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I See You, 2019


Hello 2019, a fresh year... full of things that have never been. - Rainer Maria Rilke

Oh the joy of a fresh year! My favorite thing to do on New Year's Day each year is to explore the adventures we want to embark on during the next 12 months and pencil them in on a fresh new wall calendar. It's one of my favorite Christmas presents under the tree each year that I give to myself. A fresh new Susan Branch, Gooseberry Patch or Mary Engelbreit calendar. It makes my heart giddy. Simple things, peeps, simple things.

I think it goes back to my sweet mama. She always gave me a new calendar each year for Christmas. I miss her deeply, but I feel like she delights up in heaven each December as she sees which one I pick for the year ahead and how we fill it as a family.

Now in the few days before New Years Eve, I ponder the year past and my word of the year ahead. This year's word is conquer, and because I can't play by the rules with a single word, two supporting words, contemplate and celebrate. More to come on why those words and what I plan to do with them soon.

Then I take the first week of the New Year to read and ponder. To be still and recharge. To push reset. The table next to our bed is chocked full of great books, two journals and a pen. Just add a cup of coffee or tea (and I so wish a few pretty snow flakes dancing outside the window) and ready to get cozy and ponder. I've already been dabbling these last few days and flipping through and making notes. Oh and reading a few of my favorite digital publications too. Watch for an upcoming list of all my favorite online places for food for thought very soon. They'll all just too good not to share with all of you.

This year I'm adding something new into the mix. I'm picking a saint to study for the year. I've always loved reading about the lives of the saints and sharing about them with our children and my religious education classes that I've taught over the years, but I've never taken a whole year to dive into the life of a single saint. I've picked St. Therese of Lisieux (aka The Little Flower) for 2019. I can't wait to see what unfolds from walking along and reading about her life this year.

Now the thing that is giving me a bit of anxiety. Not for the usual reasons that impending birthdays do for a woman of my age, but because I made a certain list of must to-do adventures and I only have two short months until time is up to accomplish them. I know I could roll over some to a new list, but I put weight to THIS list. Pressure of my own doing, and I truly want to see how many of the items I can knock off this list before the big 40 hits. So I better roll my sleeves up and get to work, right peeps?!

What else to look for in 2019 on the blog? A bit of a refresh and some organization. Feeling a bit of a hot mess in the organization arena with all that swirls in my head that I'd love to share with you. I do editorial calendars for all my clients - um where is my editorial calendar? Sigh... Added to the list. More embracing of joyful simple everyday living and imperfect living, but also a bit of talking about the hard things too. A sweet friend reminded me of my own words to her many years back and oh did I need the reminder this last month: Never fast forward. Savor each moment. There are blessings in even the most difficult moments. 

Cheers to 2019, peeps! I can't wait to see what fun Coach Man, the hooligans and I can get into this year.

Oh and because I think it's fun to see what last year's most read blog post was - you all seemed to love this one. Go figure. I was pretty raw in it - seems peeps like diving into the hard stuff. Enjoy a look back - Girls Like Me Don't.

-Jen
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