The House Goat: 2021 in Review

Here we are again! It's been a minute! And by that I mean it feels like an actual minute since I just sat down and wrote this last year. I just drank some coffee so I could write faster and make sure this is chock-full of my typical year-end shenanigans. I just googled chock-full because it felt weird to write. Origin: a person or thing stuffed to the point of choking was “choke-full.” Well that’s gross. Unless it’s Thanksgiving.

Anyway, I started back to work as a behavior therapist in a very barely working sort of way in February. I’ve met with a bunch of parents and it has been lovely. In April, I started a 10 week training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy(ACT). I finished in September. This opened the door for me to use my BCBA (board certified behavior analyst) certification with more people about more issues and it has been amazing! I think I want to move in the direction of health and wellness to help people make sustainable changes. Anyone want to hire me for that?

Janet, my hair, gave up on trying to be something she was not and received her last root color January 29th, 2021. 11 months ago y'all! While I feel like she should be done with this journey it is not so. We will march on toward the goal, to win the prize of ... all gray/brown NATURAL hair. It's been nice to be free of the battle. And so weird... my uncolored hair is so much healthier! It's like chemicals hurt you hair or something.

In early February, Johnny had his finger smashed to pieces in the back door. We got a $10k ER bill for stitches that we fought all year long and ended up paying about 10% of. Lesson learned: ALWAYS fight, and ask for a percentage off of a medical bill. ALWAYS.

Also in February, we gave our sweet (but old and grumpy, 13 yo) Sammy dog to my uncle in Lubbock. Her and Johnny had some less than happy interactions and we had to say good-bye. Johnny still looks for her sometimes and says, "I can't find Sammy." "Can she come home?" Heartbreaking. (Note: she's doing really well in Lubbock)

I ended up putting Johnny in 5 day a week mothers day out because that's what was open at the time and then felt sad about it and changed him to 3 days a week next semester. Then Nora got covid a week before Christmas and I spent all my hours with him and now remember why he needed 5 days. Is it just boys? Just two year olds? I keep thinking, oh he must be getting sick because he's acting so terrible, there is a reason for this turdlery... but no, pure health. (and praise God) He's like a less hairy, toddler Roy Kent.

Perry played soccer but was more interested in the grass most of time. I found her the other day "mulching the trees," I don't even know where she learned that. Pretty sure she was born to be a homesteader. She also started piano and is doing so well!

Nora is in hip-hop and is definitely the best dancer of us all. Way better than her way-too-long arms mama. No matter what I do I just look weird. Have you ever watched Taylor Swift try to dance and think yeah but you look a little off... its her long arms, she can't help it.

I had a lot of time apparently due to exposures and sick kids to just sit around (mentally) and get weird. I came up with the term "covidititties" and once you say it once, twice, perhaps thrice... you can't stop. You're welcome. I don't know what it means, just use it however you feel in your heart... you'll find it. I also came up with an emoji that goes with it but I already said the "t" word on here and I'm not going to get more inappropriate. (text me later)

I also found a ceramic corgi in a purple suit at hobby lobby that went on a journey across Midland, TX to spread Christmas joy. Corgi Ten Boom. I really don't know how it happened, but this is America and you can make up whatever you want. For her full journey please see the highlight on my instagram page @thehousegoat.

I wanted to write more this year and I did. I journaled for a whole 17 weeks before I got tired of it. I wrote one story, one devotional, and little blog posts via instagram here and there. I will be sharing the story soon.

Rob spent a lot of his time writing and recording amazing original songs. Like this one

So I read a whole book about kitchen gardens, had a two hour discussion with Mr. Pears, our old neighbor and master gardener, and then I went for it. So far I have harvested a couple lettuce leaves, 5 radishes, and some swiss chard. I have learned a lot. Also, planting a fall garden in a desert is quite an undertaking.

Sanity walks have saved me over and over. I don't know how people live without them to be honest. Many of my walks are prayer time, remembering God's goodness and promises, observing creation and quieting my mind for a hot minute. If you wanna try a sanity walk, turn on maverick city's Promises song and walk with your eyes to the sky, observing the sun or moon through the trees. If you don't feel lighter afterward I'll be shocked. There's actually science to say that just 120 minutes outside a week makes a difference in our health. Did you know kids who play consistently outside are more resilient in life?! Interested? Read this.

*I dislike that the research asked the question "How much time outside is enough?" like being outside is another thing on our list of to-dos to check off but I guess that is the world we live in. I think 120 minutes is a starting point and the real question is "How much time inside is ok before it hurts us?" We shoot for being outside from the time we get home from school until dinner everyday.

Travels:

Santa Fe/Durango in April for our 11 year anniversary