This year has been one of those years that you look back and say wow... didn't feel like we did all that but apparently we have (have you checked out the FB feature "a year in review"??? If not you should- here is our 2013 Year of Review by FB)! We are FINALLY back to NWOhio and learning to adjusting to our new and permanent environment. Having spent so many years on the go it's nice to know this upcoming year will be the year of roots!
Now that I have named it I have decided to list a few of the things I am looking forward to during the ROOTS YEAR... Please note, I am not calling them resolutions because that implies that I have to do something and change something and honestly I just want to add to the greatness we already have.
1.) Building our family up together... most of you know this but we have a LARGE family and it's really easy for a large family to get busy in multiple directions~ and before you know it everyone is spider webbing apart not together. So focusing on building strong family togetherness is a top priority. I am a practical gal so what does that actually mean for me??? Family dinners (grab some family and eat), taking the time to call people and chat with them (does anyone ever do this anymore??), family outings (grab those nieces/nephews/grand kids/whomever and DO something- picnic, park, zoos-ANYTHING), crafts (with kids as crafty as mine we should be filling everyone with thoughtful crafts inspired by loved ones- who doesn't love a surprise gift just b/c we were thinking about you?), and much more. I never want to take away this feeling that I am only a few miles away from loved ones and there is NO REASON we are not using this opportunity to it's fullest! PS watch out, we might just stop by your house soon!
Family Togetherness
2.) Making my husband a priority... I am writing these off the top of my head so really this should be my number 1! I am going to take time this root year and really be with him. Ever feel like you and your spouse are room mates living in the same force field? We have this family sync thing down- cooking together, folding laundry, one gets plates while one sets table- those things are great BUT I am talking about one on one. After living so far away we have really figured out how to be together always as a family and not ever really do one on one things as a couple... Well this year I am going to expand on our greatness and figure this out. So what does that mean for this practical gal? It means bowling (because you can't go bowling and NOT laugh), it means couple dates with friends, it means dinner together, it means walks, it means cleaning the garage with my hubby (his very favorite thing to do and my very least favorite thing!), it means movies (ok scratch that- we DO NOT like the same movies and normally those dates end in a bit of disaster- we'll conquer that one in 2015), it means just doing things with us and making US a priority. We love our kids but we firmly believe that we have to be good to make them good!~ So bring on the US!
We have to be good to make our family good!
3.) ME... this one is really hard for me. Believe it or not my day revolves around them from morning til night and that is great BUT it will eventually lead to burn out. It will lead to a grouchy, stressed, unbalanced Mommy and NO ONE wants that - most of all mommy. So this year I am going to figure that out!~ I am going to balance some Me into it all. I don't know exactly how that works but I am thinking along the lines of really valuing myself and that God has a really big purpose for me and it has to start with me. God will CONTINUE TO guide me to greatness if I just ask him too and take a step. I have some ideas brewing on this one but nothing I am ready to release to the world but honestly I think this one might end up being big on the list of roots! I do know some of the things that are smaller scaled... like - friend outings with no kids (imagine!), reading books with no guilt (its ok to take time out and read! The dishes will get done- no stress), crafting and doing some things I want to do (a craft without a kid purpose). Me - being the best me God created!
A strong me will make for a great US!
4.) One on one.. I touched on this with my husband a bit but really putting a priority on building up individual relationships. I am thinking of my one on ones with my kids but this is a bit across the board too. Valuing people and individuals makes a really big impact on the "whole". Taking time out to really be with each of my kids separately and really getting to connect with them will make a HUGE impact on our family as a whole. Date days with separate kids, cooking in the kitchen together, playing games just the two of us, and other simple but meaningful connections have to be a priority. I have said it once and I will say it again... they are only "children" for such a small amount of time... then they become big and that is ok but ENJOY the child because it'll be gone soon.
Creating connections together!
This is my start for now. I am thinking of more things like school, housework, and all those great things but I really believe if I can focus on these four above things the rest will happen. It goes back to the reason we moved home- value in relationships! It's time to let our roots ground us!
Until next time,
Tara J.
