Enough

 There is a big part of me that enjoys a New Year, a fresh start, when all the Christmas decor gets put away and everything feels reset.  I have a desire to repot, upkeep my plants, and bust out a new planner to start filling out all the blank spaces. I don't set resolutions, I think I do that to much on the regular and honestly don't love goals (my body still doesn't feel dependable enough to be able to follow through the way my mind would want to).  However, what I have enjoyed most years is having a word of intention. 

The Lord typically leads me to what he wants to show me in my current season.  In the past words like joy/celebrate (during an especially hard physical seasons - find the good),  Bloom, and Shine.  This year I went on a walk with Him, and He was quick to bring up what this years focus would be: "Enough" and then proceed to unpack for me all the different areas in my life that this effects.

I am an Enneagram One, a Perfectionist/Improver, Type A Personality, who's natural bent is to look at everything in how to make it better.  While there are many advantages to such, it is an exhausting and stressful way to view the world. When is something ever enough?  When is my "to do lists" (that is usually packed with to many things that is humanly possible to do in a day) complete?  When is everything perfectly clean in the house (when does that ever happen)?....

 When all the family is getting along and I have perfectly balanced out my day between work, making sure all my family's' emotion buckets and physical needs are filled (I have one child that would say at bed time that she never has enough), when I have taken care of my own needs and self care (spiritually, working out, supplements, sleep, prayer, etc), when....The list seems to be never ending and really not attainable rationally (yet that doesn't seem to matter to my mind).

If I'm honest, I have no idea when it (and by "it" I mean everything) is "enough", and I am often struck at the end of the night that all my striving just wasn't enough.  Perhaps others have an internal meteor that lets them know? I have no idea but I do know that many others do not seem to struggle with this or it is not on their radar at all.

My Lord reminded me that learning more about this was part of abiding in Him (Jn 15).  Bringing it all to him, daily, to have him gage what that is to look like in my life and how I am to spend my time and resources.  This is hard, I would like to have it all planned out clearly and be able to log it into my planner knowing what that should look like.  Sadly, my body still isn't as stable and predictable as I would like.  This means I have a forced reminder to bring it all to the Lord. May He continually draw me in and teach me when it is enough and ultimately that He is enough, despite my circumstances or abilities (or lack thereof).

Fresh Starts and Changes (January '25)

 We got struck with sickness for about half the month (it seems to usually be the case with January). There were some fun to be had before that, though, including some gifts of weather (even a snow day). Ezra got to spend some time with his grand Lovelands, and Glenn capture this cool shot when they were out window shopping.

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When Ezra came with me to watch his sister cheer on her basketball team, and we were waiting to pick her up.

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It was postponed, but we were thankful to get to celebrate Zoe at her cross country banquet, representing as captain.

The team.

Her awesome coaches that we were so thankful to have.

The girls team.

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Silly family game night that had so many giggles, brought this one to tears!

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Selfies of the month found on my phone...

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Long days for this hard working girl.  Occasionally the girls fall asleep doing homework.

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Saturdays are often a struggle, as the kids have a couple of chores (and the adults are often cleaning and working as well), and the mindset and speed to get them done is usually very low.  I would really like to try to change this dynamic.  So this Saturday, with finally having some warm sun shining, we went on a family walk.

Zoe wanted to do so on the dam, which is a nice sunny spot, just a little chilly when the wind blows.

We had a great positive time together.

This sister relationship can be so challenging at times, and it is my prayer that their love for one another can grow.

So thankful for our family and a break from the mundane with the beautiful sun!

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A break from school for MLK means catching up with appointments.  My mom took Zoe to get her hair done.  She was so thrilled about getting highlights for the first time.  

My friend, Tracie, knocked it out of the park. 

Some before and afters...

Zoe is beautiful regardless, but it was something that she had been really wanting.

My mom, also, got her haircut and they both look so great!

Meanwhile, I was with Shiloh for an orthodontist check in to see if she needed braes. She did and wanted to get going on it right away...so we did!

Here is to a new journey!

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Zoe wanted to cheer up her bestie and made her a sweet basket and poster.

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Sweet treat after dinner at the in-laws...

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Job shadowing day and Zoe went with my sister to her school and LOVED it.  She is so good with kids and it brings her such joy!  Shiloh came to work with us and enjoyed some time at the kiosk.

Many other days filled with rest and prayer as we try to recover...

The Magic of a Snow Day

 We got surprised by an actually a snow day!  Our town had anticipated such a few times and even closed down schools to prepare for it, but this time it actually happened.

The kids loved getting to share the experience with neighbor friends!

It started in the early evening and the kids wanted to stay out as long as possible.

I wasn't feeling well, so I mostly just enjoyed it from my large bedroom window.

The light dusting continued and the kids went back out after dinner.

Enjoying watching the magic happen.

Even though we had to close the business (which is never a great thing), it was a special time!

The continued cold temps the next day lead to hours more of fun!

Snow Cream with coffee....new creation?

Very bundled for hours of play...

Snowman building.

We went on a walk with a boogie board that got used as a sled on big hills that still had snow.  I realized that we should have done so in the morning, as much the snow left had already been enjoyed or melted.

But they still had a great time and took towards boarding down the hills.

Silly girls

Snow Angles.

The snowman lasted even into the afternoon.

In that it doesn't seem to happen but every few years, we were so thankful for this magical day!