I can’t believe 3 weeks have already gone by in the new year. I have been trying to get a blog post up, but of course, life happens. The days just keep rolling by with or without you and you just have to figure out how to catch up!
What I learned ..
It takes a village
Many have heard the expression, but those are some of the truest words you will ever hear. I honestly don’t think we could have gotten through this year without the help of our family and friends. Random food deliveries to our house, people coming over to help wash dishes and fold laundry, or just simply being present. The timing was always perfect. From Max’s surgeries all the way to her first birthday, our family and friends stepped up, even when we didn’t think we needed it. It still amazes me and how many people love us and especially our girls, and I am so thankful every day for our village.
Play with your kids
You may be exhausted with a hundred things on your to-do list. The laundry is piled high, the dishes are stacked up, and there are crumbs everywhere. But hey, at least we have clothes on our back, food to eat, and a place we can call home. So what if the house is a little bit messy?! Our kids just want to play with us all day, but they will not always be this little. They’ll eventually grow up and need less of our time and attention. We will never get these days back. And I’m learning to cherish them. Every day.
Marriage is work
We’d all be lying if we said it wasn’t. Josef and I are high school sweethearts, so though we’ve been married for 6 years, we’ve really been in each others lives for 19 years (yes, crazy I know.) I’ll admit, we do have an advantage in that we’ve had all this time to pretty much learn how the other one operates and how to effectively communicate with each other. Even then, being married with kids presents unique circumstances we never had to deal with before. Our marriage is perfectly imperfect, and I wouldn’t trade it in for anything. I’m blessed and grateful to have a partner that is in this with me unconditionally. And that makes all the difference.
Do something that makes YOU happy
If someone were to itemize the responsibilities of a wife, mom, or nurse, taking care of others tops every single one. And though I am blessed enough to be all three, it has been very easy for me to lose myself in these roles I’ve been given. It’s always been in my nature to put others’ needs before my own (hence why I also became a nurse,) but last year I finally decided to do something for myself.
I started this blog after thinking about it for years. Now I’m no Shakespeare or anything, but writing has always been an outlet for me. This blog helped me spark the creative light in me that I had dimmed for some time. It also lead me to my crafty business venture with Chalk Couture. I never imagined that I would ever do something like this, but it has been amazing so far and I’m glad to be sharing it with all of you.
What I hope for ..
This year I decided to just go back to basics. I made a vision board and I chose a focus word – two things I have not done in YEARS! I found that it was a great way to start off the new year and really hone in on some of things I wanted to accomplish.
Balance
This is my focus word for the year. I want to balance my work life and my home life. My responsibilities and my hobbies. My finances and my splurges. Most of all, I want to balance my time. This might not all be accomplished in one year’s time, but it will definitely be something to strive for in my daily life.
Presence and intention
Going along the lines of “balance,” I want to be present and intentional in everything that I do. I find myself often distracted with so many other things and never fully focusing on what’s in front me. I’ll be watching a movie at home with my family, but I’m still periodically checking my phone and messages. I’ll be helping my daughter with her preschool homework activities, but I’m rushing her through it instead of helping her learn, just so I could go on to do something else. Being aware of it is the first step to changing. My family, especially my kids, look to me for support and validation on a daily basis, and I am determined to always be that person for them.
Good health
Last year we dealt with the major health scare with Max. By the Grace of God she pulled through and we have been able to put it all behind us. She has no residual effects from her surgeries. She graduated from physical therapy by meeting all her developmental milestones shortly after she turned one. We’re off to a great start this year so far, so here’s hoping for continued good health for her, and for all of us.
Lasting Memories
The days are long, but the years are short. Life keeps moving and we spend most of our days trying to play catch up. There is always something that needs to be done, but does it always need to be a priority? I want to teach my girls that experiences and memories are worth far more than material possessions. That spending time with family and friends should always be a priority. Because in the end, they will be the ones who are there for you, unconditionally. They will be your village.
2019.. let’s do this.