I have been contemplating a "2011 year in review" type post for the last few weeks, but have stopped short of it because a) it seems to be a very common theme for bloggers (and a good one, I might add), b) 365 days all all that they contain might be hard, well, will be very hard for a long winded lass like me to try to express, and c) well, I haven't really seen a post that inspired me yet that I ought to take an honest stab at it all.
However, a dear old (not as in age) friend of mine, Sara DeRose who blogs over at Sara, Darling (she's an excellent writer, so check her out) posted a great "tool" for reflection originally created by Mary Schmich in 2007, (a columnist with the Chicago Tribune). This seems easy enough, I think, so here are my answers.
Photos are a flashback to our New Year's Eve party last year (2010). Photos by me and Michele Selfe.
I gained more square footage to live in, a full set of Corelle Butterfly Gold dishes, two awesome sets of china that belonged to my mother in law (from her mother), (Jason wants to add that he finally discovered his Father's love for him), the ability to trust in God to provide for us, a better relationship with my mother in law, a better relationship with my mother, the rekindling of old friendships, closure and peace/reconciliation/full circle healing/redemption with our old church community, a love for Chicago style hotdogs, a sweet pair of gray Converse, more free mama time via Shiloh going to preschool (and more sanity).
I lost two cup sizes (weaned my baby boy), a few pounds, a lot of hair, almost our house (if not for the very gracious major corporation as an act of "goodwill" suspended all foreclosures for the month of December), Shiloh's fuzzy spot on her back (she had two surgeries to remove the nevus on her back), my great aunt, my brother to New Orleans, bags and bags full of unneeded and unwanted clothing and "things", a treadmill and a sweet teal blue leather couch.
I stopped doing my cake/cupcake business, attending two different churches, keeping a budget, collecting unemployment benefits, listening to anything while I drive.
I started having a glass of wine every night, blogging again, my Etsy shop, playing my guitar more and leading worship again and/or participating in worship circles, going back to the church we left nearly seven years ago, collecting WIC and food stamp benefits, helping with my husband's grandmother's estate, receiving 50% off coupons from Park Avenue Thrift in the mail, using my f 2.8/28mm lens only for it to break on me (hoping it will come back to life...), reading more (currently 3 books in rotation - Eat, Pray, Love, The Help, and My Mother/Myself (weird weird weird)), shaving my legs more often, using BareMinerals foundation (made a huge difference in my skin).
I was hugely satisfied by completing a half marathon (walking), started training for another one and was running up to 7 miles when I had to stop training, cleaning out my mother-in-law's townhouse, cleaning out my husband's grandmother's house in Chicago, orchestrating Dakota's birthday surprise.
And frustrated by Chase Bank/EMC Mortgage, and a certain commission-only sales job.
I am so embarrassed that I only walked the half marathon (runners put me to shame, but it was lots of fun), cut off my hair, well, I am not really embarrassed about that I guess. I am just making this stuff up.
Once again, I embarrassed my mother (by my overly candid blog posts), hosted a New Year's Eve party.
Once again, I did not have a summer garden, practice consistency, keep the laundry done, upgrade any of our technology (I do not even own an Ipod or MP3 player).
The biggest physical difference between me last December and this December is the length of my hair (totally cut off, and totally regret it), and my boobs are waaaaay smaller (I am embarrassing my mother, I am sure), and I am a few pounds lighter.
The biggest psychological difference between me last December and this December is I worry more about what people think about how we're handling our financial situation, though I worry less about money and how the lack thereof will impact our life. I am more insecure about my boobs than ever.
I loved spending time in the woods when I could, swimming in the lake with the family, working on my fall garden, shopping for inventory for my vintage shop, hanging out with my sweet husband after the kids went to bed, snuggling my babies in the mornings, hanging out with my friend Sheryl.
Why did I spend even two minutes thinking I was going to have a job working for someone else doing cakes?
I should have spent more time working on Dakota's Brain Balance exercises with him, playing with my children, finding grass to lay in, hiking, sleeping, and folding laundry.
I regret buying our Toyota 4Runner.
I will never regret buying my Vibram five fingers (later exchanged for Dansko clogs) even though with that money I could have bought a pair of Minnetonka 5-layer fringe moccasins.
I spent time on the internet, ate Stouffer's dinners and Goldfish, worried about my weight, looked at other peoples' Facebook pictures way too much.
I didn’t spend time with my oldest son, sleep, go on picnics, go on dates, travel, shop for myself, talk to either one of my grandmothers, go to the beach (at all actually) enough.
The instability of my hormones and unpredictability of our income drove me crazy.
Was the weather crazier than ever last year? Or was it me? Remember the "Snowpocalypse in January? The insane tornado outbreak in April? Spent a lot of time in the garage that night. The scorching and debilitating summer heat? Ugh.
The most relaxing place I went was Camp Bethel/Waynesville, NC in the mountains of North Carolina, January 2011 when we got "snowed in" with the Stiggins' and the Bates. What a blessed time.
I feel so sad and frustrated when I write that down. (we want to go back, but it costs gas money and we can't afford it!)
Why did I go to Walmart? I really hate that place.
The best thing I did for someone else was gave money and things away as we were able.
The best thing I did for myself was take a day alone in the summer and went swimming in the lake by myself.
The best thing someone did for me was give us sooo many financial gifts, boxes of food, toys, etc... we were truly blessed with all kinds of providence from friends and family in 2011. I saw the true beauty of so many peoples' hearts throughout 2011 in their generosity and willingness to give.
The one thing I’d like to do again, but do it better, is go back to Jason's family home (that his grandfather built) in Chicago and spend time just being in Chicago. I am really going to be sad when that place is sold. I want to back to Waynesville and see our friends' faces again and help them around the farm.
I am sure I have missed something, but I don't have time to work on this post anymore. I gots to go to the stoh!
Much love,
Brooke
I lost two cup sizes (weaned my baby boy), a few pounds, a lot of hair, almost our house (if not for the very gracious major corporation as an act of "goodwill" suspended all foreclosures for the month of December), Shiloh's fuzzy spot on her back (she had two surgeries to remove the nevus on her back), my great aunt, my brother to New Orleans, bags and bags full of unneeded and unwanted clothing and "things", a treadmill and a sweet teal blue leather couch.
I stopped doing my cake/cupcake business, attending two different churches, keeping a budget, collecting unemployment benefits, listening to anything while I drive.
I started having a glass of wine every night, blogging again, my Etsy shop, playing my guitar more and leading worship again and/or participating in worship circles, going back to the church we left nearly seven years ago, collecting WIC and food stamp benefits, helping with my husband's grandmother's estate, receiving 50% off coupons from Park Avenue Thrift in the mail, using my f 2.8/28mm lens only for it to break on me (hoping it will come back to life...), reading more (currently 3 books in rotation - Eat, Pray, Love, The Help, and My Mother/Myself (weird weird weird)), shaving my legs more often, using BareMinerals foundation (made a huge difference in my skin).
I was hugely satisfied by completing a half marathon (walking), started training for another one and was running up to 7 miles when I had to stop training, cleaning out my mother-in-law's townhouse, cleaning out my husband's grandmother's house in Chicago, orchestrating Dakota's birthday surprise.
And frustrated by Chase Bank/EMC Mortgage, and a certain commission-only sales job.
I am so embarrassed that I only walked the half marathon (runners put me to shame, but it was lots of fun), cut off my hair, well, I am not really embarrassed about that I guess. I am just making this stuff up.
Once again, I embarrassed my mother (by my overly candid blog posts), hosted a New Year's Eve party.
Once again, I did not have a summer garden, practice consistency, keep the laundry done, upgrade any of our technology (I do not even own an Ipod or MP3 player).
The biggest physical difference between me last December and this December is the length of my hair (totally cut off, and totally regret it), and my boobs are waaaaay smaller (I am embarrassing my mother, I am sure), and I am a few pounds lighter.
The biggest psychological difference between me last December and this December is I worry more about what people think about how we're handling our financial situation, though I worry less about money and how the lack thereof will impact our life. I am more insecure about my boobs than ever.
I loved spending time in the woods when I could, swimming in the lake with the family, working on my fall garden, shopping for inventory for my vintage shop, hanging out with my sweet husband after the kids went to bed, snuggling my babies in the mornings, hanging out with my friend Sheryl.
Why did I spend even two minutes thinking I was going to have a job working for someone else doing cakes?
I should have spent more time working on Dakota's Brain Balance exercises with him, playing with my children, finding grass to lay in, hiking, sleeping, and folding laundry.
I regret buying our Toyota 4Runner.
I will never regret buying my Vibram five fingers (later exchanged for Dansko clogs) even though with that money I could have bought a pair of Minnetonka 5-layer fringe moccasins.
I spent time on the internet, ate Stouffer's dinners and Goldfish, worried about my weight, looked at other peoples' Facebook pictures way too much.
I didn’t spend time with my oldest son, sleep, go on picnics, go on dates, travel, shop for myself, talk to either one of my grandmothers, go to the beach (at all actually) enough.
The instability of my hormones and unpredictability of our income drove me crazy.
Was the weather crazier than ever last year? Or was it me? Remember the "Snowpocalypse in January? The insane tornado outbreak in April? Spent a lot of time in the garage that night. The scorching and debilitating summer heat? Ugh.
The most relaxing place I went was Camp Bethel/Waynesville, NC in the mountains of North Carolina, January 2011 when we got "snowed in" with the Stiggins' and the Bates. What a blessed time.
I feel so sad and frustrated when I write that down. (we want to go back, but it costs gas money and we can't afford it!)
 |
| my brother Dan, his wife Tiffany with Jason and I. |
Why did I go to Walmart? I really hate that place.
The best thing I did for someone else was gave money and things away as we were able.
The best thing I did for myself was take a day alone in the summer and went swimming in the lake by myself.
The best thing someone did for me was give us sooo many financial gifts, boxes of food, toys, etc... we were truly blessed with all kinds of providence from friends and family in 2011. I saw the true beauty of so many peoples' hearts throughout 2011 in their generosity and willingness to give.
The one thing I’d like to do again, but do it better, is go back to Jason's family home (that his grandfather built) in Chicago and spend time just being in Chicago. I am really going to be sad when that place is sold. I want to back to Waynesville and see our friends' faces again and help them around the farm.
I am sure I have missed something, but I don't have time to work on this post anymore. I gots to go to the stoh!
Much love,
Brooke
love it all! such a full year; good & bad. three quick responses:
ReplyDelete- i'm really tempted to (slowly, very slowly) begin minimal footwear running and get some five-fingers. they are crazy-looking, but i've been inspired.
- your hair is cute, even in that in-between growing-it-out-crazy phase.
- i'm glad 2011 brought a return to blogging, if only because i like the honesty that shows up on my screen (even if it embarrasses your mother).