Twenty-eight years ago today two kids stood in a church and promised to spend their lives together.
It's been 28 years of laughter and heartache. Quiet days and grand adventures. Some tough times and so many more wonderful times.
We've raised two amazing kids and been blessed with a remarkable grandson.
The best part of all is imagining what is still waiting for us in the years to come.
Today I Am Thankful For:
Ibuprofen
Music
The way both puppies perk up when the Man of the House walks in a room
Today I Am Thankful For:
Spending time with my son
Instacart
Rueben Sandwiches
Today I Am Thankful For:
Starting a new Bible reading plan
Good test results for a friend
My dad surviving his heart attack and open-heart surgery one year ago
Today I Am Thankful For:
Seeing my grown kids enjoy each other's company
Hearing the Etsy app "cha-ching"
Pink clouds at sunset
Today I Am Thankful For:
The morning sky
A new Christmas tree
Working until late in the evening
Today I Am Thankful For:
Silky soft puppy ears
Talking about my fears
My curly hair
Today I Am Thankful For:
That the Man of the House tolerates my moodiness
Bananas
Falling asleep to the sound of falling rain
Today I Am Thankful For:
Friday the 13th
A task completed
Quiet time to work
Today I Am Thankful For:
When the day gets better
The Man of the House coming home early
Texts that make me laugh
Today I Am Thankful For:
My favorite veterans: my dad and the Man of the House
Sunlight reflecting off raindrops
Peppermint Mocha
Today I Am Thankful For:\
Kisses
Dirty dishes (because that means we have plenty to eat)
The smell of a bonfire
One thing that became very clear to me over the past year is that you can make all the plans - but you never know what's going to happen or how things will turn out. In my update for my 15 Before 51 list, I mentioned that being in isolation due to Covid-19 put quite a damper on all the big plans I had for travel and adventure.
That was heavy on my mind when I started a list of personal goals for the coming year. A part of me considered not creating a list; but in the end, I couldn't completely abandon the idea of setting achievements for myself to reach during the year. This led me to keep the list short - only 5 items where I usually have 15. I also focused more on personal growth and development. Things that can be done whether I am able to get out and about again or remain at home for several more months.
That's it. That's the whole list. Short and sweet. I'll post occasional updates throughout the year to let you know how things are going. I hope you'll follow along on my journey!
Today I Am Thankful For:
Puppy Birthdays
Curbside pickup for yarn
The smell of a bonfire
Today I Am Thankful For:
Clear, cold mornings
The last of the fall colors
Baking with the grandkid
Today I Am Thankful For:
Sleeping a little while longer
The dogg-os playing tug of war
The last slice of cheesecake
Today I Am Thankful For:
Prayers answered
My funny kids
Blue Autumn skies
Today I Am Thankful For:
The Man of the House taking the dogs out for me
Goals met - and exceeded
Starting a new book
Today I Am Thankful For:
Ordering take-out
Early mornings
Cherry Pie
Today I Am Thankful For:
The right to vote
My handsome husband
A warm pace to sleep on cold nights
Today I Am Thankful For:
Dinner in the crockpot
Puppy sneezes
November
Happy Birthday to Me! Ok.. it was yesterday. But I am all for celebrating beyond just one day!
October was some kind of a month. We had a new pup with some tummy issues that caused several sleepless nights at the beginning of the month. He's all straightened out now and seems to have put on a little bit of weight - although he's still a lightweight little thing.
The Man of the House had to be tested for Covid after a potential exposure at work. Thankfully, his test was negative. But it gave me a couple of anxious days until he was able to get in to be tested.
And the month ended with a tropical storm sweeping through. Not exactly a common occurrence here in western North Carolina! Last Wednesday night Zeta brought us heavy rains and tropical-storm-force winds. A lot of roads were flooded and many people lost power. We were blessed to keep power throughout and had no damage.
Here's hoping that November is a little more quiet and relaxed.
Working On: It's time to get ready for the big holiday season! I'm trying to finish up some new gift sets for my Etsy shop and get them listed. I'm pretty excited about what's coming.
Reading: Beheld by TaraShea Nesbit and All You Need Is Less by Madeleine Somerville. The grandkid and I have been reading Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. Next, we'll read either Dr. Doolittle or Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. I'm secretly rooting for the second one - it was a favorite of mine when I was a kid and introduced me to the world of Judy Blume.
Celebrating: November is always a busy month around here. It kicks off with my birthday on the first. We celebrate our wedding anniversary on the 21st. And of course, there's Thanksgiving. This year we also have two puppy birthdays - Ziggy's is the 4th and Max's is the 9th. (Yes, apparently I am one of those kinds of people now)
Loving: This Autumn has been just lovely. We had beautiful fall colors (as we usually do) and the weather has mostly been glorious! (except for the recent storm)
Wanting/Needing: I need some recommendations for a good devotional/Bible study book. I enjoy the YouVersion Bible app for my daily quiet time, but I would like to do something a little different for the Christmas season, or the beginning of next year.
Dreaming About: The upcoming holiday season and moving on to a new year. 2020 has been a tough year for all of us and I'm praying that 2021 finds all of us feeling more optimistic and being kinder to one another.
November Goals:
Today I Am Thankful for:
Another birthday
Fresh fruit
My cute grandson
