A Year In Review 2018
December 31, 2018
Are you like me? You know, one of those people who looks back at the year before planning the one ahead of you? It is a good thing to do. It helps when you see the good in the past and what you want to add to the future.
It has taken me DAYS to put my “best nine” together or to even THINK of anything I could put on there except our new grandson and our new pup. My beautiful planner was neglected MOST of the year. As I turned the pages in it trying to gather some good memories that I had recorded, I was met with empty page after empty page. I intended to use that planner as a type of diary each year. One that I could look through and see those wonderful events in my life…
I grew depressed as I found nothing on the pages. I started out the new year on what I felt was such a high note. For the first time I decided to choose a word for the year and my word was going to be “balance”. Little did I know that I would become so “unbalanced” that I accomplished less and less on a personal level. I didn’t realize that you don’t choose a word, it chooses you. Or maybe it is GIVEN to you by the One who created you and desires the best for you.
My year was anything but balanced. So the word for 2018 was UNBALANCED. I stopped eating my portions the way I knew I should. I slowly said yes to foods I knew I was better off staying away from all together. I slowly allowed myself to believe I didn’t have time in my day or the energy for my workouts, for quiet time, for ANYTHING related to personal development and self care. I allowed myself to become so over stimulated and overwhelmed that the only thing I wanted to do each night was sit and eat fast food while binge watching old shows. I used every distraction and/or circumstance as an excuse NOT to do the things I needed and honestly wanted to do. I gained over twenty pounds and undid all of my hard work of the past couple of years. I am so MAD at myself for it. I let myself down. No one did it TO me. I did it to myself.
There were also some other types of challenges in 2018 that are hard to look back on. We had a near death experience with a family member, some financial challenges, missed yearly events that we look forward to, some relationship challenges and some homeowner challenges. With the exception of the fact that someone came close to death, everything honestly wasn’t as big a deal as it felt like. Those things are the little things we shouldn’t “sweat” but feel insurmountable. Those mountains that seem impossible to climb or ditches we feel we will never be able to climb out of. But you know what? Despite the self-pity I refused to let go of on a daily basis, I made it to the end of the year in one piece. Granted, a heavier piece than I started the year and all the more miserable for it, but I am here. So the BEST thing I can do is find those shinning moments from the year so I can let the bad go and move forward to a better year.
Here is the good and the GREAT of 2018, mostly in order of the event itself.
The first five months of the year I started and completed a brand new workout and nutrition program and actually got halfway through a second time. It was challenging in the best way. I loved it and was able to get my nutrition on point. I wasn’t dropping pounds like crazy but I was getting stronger and looking better in my clothes.
In March, I got a brand new van. My first NEW vehicle in twenty years. I did a lot of research and knew the things that were important to me. It needed to have a DVD player, I know that seems silly, but one of the big things we love to do is take road trips throughout the year. It needed to hold at least seven people comfortably. It actually has an optional eighth seat, just in case I have an extra person that I need to transport. I love all the extras, the deep back section for groceries, how the back seats fold up INTO the car instead of having to take them OUT of the car when I need the space, the powered doors that are all working, It even has a sunroof that we don’t really use, but it’s pretty cool. The heated seats are coming in handy on the colder days, which aren’t many here in Texas. Really, I’m just thankful for a van where everything is working and I feel safe to go on long trips in it. I’ve made a few of those so far.
My girls and I did the Color Run for the fifth time. It is always just a fun time together where we talk and laugh while getting covered in colored corn starch. It was the ONLY race I did this past year. I would like to change that in 2019 but I think for health reasons I may have to work up to it for a later date.
My youngest daughter and I picked out a new furry member of the family and brought her home mid May. She is a beautiful Australian Shepherd named Roxie. We had originally been looking for a dog that was personally hers but the one she wanted was taken already by another person on the waiting list. We had fallen in love with Roxie and just knew she belonged in our family. Everyone loves her and she is such a sweet girl. I’m so glad we didn’t pass up the chance to get her.
My husband and I celebrated thirty-five years of marriage in April. We are LONG overdue for a couple’s retreat or just a get-a-way just the two of us. That is one of the things on my list to plan for the upcoming years, without missing one. It has been TEN years since our last trip together, just the two of us. Yeah, way…to…long!
Our third grandchild, a boy, was born the end of May. He is a special surprise to our first born because she had been told by a few doctors she would never be able to even get pregnant. He is healthy and beautiful. He is one of the happiest little guys I’ve ever met.
I started THIS new blog over the summer and had GREAT plans to transfer ALL of my blog posts from my other site AND write new content weekly. It was something I was certain would get my excitement for life and “balance” back on track. Sadly, that didn’t happen BUT it is at the TOP of my list to work on, starting RIGHT NOW!
My youngest started her senior year of high school and got her learners permit. I taught her to drive and we just need to get her driving test taken and she will be all set. She is in her sixth year of dance and became the lead teacher for a 3-5 year old’s tap class. I’m not sure where 2019 will take her but I know she has great things ahead of her.
Our granddaughter turned four and her brother turned two. Our youngest grandson enjoyed many firsts in the past seven months including his first Christmas. It is always a great joy for me to see them grow and learn. Many of my best memories of 2018 have my grands in them.
We did Christmas a bit differently this year. I decided that since money was on the short side that I wanted to make sure that the things I purchased were really special and not just “fillers”. PLUS, John and I decided that we didn’t want each other to purchase a bunch of stuff because neither of us could even come up with something we wanted or needed. He got me some beautiful yellow roses and a box of mixed candies.
I also decided to start a new Christmas Eve tradition. Many families already do this but we never have. In the past we have have a family gift to open on Christmas eve or the two teens (who are now 17 and 19) would exchange gifts. My youngest daughter and I purchased PJ’s for us plus her dad and brother. We also got some for our older two grands because they were supposed to be here overnight. The pj’s were wrapped AFTER we washed them so we could just put them on after opening them. We got some games and some movies for the basket plus a bag of candy. We grabbed a bunch of tacos from Bueno and ate while watching Home Alone. One of the games was a card game, Quiddler. We played that while watching our son’s favorite Christmas movie, Die Hard. I really don’t think of it as a Christmas movie but that is OK. It was a really fun night and I am glad we started that tradition. It will be a favorite every year, I’m sure.
As I close out 2018, sitting here listening to fireworks go off around my neighborhood, how safe is that?, I am thankful for the many good things that have happened this year and thankful that God brought me through the many things that weren’t so good. I will be doing a New Year’s Day post tomorrow with my word for the year, which I didn’t think up, it was given to me! And with some things I am going to change and some plans I am going to make. I’m excited for the time to sit down and work on that tomorrow.
May each of you find joy in your 2018 as you look back and seek out joy as you head into 2019.
Are you like me? You know, one of those people who looks back at the year before planning the one ahead of you? It is a good thing to do. It helps when you see the good in the past and what you want to add to the future.
It has taken me DAYS to put my “best nine” together or to even THINK of anything I could put on there except our new grandson and our new pup. My beautiful planner was neglected MOST of the year. As I turned the pages in it trying to gather some good memories that I had recorded, I was met with empty page after empty page. I intended to use that planner as a type of diary each year. One that I could look through and see those wonderful events in my life…
I grew depressed as I found nothing on the pages. I started out the new year on what I felt was such a high note. For the first time I decided to choose a word for the year and my word was going to be “balance”. Little did I know that I would become so “unbalanced” that I accomplished less and less on a personal level. I didn’t realize that you don’t choose a word, it chooses you. Or maybe it is GIVEN to you by the One who created you and desires the best for you.
My year was anything but balanced. So the word for 2018 was UNBALANCED. I stopped eating my portions the way I knew I should. I slowly said yes to foods I knew I was better off staying away from all together. I slowly allowed myself to believe I didn’t have time in my day or the energy for my workouts, for quiet time, for ANYTHING related to personal development and self care. I allowed myself to become so over stimulated and overwhelmed that the only thing I wanted to do each night was sit and eat fast food while binge watching old shows. I used every distraction and/or circumstance as an excuse NOT to do the things I needed and honestly wanted to do. I gained over twenty pounds and undid all of my hard work of the past couple of years. I am so MAD at myself for it. I let myself down. No one did it TO me. I did it to myself.
There were also some other types of challenges in 2018 that are hard to look back on. We had a near death experience with a family member, some financial challenges, missed yearly events that we look forward to, some relationship challenges and some homeowner challenges. With the exception of the fact that someone came close to death, everything honestly wasn’t as big a deal as it felt like. Those things are the little things we shouldn’t “sweat” but feel insurmountable. Those mountains that seem impossible to climb or ditches we feel we will never be able to climb out of. But you know what? Despite the self-pity I refused to let go of on a daily basis, I made it to the end of the year in one piece. Granted, a heavier piece than I started the year and all the more miserable for it, but I am here. So the BEST thing I can do is find those shinning moments from the year so I can let the bad go and move forward to a better year.
Here is the good and the GREAT of 2018, mostly in order of the event itself.
The first five months of the year I started and completed a brand new workout and nutrition program and actually got halfway through a second time. It was challenging in the best way. I loved it and was able to get my nutrition on point. I wasn’t dropping pounds like crazy but I was getting stronger and looking better in my clothes.
In March, I got a brand new van. My first NEW vehicle in twenty years. I did a lot of research and knew the things that were important to me. It needed to have a DVD player, I know that seems silly, but one of the big things we love to do is take road trips throughout the year. It needed to hold at least seven people comfortably. It actually has an optional eighth seat, just in case I have an extra person that I need to transport. I love all the extras, the deep back section for groceries, how the back seats fold up INTO the car instead of having to take them OUT of the car when I need the space, the powered doors that are all working, It even has a sunroof that we don’t really use, but it’s pretty cool. The heated seats are coming in handy on the colder days, which aren’t many here in Texas. Really, I’m just thankful for a van where everything is working and I feel safe to go on long trips in it. I’ve made a few of those so far.
My girls and I did the Color Run for the fifth time. It is always just a fun time together where we talk and laugh while getting covered in colored corn starch. It was the ONLY race I did this past year. I would like to change that in 2019 but I think for health reasons I may have to work up to it for a later date.
My youngest daughter and I picked out a new furry member of the family and brought her home mid May. She is a beautiful Australian Shepherd named Roxie. We had originally been looking for a dog that was personally hers but the one she wanted was taken already by another person on the waiting list. We had fallen in love with Roxie and just knew she belonged in our family. Everyone loves her and she is such a sweet girl. I’m so glad we didn’t pass up the chance to get her.
My husband and I celebrated thirty-five years of marriage in April. We are LONG overdue for a couple’s retreat or just a get-a-way just the two of us. That is one of the things on my list to plan for the upcoming years, without missing one. It has been TEN years since our last trip together, just the two of us. Yeah, way…to…long!
Our third grandchild, a boy, was born the end of May. He is a special surprise to our first born because she had been told by a few doctors she would never be able to even get pregnant. He is healthy and beautiful. He is one of the happiest little guys I’ve ever met.
I started THIS new blog over the summer and had GREAT plans to transfer ALL of my blog posts from my other site AND write new content weekly. It was something I was certain would get my excitement for life and “balance” back on track. Sadly, that didn’t happen BUT it is at the TOP of my list to work on, starting RIGHT NOW!
My youngest started her senior year of high school and got her learners permit. I taught her to drive and we just need to get her driving test taken and she will be all set. She is in her sixth year of dance and became the lead teacher for a 3-5 year old’s tap class. I’m not sure where 2019 will take her but I know she has great things ahead of her.
Our granddaughter turned four and her brother turned two. Our youngest grandson enjoyed many firsts in the past seven months including his first Christmas. It is always a great joy for me to see them grow and learn. Many of my best memories of 2018 have my grands in them.
We did Christmas a bit differently this year. I decided that since money was on the short side that I wanted to make sure that the things I purchased were really special and not just “fillers”. PLUS, John and I decided that we didn’t want each other to purchase a bunch of stuff because neither of us could even come up with something we wanted or needed. He got me some beautiful yellow roses and a box of mixed candies.
I also decided to start a new Christmas Eve tradition. Many families already do this but we never have. In the past we have have a family gift to open on Christmas eve or the two teens (who are now 17 and 19) would exchange gifts. My youngest daughter and I purchased PJ’s for us plus her dad and brother. We also got some for our older two grands because they were supposed to be here overnight. The pj’s were wrapped AFTER we washed them so we could just put them on after opening them. We got some games and some movies for the basket plus a bag of candy. We grabbed a bunch of tacos from Bueno and ate while watching Home Alone. One of the games was a card game, Quiddler. We played that while watching our son’s favorite Christmas movie, Die Hard. I really don’t think of it as a Christmas movie but that is OK. It was a really fun night and I am glad we started that tradition. It will be a favorite every year, I’m sure.
As I close out 2018, sitting here listening to fireworks go off around my neighborhood, how safe is that?, I am thankful for the many good things that have happened this year and thankful that God brought me through the many things that weren’t so good. I will be doing a New Year’s Day post tomorrow with my word for the year, which I didn’t think up, it was given to me! And with some things I am going to change and some plans I am going to make. I’m excited for the time to sit down and work on that tomorrow.
May each of you find joy in your 2018 as you look back and seek out joy as you head into 2019.
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