2021 goals and commitment

 Happy New Year!

   We are back from a lovely Christmas break in Maine. According to the rules of our school since the kids left the state they need to attend class virtually for 2 weeks. The first week is going okay with each day bringing its own hiccups.  

   I have again set several reading goals for myself for the year, but have decided lifestyle-wise monthly commitments may increase success and follow through.

Reading:

• I plan to read 60 books over the year. 20 of which from my own bookshelves. To help with this goal I am joining the Unread Shelf challenge again hosted by Whitney.  
• I plan to read 10 from the 20th Century project hosted by Ashley of The Big White Farmhouse
• Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge this year a 'pick your own path' of many options of which I have picked some that overlap with the other two and some that have my stretching my reading muscles a bit.

Lifestyle :

• In January after my morning coffee till dinner, I'm only going to drink water
• I will aim for 8,000 steps a day
• Strength train 3x a week

Walking for Little Flowers

The third annual Little Flower Walk/Run was last Saturday. Knowing that we were already had a full day planned last Thursday after dropping Liam off at preschool Caitlin and I headed out for Valley Forge were I mostly walked with a bit of running ~ and Caitlin strolled with a bit of walking.

A lovely hour spent in a beautiful place ~ and a wonderful cause supported.

Win ~ Win ~ Win!!!

exploring the cannons

clearly taking a 'selfie' that shows off the t-shirt with a toddler is beyond me

Thank you to Katie of Blessed with Full Hands for organizing.

Please head over to Blessed to read more and wish them best of everything as they travel to meet their new daughter.

New Month ~ New Start

    Spring and sunnier weather has been taking a longer time than usual to settle-in in these parts which has had me a bit down which in turn has lead to letting several 'take care of me' projects to slide to the side ~ and that is good for nobody.

    So I'm making use of the new month and as I turn the calendar page turning the metaphoric page as well and recommitting to:

• wash my face everyday
• take time to pray everyday (morning offering, 3 minute retreats, & examen being the current game plan)
• daily moisturizer with SPF

In addition to these daily goals I also will try and read at least three books, introduce the Rosary to Elisabeth and put together our game plan for packing.

May is my birthday month; here's to starting my personal new year off right.

Want to cheer me on?

Ending with Lenten thoughts

It feels a bit like limping over the finish line simply posting a video for the 7th post but it truly has been on my mind as I try and discern what I should do for Lent and how I want to introduce the season in a more concrete way this year for the kids.

And I'm working on a birthday post for a certain almost 6 year old.

Thank you for all of those who have read along these past 7 days, and Jen for issuing the challenge.

Day 24 ~ Because stories are more interesting...

     So much of why I decided to take Lisa Jo's challenge and spend these 31 days learning to write my story is that this blog and my belief in it had started to slowly die, my belief that I had anything to say that was worth putting down, worth being read by others.  But that is not really for me to say ~ all I need to do is put down best I can what I know and what I feel about this life I live.

   This life of loving children still receiving more than they can yet give but giving in their own way and  as I teach them about compassion and empathy teaching me again and again the great good in giving of yourself expecting nothing in return but to serve and to the gifts and opportunities given you by God for his glory.

  This life where my professional vocation seems in flux and I'm so unsure of what to do next and when my responsibilities at home will allow more focus outward in a way that grows us as a family and community.

  Having gained so much from reading posts on ideas such as success and mentoring I seek to find again the confidence to put down what I know and believe in the hope that someone will be helped and fed at this blog table.

5 minute friday: Welcome

 

Welcome:
    So there is food, fellowship and often a fire; but mostly there is welcome.  Welcome for the weary musician/singer, especially if this is the first time they are away for Easter, if this is the first time that they sang/played the Trid gauntlet.  Beginning with Holy Thursday and ending five Masses later on Easter Sunday.  We make welcome with food and warmth and hope that they eat well and listening to the stories of past Tridium and the recap of this one begin to truly feel part of this church family.
   And at the end of the evening while the faithful remnant help with unloading and reloading once again the dishwasher, we get to again marvel that the small feast shared among some graduate students has grown and endure to becoming Easter dinner for any and all who would like to come and join in.


For more 5 minute friday please head over to Lisa Jo Baker's

Day 4 ~ Just write and don't worry if it's just right

If there’s one thing that will rob you of your writing voice before you even get started it’s your teacher voice.

You know the one – the voice that complains about how that sentence structure is off, or that comma is in the wrong place or that metaphor is way off base.

The voice that wants you to edit every single sentence before you get through even a single paragraph.

Have you ever participated in Five Minute Friday? What’s your favorite part about it?

I haven't but will tomorrow, because I definitely know that voice.  For me the death nail for taking pride in writing was college.  Previously I had gotten enough reinforcement and decent enough grades to still take enjoyment in writing though no longer thinking that should be a career focus. However my freshman year English teacher was so critical, and 'concerned' about my ability to write at a college-level it made me doubt everything I had ever thought about my ability with the written word. Doubts that still follow me to this day.

See you tomorrow.

31 days to write your story {day 2} If you didn’t grow up planning to be a writer

 {day 2} If you didn’t grow up planning to be a writer

How about you? Would you call yourself a writer? When did you know?

     I would not call myself a writer as I would say that writing (and maybe photography) is how I choose to tell my story, put down my history, and talk about issues that are important to me.  Plus major insecurities about how well I write ~ hence why I'm doing this series.

    I'm not very artistic, I don't feel I should paint, sculpt, or draw.  While I enjoy music and hope someday to learn to play the guitar, I don't sing well and am not drawn to composing.

      However I increasing believe that based on my experience as a nurse-midwife, teacher, wife, mother and Catholic Christian I have something to say and the written word is an important part of how I say it, how I reach out to others, share experiences and offer advice.

How about you?

31 day challenge ~ Writing my story

So when I opened my Google Reader yesterday this is what I found from Lisa Jo Baker;

Welcome to 31 days – the beautiful brainchild of the Nester who inspires us to spend the month of October writing every single day on a topic that might inspire a community.

Continue reading for my day 1 post. Or you can browse the other posts in my series as they pop up below each new day in October.

And I'm taking the challenge because part of my story is that I love reading and writing ~ as in as long as I can remember ~ but have never felt very confident about my writing abilities (feedback in school was always very mixed).  So I'm going to take the deep breath, follow Lisa Jo's prompts and see where the next 31 days takes me.