{MOMent} hello to 2021

Currently listening to: "Super Smash Bros; Minecraft version" 

Here I sit at the computer. Coffee to my right. Snow just fell in my view. Boys playing a few minutes of games after helping me make breakfast. 

It's. Nice. 

OH, wait, the youngest is arguing now. Cool. 

I haven't written in several months for several reasons. I would read articles over a "hot topic" or issue that our country is facing. I would sit for a few days reflecting on my thoughts and by the time I had them organized and ready to type up a blog, the issue at hand would change. 

Now, I don't write for my readers. I write for myself. But what's the point of writing my opinion when I already sorted it out. I mean, yes it's good to have my thoughts out there to later have (a history)..... but time was also an issue.  

I don't feel like I have a lot of time. But that's an excuse.

So here's a cliff notes version of my thoughts for the last quarter of 2020:
Love people. 

This last year I had people declare that they no longer wanted a friendship with me. Love people. 
This year we have met new neighbors. Love people. 
This last year I started teaching after a pandemic. Love people. 
This year my children tested me daily. Love people. 
This last year we had an election. Love people. 
This year we had to deal as a country with a rapid virus. Love people. 
This last year we had to keep digging through racial tension and murder. Love people. 
This year my husband "lost" a job and started a new job. Love people. 
This last year I started my graduate program. Love people. 

The past 5 years I have come up with a word to reflect on for the year. Like a resolution. Some years I had monthly goals or others would be more over arching ideas.  2020's word was BLOOM.   I went back and read my entry to why the word, bloom.  Little did I know when writing it what the year would hold. 

I do feel like I bloomed. I grew. I created roots in areas of desire. I was watered and pour into by some very lovely....needed people.  I also discovered that I am an "8" on the enneagram.  (So, disregard my previous post a while back about me being a one.... not true!!)  With this discovery, I feel like I really flourished into who I am and why I do the things I do. It all just came together like a beautiful puzzle for the year of 2020. 

Here we are. 
Hello 2021. You are approaching quickly. 
I don't feel ready (do I ever).  

I honestly don't know what word to use this year.  I have toyed with the idea of: strength, rooted, gentle, endurance, deep.  

But what I think I landed on is.... MOMents. That's not a typo. As a mom, we take moments very seriously. Our time is more valuable than gold. I often criticize myself for wasting moments with my children, or not taking time to cool my jets and be more gentle with my words (I have to volumes.... normal and mom).  

I not only want this year to be about me, mom, and my transformation to continue to challenge myself and be better. But I want 2021 to be how I handle the day to day. Minute to minute. Moment to MOMent.  

~ 2021 ~
* use the planner Jeremiah bought me for Christmas
* write down daily moments of joy (in said planner)
* have more devoted moments with my creator
* take more healthy moments (drink more water, watch macros, move more)

* graduate with my masters in library science (will be accomplished moment by moment) 
* take a moment when needed (without feeling guilty)

* be in the moment when around other people (teaching, friends, children, spouse, etc...)

EMBRACE {2018}

For the past two years (2016 and 2017), I have written a post about the new year and my goals; and through these years I have been transforming, changing and growing, meeting some goals and not others.

Last year I wanted to be BETTER for the year; it was my one word to focus on for the year. Although there were ups and downs the year was wonderful.

EMBRACE ROMANS 12

I want to embrace less, love, challenges, change, boldness, deepness, awkwardness, grace, prayer and forgiveness, generosity, patients, honor, service. I want to embrace the simplicity and joy and spontaneity of 2018.

I want to embrace each day for what it has to offer.
I want to embrace life.

Full living.

Embrace my Mind
Embrace my Body
Embrace my Soul

Embracing my mind will consist of reading 18 books this year.  Last year I wanted to read 12 books and exceeded it by reading 17 books.  I am going to use goodreads to help keep track, have community, and search for new reads.   I want to renew my mind.

Embracing my body last year was making a better body and self image.  I met running goals and did lose weight.  This year I would like to find my lowest weight of 140 pounds and then maintain it.  My first major goal is that I will be finishing up a dietbet in the next coming weeks.  I plan on using the 30 day app to help me track my goals as well as some cross training with sworkit when I am not running. Embrace and worship how God created me.

Embracing my soul. I truly want to continue to focus on deepening my love and closeness to God. Naturally, as I think lots of Christians do around the New Years, I want to pray more, read the Bible with greater understanding, being better.  To embrace my soul I want to embrace ALL of Romans 12; discovering my gifts, encouraging others, being joyful, hopeful and faithful.  To live a life of love. 

I have a calendar that I will be logging and journaling my daily moments and opportunities to embrace.  Some days I will fall short and other days I will feel like a champion.  There will be other habits and disciplines to help me embrace the year; but I truly want to keep it a simple year.  Too much structure does not allow for opportunity.

~ 2018 ~

Embrace my mind - read 18 books

Embrace my body - be 140 pounds

Embrace my soul - live Romans 12