Ode to 2018

J&R Quality Painting and Remodeling.  Florida Weekend Trip.  Jared Box Project.  Cheerleading Clinics.  Archbold Wrestling Tournament - 4th Place.  Jeff Dunham Concert.  Wauseon Wrestling Tournament -3rd Place.  Nerf Gun Tooth Removal.  Lazer Tag Birthday.  Boyd's Retro Candy.  Dayton Road Trip - Temple of Tolerance, Charleston Falls, Tunnel of Trees, Three Sisters, Rock House.  New Raised Garden Beds.  Mother's Day Lemon Donuts.   New Front Door.  Washington D.C.  OBX.  Shipshewana.  Dutch Creek Animal Farm.  Friend's Cleveland Trip.  Yogi Bear Day Trip.  Pine Lake, Indiana.  Block Party.  Ohio Reformatory Birthday Trip.   Soccer Games.  Splash Universe.  Cuyahoga Valley Hiking - Nelson Kennedy Ledges State Park, Squire's Castle, Centerville Mills Waterfall, Brandywine Falls, Virginia Kendall Trails.  Harrison Lake Halloween Weekend.  Volleyball Games.  Fall Community Dinner.  Kitchen Wall Removal.  Mohican State Park Hiking.  18 Year Wedding Anniversary.  Grinch Lawn Decoration. Bree Birthday Shopping Trip.  Taking It To the Streets Homeless Event.  December Community Meal.  Grandma Dominique Gained Her Wings.  Christmas Day Community Meal.  Disney on Ice: Frozen.  Netflix.  Nickelworld.

Ode to 2017

Ode to 2016  

2018 Book List

One of my fondest memories of working at the public library was seeing the elderly people come in with their ratty notebooks filled with crinkly page after page after page of titles of books they have read over the years.  I would love to have one of those notebooks, but my children would probably get ahold of it and practice writing their name, rip out pages for paper airplanes, or just doodle in it.  So in true millennial fashion, I keep a digital copy to refer back to.  As the year is quickly coming to a close, it is time to share the

 

Books I Read in 2018:

 

 

Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff by Chip Gaines

 

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

 

The Lucky Few by Heather Avis

 

Out of the Spin Cycle by Jen Hatmaker

 

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

 

Out of my Mind by Shannon Draper

 

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

 

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher

 

Rhinestone Jesus by Kristen Welch

 

Through the Eyes of a Lion by Levi Lusko

 

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

 

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

 

The Secret Grave by Lois Ruby

 

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

 

Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan

 

Ohio State Reformatory by Nancy K Darby

 

Haunted History of the Ohio State Reformatory by Sherri Brake

 

Grandma Gatewood's Walk by Ben Montgomery

 

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

 

River at Night by Erica Ferenik

 

So B. It by Sarah Weeks

 

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

Captain Blue on the Blue Blazes by Andy Niekamp

 

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine

 

Killman Creek by Rachel Caine

 

A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell

 

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

 

By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

Caroline by Sarah Miller

 

The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn

 

Crazy House By James Patterson

 

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

 

Winter Street by Erin Hilderbrand

 

Winter Stroll by Erin Hilderbrand

 

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewel

 

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

 

Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand

 

13th Gift by Joanne Smith

My NEW Word

Its (almost) the New Year and so its time to choose a new word.

A word to define my year, to live by, to pray about instead of resolutions that will be broken.

 

But first, lets reflect. My word for 2018 was GRIT!

 

 

I had plans for 2018. 

 

We had to finish saving for our Outer Banks vacation and start saving for a 2019 Disney vacation.  There were camping weekends to save for and a mortgage that would be nice to shave a year or two off of.  I had dreams of doing an entirely homemade Christmas for everyone on our list.  There are 11 years worth of pictures to get into albums, cookbooks that need updating for my sanity, and a garden that needed a big overhaul.  And then there were the house updates that have been on the backburner for far too long, projects that were promised a few Christmases ago, and so. much. more. 

 

I needed a lot of Grit if I was going to tackle them all and come out alive.  But those were my plans.  God had other ideas.

 

Just a few short days into 2018, our security was shaken and we dove headfirst into the world of self-employment.  My dreams for the year became out of reach and Grit was truly needed to stay afloat.

 

Determination, sacrifices, saying no when needed, saying yes when we could, staying in budget, not stretching ourselves too thin when we didn't know what the future would hold no matter what anyone else thought took.... Grit.

 

It was rough.  It was scary.  It took a lot of Faith.  But.  I am happy to report, now at the end of 2018, that we survived.  Survived and thrived and came out on top, in fact.  But I/We couldn't have done it alone and THAT is the basis of my One Word for the New Year.

 

There were people in my life who... stepped up to the plate.  Only they wouldn't call it that.  They would say they were doing what needed to be done and doing what they could.  Their generosity made frivolities obtainable and there was never a chance to worry about the mundane.  Even though their world had not changed and lending a listening ear would have been enough, they were ready.  Ready to help.  Ready to ease.  Ready and willing and already one step ahead of me.

 

My word for 2019 is Ready.

 

Joana Gaines said it best:

 

While sometimes I am capable, able-bodied, and strong on multiple fronts, other times I need to step back, delegate and let go of some stuff.  These and the many iterations in between are personal examples of what it means to me to be made ready.  Every season looks different, and each one is no less significant than the other.  I believe that each of us, in every circumstance, has what it takes - that built within the construction of who we are is whatever that moment in time requires. 

 

But being made ready is not about being all things to all people at all times.  Actually, it may look like quite the opposite.  Sometimes it means acknowledging my lack, understanding my limits, knowing the strengths of those around me, and graciously receiving help when they're willing to step in.

 

I love the seasons of hard work and heavy loads because they show me what these arms can carry.  I love the seasons when I can carry others and also when I can allow myself to be carried because I see that no one is meant to bear the burden alone.  Each is right and good and true, and without both, we miss something more important that we were created for.  I am definitely not perfect, but I am willing and capable.  And whatever tomorrow may hold, here's what I believe to be true: I am made Ready."

 

In 2019, I will be Ready.  Ready to give my husband, children, friends the best of me, not the tired, frazzled, grumpy leftovers.  I will be Ready to ease burdens and refill the cups of those closest to me.  I will be Ready to run towards any circumstance instead of "wishing I had the time/finances/something I can do".   And.  I will be Ready to receive the love that others want to share and not feel unworthy, not needed, or that it is charity. 

 

Love, friendship, moments comes in all forms and I will be Ready.

Elfin' Around 2018

Mr. Fred the Elf has been a part of our lives for 6 years! 

S-I-X years!!

 

 We noticed he's not nearly as creative as he was in his younger days and sometimes the silly elf forgets to move even though its not possible for someone to touch him.  But we still enjoy having him around every Christmas season and here are the highlights from this year. 

 

A box of Lucky Charms to kick off the season?  Sure thing!!

Gotta check out Bree's new village piece - an Elementary School!

 

There is always a puzzle going in our basement.  Sometimes we get through multiple puzzles in a year and sometimes, like this year, we get stuck on a puzzle that makes us cross-eyed since the Spring.  Fred took care of it though.  Put the entire thing together in one night.

 

 

 

We love musical Christmas decorations in this house.  Anything that sings and dances is welcome with open arms and great big hugs.

 

 

 

When you run out of tinsel, Fred is to the rescue with toilet paper!

 

 

Before Fred left for the year he delivered thee most important of Christmas presents -

 

Christmas Jammies.

 

 

And with that, we were ready to start our first Christmas celebration of the season!

 

 

Disney.... On Ice

Not only did Holly receive the first gift of Christmas, she also got it before Christmas!

 

 

She was kinda confused.  Well, maybe a lot confused.  Beautiful, silly girl thought we were actually going to Disney and she was all set with her Mickey ears and Disney trading pins.

 

 

I tried to explain what Disney on Ice was but some things are best understood once you get there.

 

 

We got our pretzel with cheese, drink, found our seats and waited for the magic to begin.  This year's show theme:  Frozen!

 

All Disney on Ice shows start with the main man himself - Mickey - and other characters and princesses.  So very, very exciting.

 

 

Then the Frozen show begins.  Holly was a little concerned when Sven came out. 

 

"Is that people?" she asks.

 

Olaf is always the highlight of any production.

 

 

 

 

Marshmallow was impressive.

 

 

And captivating!

 

The skating was great, the sets were awesome, the show was totally worth the money.

 

And if you ask Holly what she thought about the show, I think she'd agree.

 

Thankful - Day 30

I am thankful for...

 

this crazy wonderful life of mine but most of all..  I'm thankful for you! 

 

I'm thankful for the people who I get to spend my days with, the people who go on adventures on the whim of a website's suggestion, the people who never tire of my Christmas lovin', the people who push me to be better, the people who stop over just because, the people who encourage me when doubt creeps in, the people who sit and dream with me.

 

 

 

I am thankful for each and every one of you for shaping me into the person I am today.  You all have brought meaning, perspective, and balance into my life.  I cherish you all and thank God for crossing our paths, for no matter how long.

 

 

Thankful - Day 29

I am thankful for...

 

the simple holiday decorations, the inside jokes, passed down over the years that bring a smile to your face when your kids give you the most questionable of looks.

 

And the answer is YES!  That is an unopened tin of "limited edition" Oreos from 2000!

Thankful - Day 28

I am thankful for...

the digital age we live in to easily look back on days, weeks, holidays past.

 

 

Thankful - Day 27

I am thankful for...

 

 

..."fancy dinners" (aka special nights when Momma is too tired to cook, splurges on take out, moves the furniture in the living room so we can eat and watch an overdue library movie... all on a school night.)

Thankful - Day 26

I am thankful for...

 

 

...children who still ask me to have lunch at school with them.

Thankful - Day 25

I am thankful for...

 

... art, one of my favorite forms of mental escape.

 

 

Thankful - Day 24

I am thankful for...

 

 

...laughter.  Squeals of delight in the morning.  The excitement of holiday magic.

Thankful - Day 23

I am thankful for....

 

 

...small businesses that help keep families together, keep communities old school, and keep traditions alive!

(checking for squirrels)

Thankful - Day 22

I am thankful for...

 

lazy holidays at home...

 

 

...that give us a chance to create memories inside our walls that will keep the kids coming back home long after they are grown.