Happy Twenty Fourteen!!

Wow - is it really 2014, already??? Happy New Year, friends!!  I hope your holidays were amazing and you are pumped to wipe the slate clean and start over.... again! :-)

As I did last year, I wanted to take a quick look back on this past year and then forward to 2014. Because, let's be real... it's basically a requirement for a blogger to write a New Year's post. I'll be honest, this post was kind of hard to finish for me. Not because 2013 was some sort of epic year or anything, but instead it was sort of a blur for me... possibly due to a lack of sleep. But I am having a hard time remembering it. (Are we surprised? My memory blows.) Besides a couple big instances (birthing child should be considered a big deal, right?), 2013 may get lost somewhere in a faded memory stack in my brain as "just another year." I don't know, I'm kind of excited to leave this past year behind and move on. Anyway...moving on...

Here is my 2013 Inventory:

• In 2013, I gained another huge gift from God - Meda Grayson. Words aren't big enough to encapsulate the emotions that having children brings. 
• I lost my mind. Quite a few times. It's currently back, but rest-assure... it will be gone again soon. Probably by morning. 
• I stopped singing in the choir at church. With the new baby and... well, life really... the time commitment during the week for rehearsals and the numerous services per weekend wasn't something I could commit to for 2013. I plan on getting back into it in 2014, though. I miss my choir friends and worshipping with them on the weekends!
• I started getting more involved with leadership teams at my church though and have met some amazing people who are great mentors for me. 
• I was hugely satisfied by finishing the first draft of my novel. Now I need to finish all the edits.
• And frustrated by my short, but ugly bout with post-partum depression. 
• I am so embarrassed I now have four dogs. Yes. FOUR. Who has FOUR DOGS???? OMG. Embarrassing. But I'm totally in love with the fourth addition and she was worth it!
• Once again, I missed estranged family members.
• Once again, I wished they missed me too. 
• The biggest physical difference between me last December and this December is my lack of a protruding pregnant belly. 
• The biggest psychological difference between me last December and this December is my mind doesn't turn off anymore. Ever. I feel less "at peace" and am unable to relax these days. Ugh. That was really annoying to write/admit. Maybe the addition of another child and a fourth dog has something to do with that?? Hmmm....
• I loved joining a new life group and getting to know new friends at church.
  
• Why did I spend even two minutes playing candy crush??? 
• I should have spent more time in prayer. But I'm pretty sure no matter how much time is spent in prayer, that much more could still be spent there... something to work on.
• I regret working immediately after having the baby. At the time, I didn't think it was a big deal. It was. 
• I will never regret being a tad O.C.D. when it comes to keeping our home in a relative state of cleanness. I'm a much happier and calmer person when I'm not surrounded by a cluster. I wish my husband was the same... #hinthint
• I ran way too much. Training for a 26.2 mile race is like having a second job. I'm not so sure I can do that again with the time commitment it requires. At least not at this point in my life with young kiddos. Maybe someday... maybe even for St. Jude next year... we'll have to see.

• 

  They will FIND YOU....

  The most relaxing place I went was the restroom. By utilizing the restroom (or pretending to), I was able to gain precious minutes alone... Until I was caught. If you're a parent - I know you feel me on this one, don't deny it... Second only to the bathroom was Santa Barbara, California back in March. I got to shop, eat a truck load of great food, and catch up on my reading. Thank you so much to our good friends, the Reeds, for having us!
• I did not race 26.2 miles like I hoped for, planned for, and paid for. 
• The best thing I did for myself was enroll in a writer's training program.
• The best thing someone did for me was take over caring for my family so that I could get a nap or two in. 
• The one thing I'd like to do again, but do it better is write a book. 
  
  

(Fill-in-the-blank template from Mary Schmich at The Chicago Tribune found via this blog) 

2014 Intentions:

• Keep up the running and run a handful more races and some half-marathons. But get faster while doing it. I'm almost to my pre-baby speed, but not quite there yet.
• Attend 1-2 major writing conferences. This will be where I pitch my novel to agents/publishing houses and also get some major training in at the same time. I'm thinking about heading to Texas and/or North Carolina later in the year to do this. 
• Convince my husband to take/send me to see Britney Spears in Vegas. Yes, seriously. I'm adding this to my New Year's list. Ms. Spears is totally worth a spot in this post. 
• Add an additional freelance job or two...maybe. I'm not stressed about this one, but it'd be cool - if not, no big deal. :-) But it might be cool to make a little extra cash.

Wishing you a FABULOUS Twenty Fourteen!!

Happy 2013!

Well, here's my obligatory New Year's post! It is a blogging obligation, isn't it? Every blog I follow does one, so here is mine! :-)

So 2012 was a great, but very hard year for me. Thinking back on it, I have to admit I learned a lot.... about why I have gray hair already myself, about how to get my husband and kid to do what I want relationships, about what a joke the Devil is God, and potty training just sort of just life in general.... (I know, it's getting deep already, huh? And I'm only into the second or third sentence. Bear with me!) I wanted to look back on 2012, and decided to bring you along with me. #ArentYouSoLucky

Here is my 2012 Inventory:

• In 2012, I gained confidence in God's and my decisions for my life.
• I lost a baby this year through miscarriage and it nearly ripped my heart in two.
• I stopped freaking out about finances all the time and placed my trust in Him to provide.
• I started seriously writing.
• I was hugely satisfied by my always continual walk with Christ, who never ceases to amaze me with His love, mercy, and glory.
• And frustrated by people that think it's ok to have friends, but not be a friend.
• I am so embarrassed that I struggle to "say yes to God" when His path for me is clearly laid out directly in front of me.
• Once again, I made an effort to give much and take little.
• Once again, I took too much and gave too little.
• The biggest physical difference between me last December and this December is my growing baby bump. I'm eight to ten pounds heavier than I was this time last year, thanks to the amazing blessing growing in my belly.
• The biggest psychological difference between me last December and this December is I'm even crazier than I was last year. This is headed downhill fast.
• I loved having freedom in my schedule to travel and be flexible with anything that came up.
• Why did I spend even two minutes thinking she had changed from when I met her five or so years ago.
• I should have spent more time keeping in touch with old friends as well as talking to my mom and dad on the phone more often.
• I regret nothing.
• I will never regret saying goodbye to something that has been a part of my life since I was very little. It sounds cheesy, but when I quit my job I didn't just leave a career path, but an activity I've known and loved all my life. I was forced to leave before I completely lost all my love and respect for it and the people involved.
• I internally struggled way too much in knowing how to comfort family and friends who have lost a dear one or are struggling to obtain someone precious.
• The most relaxing place I went was back to Colorado. Something about being out there at 12,000 feet will put you at peace.
• I did not end up getting another full time job as originally planned when I left my last job. It was a huge leap of faith in making the decision not to and to continue being a stay-at-home mom. For anybody who knows me, this is NOT what I had in mind for my life and was a hugely scary decision for my family and I.
• The best thing I did for myself was making running not just a habit, but a priority. I reaped the benefits from it as well, in not only making myself healthier, but also happier. I also consistently and quickly started getting better and that helped my confidence tremendously.
• The best thing someone did for me was encourage me to "say yes to God." Everything lined up so clearly and perfectly once I did.
• The one thing I'd like to do again, but do it better is everything!

(Fill-in-the-blank template from Mary Schmich at The Chicago Tribune found via this blog)

Gosh... filling that in was a little gut wrenching. I did and experienced some amazing things in 2012 (i.e. mission trip to Africa...which by the way, I STILL need to post about!... more time with my family...) and some not so amazing things (i.e. broke ties with so-called "family," went through a miscarriage...), and I know next year will hold even more cool and not-so-cool stuff!

A couple years ago, I started blogging about my "intentions" for the New Year. So here is what I'd like to focus on in 2013. I keeping this short, because I'm learning to take and enjoy life as it smacks me square in the face (sometimes too hard). But here are a few things I'd like to do. My so-called intentions, if you will.

• To write more articles and finish my book. Last month, I set a written goal and gave myself one year to complete the first draft, so I should be done completely by December 2013...at the very latest. I do, however, think that I can finish it much sooner than that since I already had a jump on it and I have a pretty good writing schedule in place. So we'll see! Wish me luck! As with anything I set out to do, I'll need the luck! :-)
• Run my first full marathon. I had planned on doing this on my 30th birthday in April of 2013, but the semi-accidental-but-not-really-accidental baby-making sort of got in the way of that. I'll be about 37 weeks pregnant then, and doubt I'd be able to waddle that far without plopping a kid out in the middle of the road.
• To truly listen and look to God more often and not be so nervous about His plans for me.
• To not completely lose all sanity myself after the second baby comes and get caught up in being a mother and wife. To take time for myself and not feel guilty for it.

So there you have it... that's what my 2013 will consist of.

Happy New Year friends! I pray your's is full of happiness, prosperity, and just a little bit of stupidity. (It always makes things interesting!)