2023 Recap
I usually know what I'm going to write by the time I sit down to type. But this year is different. Im not sure how to talk about this year. I think we need a “spotify recap” but for the GIFs we used in text messages to see a sum of our daily interactions.
Here are mine:
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#2
#3
Part 1: FACTS
January:
*We brought baby Wally home. He was the cutest and quickly became the largest baby creature. There have been many tears shed over puppy teeth and destruction, and just as many snuggles, usually in the same hour.
February:
*Nora and Johnny turned one year older together, and were ever less willing to share their special day. I think it was the last time we will get away with a “pretend” party for Johnny without him knowing.
*We took a winter trip to Mexico with kids and good friends. My phone frequently alerted me to truancy voicemails that were all ignored and promptly deleted with delight.
*Papa made Johnny a workbench
March:
*I visited a homeschool group and fell in love with the community and decided to give it a whirl starting in August.
*BLUEBONNETS
April:
*We learned that our lead pastor, (of our newly planted church of 6 months) was struggling with addiction.
He was given loads of support.
* Porch Makeover
May-July:
*Rob was working overtime at the church with the other staff guys and also started doing engineering consulting.
*The Goatel was officially up on Airbnb and we were pleasantly surprised by how quickly it booked up.
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| Dog Shed to Airbnb conversion |
*We were too busy and also too hot.
*We went to a cave for a “cool-fun-surprise,” but we were actually just trying not to be hot for even an hour.
*I bought myself a BB Gun and shot at Deerlores (the mother doe) who was on our porch eating cat food and harassing Wally. (I keep it on top of the fridge now to be classy)
August:
*We started homeschooling. It was a lot. Nora was never on board. Perry was on board and loved to, “presentate” on Fridays at homeschool group, usually about plants. We were making it work.
*Johnny goes to preschool and loves his life. He wakes up most mornings and says, “What degrees is it?” “What’s for breakfast?” and, “Can we go to tractor supply today?”
*The pastor was completely let go from the church and was in a different rehab facility.
September:
*Too busy. Homeschool was hard.
*Parents move in 7 minutes away!
*Went to the Wild & Free conference in Tenessee with a friend I met in birth class 10 years ago, many biscuits were consumed. Got to see a friend from highschool/college too who I hadn't seen in 10 years.
October:
*Too busy.
*Homeschooling was hard.
*Kevin the cat disappeared.
*Trip to Cloudcroft, NM and White Sands.
*I realized something was off with Perry's reading. Turns out she has major dyslexia.
*Paying for reading tutoring is approximately too many dollars.
November:
*I had a meeting with the public schools assistant principal and laid out why we left in the first place. She was somewhat reassuring.
*We planned for the girls to go back to public school in January.
*The search for a new pastor is underway.
*Impromptu yard and garden fix up/ Wally ripped out the new sprinkler system. Twice.
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| When we purchased in 2021 |
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| After/Not done yet |
December:
*Bubbles the cat disappeared. (Apparently coyotes are eating all the neighborhood cats.)
*We finally finished up the primary bath.
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| Before |
PART TWO: Better Understanding of life and the Lord.
Thoughts on Church
The pastor leaving and the reasons for it were devastating to say the least. Not just for us but the whole congregation. Some families left and that's understandable. But most families stayed. Some new people even joined because it seems the church is about Jesus and not the men talking about Jesus. Our congregation has weathered a huge storm and still stands. Our community group we meet with every Wednesday night has become family. Sharing meals together is some kind of simple God given magic. Do it. Don't delay.
You were meant for community. You will be sick without it.
Thoughts on Homeschool
I am glad we tried. I wish somehow I would have had all these lovely revelations about schooling in Kindergarten. I think it was extra hard for us because they knew the big classroom life for so many years. Public school is fast paced and somewhat entertaining. Homeschool is mostly not that. More slow paced and make your own fun sort of thing. Homeschool kids have time to sit with their own minds and thoughts. I know adults who don't know how to "be alone," with themselves. So many can't spend time alone or can't sit in the quiet for fear of their own thoughts. Its a skill to learn for sure, I'm still working on it but what a gift to start learning so crucial a skill for mental healthiness at a young age.
I think it was said best by a mom in our homeschool group, “Every kid, every year.” What is best for that child’s personality at this time? I would add, “Every mom, every year.” Can you do it this year? Maybe, maybe not. Kids on board seem to make it a lot more fun. I will carry over a couple things. Reading novels together was my number one favorite thing. Johnny is 4 and is listening to books a 6th grader would read. Don't be afraid to read over their heads. Just read and read a lot. Time is precious. I will treat after school time with the attention it deserves because I quite literally, “don't have all day,” to make the moments count. Follow their interests.
Community is key. For you and for them. You will be sick without it.
Thoughts on Country Life
For whatever reason my first thought about working on our property is, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 Perhaps nature has beaten us into poor spirits. Good things are happening but it is slow and gradual and easy to lose hope when it moves too slow. Barn cats do actually need barns apparently. Rest in peace sweet Kevin and Bubbles. Rob and I have both dreamed about them which leads me to believe we have actually crossed over into cat lover territory. The Airbnb is fun to manage and humbling too. There’s nothing like cleaning up after complete strangers 1-2x a week to get your perspectives of yourself right. Gardening brings a lot of attention to seasons and I think for most of my life I have just labeled the seasons and changed my clothes accordingly. They are a rhythm we are to keep inside and out. Winter is for slowing down. Be free to rest for the spring ahead.
Thoughts on God
Imagine if your faith were a tired mom with FOUR two year olds pulling at each arm and leg asking for more snacks 30 minutes out of every hour. That was this year. Faith is a stretchy thing. It has more give than you think and doesn’t depend on our internal resources ... and the choir said, “Amen.” My spirit was largely downcast this year. I lost many mornings of quiet and bible reading time to puppy shenanigans but still made time for it just more sporadically. I realized I had made a rule of what spending time with God had to look like and it seems because I didn't follow that rule that I also believed I couldn’t hear from God either. Thankfully I don’t actually make the rules on how God speaks and He spoke to me anyway. He spoke through: sunflowers, homeschooling and observing my children, marco polo messages, a podcast series on solitude, and Chapter 89 of the last book of the Wingfeather series.
I hope you hear Him in a new way too.
***
“It's been the kind of year I'd be fine if I forgot, yeah
But I'll never forget it as long as I live and that's saying a lot
The wildest menagerie of unfortunate crazy things and now it's all over
So raise up your glass, here's to brand new beginnings
And leave in the past all the things that are ending
'Cause tomorrow will bring us a new morning sun
My friends, I believe that the best is yet to come”
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Books Read:
The New Testament
Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World (me)
Hummingbird (kids)
Wingfeather Saga Books 3&4 (for me and them)
The Dutch House (Let Tom Hanks read it to you on audible)
The Penderwicks (kids)
From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (Kids)
The Poisonwood Bible (me)
Mere Motherhood (me)
A Place to Hang the Moon (kids)
Bridge to Terabithia (for my 4th grade self/kids)
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Quotes/Things I now say:
“That’s a cute trailer”
“Did you go back and check on that goat head stuck in the fence?”
“Don't talk about coyotes eating your cats at school, it might make your friends sad.”
“You have to wear shoes when you ride your tractor.”
“Sorry my dog ripped your chicken's wing off, is she ok?”
“Where did you move that dead deer? I need its teeth for homeschool group.”
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Songs of the year (spotify playlist)
“We all March” Rob Goates
“Poetry” - Taylor Leonhardt
“Saints and Angels” Kings Porch
“Someday Soon” Wilder Woods
“The Best is yet to come” Ben Rector
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Looking forward to:
Doing less and expecting less from myself and others.
The official opening of the Goatstead Gardens (feb/march)
Being more creative and seeking out beauty
Helping Nell find an assisted living apartment
Walking
