Word of the Year 2016

Last year's word taught me a lot, setting the lens I saw the year through. I was realizing clarity in every aspect of my life...because I was looking for it. I had not anticipated this added benefit. This year, with that in mind, I have chosen gratitude as my word, the lens I want to see this year through.

Gratitude is the "quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness." Psychology Today describes gratitude as "an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has" and shares "that we can deliberately cultivate gratitude" and that expressing gratitude "is associated with increased energy, optimism and empathy."* Okay, wait, am I ready for this?

I chose this word in the middle of December, not being one to wait until after the year had started. What I found, though, was that this expression of thankfulness and appreciation when life is throwing fast balls and curve balls and too many balls to recover and respond too takes deliberate practice. The end of December and the first of January brought more trauma and stress that most of the previous twelve months combined. Because much of this involves others I will be very vague here, but I can say I was stretched emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually almost non-stop for about a month. To say I was exhausted would be an understatement. I had nothing left, and still I had a family to care for.

Grateful? Thankful? Appreciative of the crisis and the trauma and the stress? No, not so much. Maybe I should pick a different word...it's not too late yet, is it?

"...that we can deliberately cultivate gratitude..." Standing (or crumpled on the floor) in the midst of a crisis and being grateful, thankful and appreciative is going to take deliberate practice. Seriously, am I ready for this? No, probably not, but here goes anyway! Because a life with increased energy, optimism and empathy sounds like something worth working for. I promise to share updates as the process continues.

How about you? Did you have a word for 2015? How did it go? What did you learn?

Have you chosen a word for 2016? If so, I would love to hear about it! If not, I encourage you to do so...it really is never to late.


* https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/gratitude

Baptism

Of all the things we do for our children...provision, education, love, nurture...there is none more important than showing them Jesus. My eldest daughter made the decision to be baptized and we were beyond elated to part of this choice with her. She was baptized at our church (special thanks to the First Baptist Church we rent for use of their baptismal) by her Grandfather in the presence of both of her Grandmothers, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and some dear friends. We presented her with a framed print of her name and what it means of her relationship with God.

"I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth."

Beautiful Faces

One of my favorite things about photography is capturing moments in my kids' lives, documenting their childhood, experiences, growth and relationships. Nurturing the relationships between the cousins has been a privilege, documenting these relationships has been totally awesome!

The girl cousins received matching dresses, so we set up for a professional session, but managed to wrangle the boys in for a couple of photos too.

Good Friends

Sometimes it is easy to get busy with life and miss the moments. I am guilty of this myself, as life just seems to get a hold of me and focus shifts and moments are gone.

This holiday season, we were blessed with some precious moments with dear friends and I attempted to stay focused on the blessing, live in the moments and capture what I could.

Our friends from Canada (whom I have not seen since they were expecting their third...and they now have four) were able to come for an all too brief 24 hour visit Christmas weekend. They stayed at our house...yup, four adults and eight kiddos...it was awesome! We ate and talked and baked cookies and shared memories and took in the sight of our children all playing together. Then extended family joined us (taking us to eleven children and nine adults) for lunch and more talking and laughing and sharing. And then they were gone and I am so thankful I took these photos and breathed in the moments.

My eldest daughter asked to host a tea party for her girlfriends this winter, so we took advantage of the holiday break and invited a whole bunch of young ladies to our home. We had eight join us in their pretty dresses and some even had hats. We served little sandwiches and fruit and cookies and juice and, of course, tea. We were in the middle of well repair that day, but I still managed to get a photo of the ladies...and took a moment to take it all in...my little girls are growing up.

My husband has been blessed with a lasting friendship that has expanded to our entire family. "Uncle" Kevin was able to make it bake to Iowa again this holiday season and made time to see us and share in the holiday festivities. We play games and watch movies and toast the new year and watch football (lots of football) and managed to get a photo with the kids. 

I desire to keep this priority...the capturing of moments on camera and in my heart. For they grow much to fast!

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2016!!!! Oh, what an entrance you are making, with nasty icy weather and a hospital visit and the well adventure continuing and overwhelming evidence that I can't do it! Toasting in this year with a prayer that God will continue to hold us all close and guide our steps.

After a lovely evening of food, fellowship, laughter and toasting the new year with friends and family, we said good bye to 2015 and hello to 2016. Thankful for true friends, provision, experiences, overall good health and growth!