Word of the Year: Conquer

As a writer, I adore words. I always have, even as a little girl. They're like old friends to me. My 2019 word of the year is conquer, along with two supporting words - contemplate and celebrate. The three together may seem random and odd, but to me they all go hand in hand with the growth I have in mind for this year.

2018 was a year full of hard things. No worse than any other people's hard things, but still hard things. We moved, a new job for Coach Man, new schools for the hooligans, navigating a new high deductible insurance plan that does not cover insulin for the type 1 diabetic in the family (#insulin4all - but we'll chat that in another blog, because oh do I have some things to say), a health discovery for one of the kiddos and a major medical issue for Coach Man right before Christmas. It was definitely a year that kept us on our toes, but also a year filled with joy as we tackled the hurdles head on and with purpose. Well, we are a football family, so tackling with purpose is kind of what we do. Ha! 

So...onward to conquer. I'm not taking any crap, 2019. We will continue to pay down debt and knock it off the list. We will finally figure out how to afford everything our type 1 diabetic needs for well-maintained care. We will decide on a house plan in our new town, or surrounding. We'll conquer more family time, less device time and more of getting outside for adventures in nature.

As for just me, myself and I... I will continue to conquer sugar free, healthy carb cooking for the good of the one hooligan with insulin resistance / metabolic disorder and our type 1 diabetic Coach Man. Really it's good for all - sugar is the devil (the Waterboy's "Mama said..." is popping in my head). I will continue to work on me, my writing, my faith journey and my health (here I come yoga) and most of all... I will conquer saying no when I really want to and allowing room for more meaningful yeses in my life. Plus little things like conquering taking Roo boy to his first summer concert this year, guitar lessons for him, tap for baby girl and a #40adventures list, as my #39adventures list closes. Listening to podcasts will be on that list - I know I'm behind the times in figuring that one out.

https://www.instagram.com/freebirds_quo/

Now how does contemplate fit into that? Well, perfectly! 2018 was such a great faith growth year for me, and I know that is what made all those hurdles less daunting. I am so hungry for more of that. I want to dive deeper, grow more, discuss more... and contemplate. My spirit is hungry for food for thought and things to quietly ponder in my heart. The old journal is coming back out. I'm making time. Busy can take a number. 

Contemplating this blog too - where exactly do I want it to go and what do I want it to communicate? A few business seminars too for food for thought in my professional life. Plus, two of my favorite contemplate items - diving into classic literature and re-reading a few this year (send me your ideas for which ones), and journeying along with my saint of the year St. Therese of Lisieux to study her life and her legacy. 

So...celebrate. Yes, I do love a party, but that's not what I'm talking about here. In my head, I go back to my teen years, when a dear friend lost her father. His words still live on in my head to this day - celebrate everything! They always have. No moment is too little to celebrate. Treasure it all. 

Celebrate we will 'cause life short but sweet for certain. - Dave Matthews Band

I want to be more meaningful about celebrating this year and quit letting busy get in the way. Birthdays, everyday milestones, taco Tuesday, the first and last day of school, summer concerts, festivals, baptism anniversaries, date night with Coach Man, Sunday lunch after church, family game night, lunch with my sisters, fireworks with the cousins... the list could go on forever, peeps. For me, celebrating everything doesn't mean a big splash of a party. It means sitting back and savoring the simple moments with the people you love most. Putting down that darn phone. It means embracing scruffy hospitality and not waiting until the house is perfectly clean to invite friends over, or until we've moved. It means sending handwritten note cards to people that need to hear how much you love and appreciate them. Simple everyday things.

Ready, set... Let's go conquer, peeps.

-Jen