Ode to 2017

Wrestling Tournaments. Once a Month Gifts.  Monster Jam.  Windsor. 166 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies sold.  JBO's. Disney on Ice.  Beauty and the Beast.  Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum.  #GiraffeeWatch.  The Henry Ford.  Ideal Hot Dog Birthday.  Nickelworld.  Outback Game Night.  Detroit Experience Factory.  D & S Deconstruction and Rebuild.  Virtual 5K - 40:32.  6 mile Bike-a-thon.  Grandpa/Father/Son Tigers Game. Shrektacular Day Camp.  Garage Sales.  Conquering Childhood Cancer Color Run.  Mothers Day Flowers.  Sauder's Camping.  Mongo Family Canoeing.  Free Summer Movies.  Relay for Life.  Harrison Lake.  Drive-In.  More Garage Sales.  Cheboygan, Michigan.  4th of July at Marble Lake.  July Community Dinner.  Holly ER Visit with Stitches.  Zip Line Towers.  Dayton Day Trip.  Hocking Hills.   New Preschool.  Official Soccer Mom/Dad.  First Demo Derby.  Apple Cider Slushies.  Detroit Tigers - Homerun Bunt - Game.  Soccer Star.  Volleyball Player.  Harrison Lake Halloween Weekend.  October Community Meal.  Jake Swims Under Water.  Grinch Musical.  Thanksgiving 5K.  Back to Wrestling. Ornament Exchange Flue Fire.  Community Christmas Lunch Prep - 4th year.  Nursing Home Candy Cane Distribution. Delta Wrestling Tournament.  New Years Eve Game Night.

2,017 in 2017

Last December 31st, I set a goal for myself to run 2,017 miles in 2017.  I knew in all reality that I was not going to obtain that goal, but I was curious to see how many exercise miles I would complete.  The year is over, the tracking is done, the results are in.

 

In 2017, I completed:

 

358.72 miles* 

 

That is 17% of 2,017.

 

I cannot say whether that is good or bad because I've never tracked how much I exercise for an entire year.  But that's the awesome part about starting a challenge like this.  The longer you do it, the more growth you see in yourself.  Here's to a New Year starting tomorrow and accepting the 2,018 miles in 2018 challenge! 

 

Are you in?

 

My year in miles:

January - 52.25

February - 46

March - 53

April - 52.75

May - 33.5

June - 27.5

July - 10.25

August - 41

September - 15.5

October - 7.5

November 16.5

December - 3

 

*Random strolls, biking through the neighborhood, even the walking around campground miles did not count towards my goal.  Only set aside, taking care of me exercise miles were logged. 

2017 Book List

When I worked at the public library, one of my favorite things to see was elderly people bringing in notebooks filled line after line with every title of book they've read.  And while I idolize these elderly people, I will not keep a notebook full of titles of books... Simply because my children will write in it and ruin it all.  So instead I will keep a running list in my email draft section and post it at the end of the year.  And as long as the internet never crashes, I will have my list as the years go by.

In 2017 I read:
 1. Present Over Perfect
2. Total Money Makeover
3. Detroit Disassembled
4. Forgotten Landmarks of Detroit
5. Abandoned Planet
6. The Hardest Peace
7. Looking for Lovely
8. Antelope in the Living Room
9. Sparkly Green Earrings
10. I want my Epidural Back
11. This Life I Live
12. Everything, Everything
13. And It Was Beautiful
14. Home by Harlan Coben
15. Rise: How a house built a family
16. And Still She Laughs
17. Sasquatch Escape (Read Aloud with Jacob)
18. The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog
19. Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2017
20.  Lonely Lake Monster (Read Aloud with Jacob)
21. What were the Salem Witch Trials? (Read Aloud with Bree)
22.  Rain Dragon Rescue (Read Aloud with Jacob)
23. Love Unending 
24. Captain Underpants #1 (Read Aloud with Jacob)
25. A Child Called It
26. The Lost Boy
27. Captain Underpants #2 (Read Aloud with Jacob)
28. The More of Less 
29. The Christmas Box
30. The Magnolia Story
31. Pioneer Woman Come and Get It
32. Mr. Dickens and His Carol - currently reading
33. Life in a Jar - currently reading

Whats in a word?

A few years ago, I read the book "My One Word" and quickly jumped on the 'one word' resolution bandwagon.  And just as the book describes, God worked and wove His way through my life and morphed my word into something more than I could have imagined.  For example:

In 2015, my word for the year was:

 

The intentions behind my word was to finish off the multitude of projects in my plate that was half done and to get the other multitude of projects off the back-burner and brought to life.  While some of that did happen, 'Accomplished' became so much more.  That year I had the highest program attendance in the history of the library.  Ever.  I spoke at a district wide conference to help bring awareness of awesome resources available in our community.  I, along with help from various people, completed 10 sessions with a personal trainer, got involved with the Wauseon Community Dinner, converted our bedroom closet to a craft space, and went on our first ever vacation alone with Jim since kids were born.  It was a very accomplished year - beyond what I ever could have imagined.

 

In 2016, my word for the year was:

 

 

My intentions may have been a bit morbid.  I have a firm grasp in the Biblical truth that my days on this Earth are numbered.  While I can hope that I will live a long life with plenty of time to impart my wise to my children, the fact remains that even tomorrow is not guaranteed.  So my goal with 'legacy' was to focus on what I want to leave behind.  A recipe book full of my favorite recipes, handwritten, complete with tips and changes I made.  Photo albums all up to date.  But once again, God had other intentions for my word.  By December 31st, 2016, against all prior notions of what I thought was in store for my life, of what I thought my children would remember of their childhood, I became a full time, stay at home mom. 

 

I did not choose a word for 2017 but I'm back on my game for 2018 with:

 

 

 

 

I have some pretty hardy goals set for 2018 not to mention a 2019 Disney trip that we have not started saving for.  It is going to take a whole lotta Grit to get to the finish line.  But with God I can get there and exponentially further!

 

 

 

Christmas Simplified

 

The Homemade Gifts from Mom

 

 

The Dream's Come True Gift

 

 

The Wishes Come True Too Gift

 

 

 

Santa's Gifts

 

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Dollar Stockings

As we all know, Christmas is a busy time of year.

 

Houses need decorating.  Cookies need baking.  Presents need wrapping.  And all on top of the hub-bub of normal life. 

 

Mistakes are bound to happen.

 

Like last year when we forgot to buy stocking items for the children and didn't realize it until nearly Christmas.... 

 

Oops.

 

But that little mistake turned into the newest and bestest tradition to date.   

 

(photo from 2016)

 

Just days before Christmas, we loaded the kids up into the car, headed to the local Dollar Tree, and handed each child an envelope containing $15.  It was explained that they each had enough money (including tax) to buy their siblings and parents 3 items each for the stockings.  They were free to browse the store on their own and choose items by themselves, using their knowledge of each other.

 

 

  It was a blast sneaking around the store, hiding the items in your basket when passing each other, running out of the isles so no one was the wiser of what you picked, or subtly dropping items near each other as hints. 

 

It became an instant tradition, loved by all.