Each year I pick one word to focus on. I spend time researching its meaning and how I can apply the principles attached to that word to my life. I have chosen things like consistency, contentment, and things of that nature.
The word that I chose for 2017 was “Simple” I had intended on focusing on developing sound routines and putting systems in place with the hopes of making things go a little bit smoother here.
It seems like no sooner had I made that decision than things became the exact opposite of simple.
The beginning of the year brought with it more classes, a broken arm, and the continuation of a rough pregnancy. I also began teaching sewing classes to home-school girls at the campus children’s center and took a more hands on approach as a virtual assistance of sorts.
The summer months consisted of birthdays and an anniversary. We also welcomed the birth of our baby girl just 5 days before the fall semester classes began. We dove in head first to classes and readjusting our lives and schedules to what we would like to call our new normal.
September came along with a flying trip to Lubbock after my father-in-law suffered from a serious motorcycle accident and ended up in the hospital for several days. Fortunately, he pulled through and is doing wonderful now. The end of September brought some much needed quiet and everything was trucking along smoothly until the beginning of December when we found ourselves spending 3 days in the local children’s hospital with a 3 month old in respiratory failure, RSV, hypoglycemia, and an intense fever. To say we were scared was an understatement. But through the grace of God she recovered much quicker than was expected and we were home and had the family back together.
Over all, as I look back, it seems like things were anything but simple in my little world. However, I learned a lot about myself and the way that I like to do things. While I didn’t get all the perfect systems in place or the routines down 100% I learned to let go of some things. I learned that simple sometimes means getting the kids school work done at 5 pm while I am cooking dinner. I also learned that sometimes simple means not expecting that the laundry will get done for several weeks and it doesn’t hurt anyone to re-wear a pair of pants every now and then. And I learned that dinner in the living-room as a family is still dinner as a family. Sometimes that means the television is on and sometimes it isn’t but we are still spending time together and having conversation. Finally, I learned that simple can be mixing up a bottle of formula to feed my child rather than continuing to force something that is unhealthy physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Simple didn’t come in the ways that I had anticipated at the beginning of 2017, however, as usual, I got just what I needed as I maneuvered my way through what at times was a very challenging year, and at other times was one of the greatest years I have experienced.
How did your 2017 go? What things did you focus on and learn? Let me know in the comments.
A Wise Woman in Progress 