These “A Look Back” posts are probably more for me than it is for your enjoyment but hopefully they will spark a reflection spirit in us to review what has happened last season and reset ourselves for the next season. I’ll try to share a little snippet of life in the previous season. I don’t have a good track record with this so I’m not promising anything. I’d love to hear a recap of how last season was for you – the good, the challenges, prayers needs.
You can read from our family point-of-view over at A Look Back at Winter [Moy Chronicles].
*Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
Here’s a recap of what’s been going on here on the blog for the winter season!
December
December was filled with the usual holiday activities and gatherings. The girls performed in various shows – Praiseformance, musicals, the Nutcracker Ballet, and concerts. The actual performances are great but it’s also fun to watch the audience being entertained by the songs and performances. After hours of hard work practicing and training, everything comes together.
We celebrated my nephew’s 1st birthday. It was nice to catch up with relatives. Luckily, we weren’t quite as knocked out by sickness as we were last year so we took turns attending different holidays gatherings. We ended up hosting a brunch for my family and game night for our community group. And we had a last-minute visit with friends who were back from Ireland for Christmas. I love that little kiddos are able to pick up right where they left off.
Of course, we ended the year with just us! We really like to take the time to review and reflect on the year and look ahead to the new year as a family.
December Blog Posts
Ellie Claire 365-Day Devotional Journal
JANUARY
It was a slow start to the year which is just how I like it. There was an unexpected tire repair that needed to be done. That’s not fun but necessary, as these things happen in life. We got to celebrate my other nephew at his Red Egg and Ginger party. There were so many friends from our old church that we were able to see.
Another unexpected surprise that was much more fun than the tire incident was Norm’s trip to Ireland. That week, the girls had their Benchmark Scantron tests. Most days I don’t feel like we are doing enough and that we’re behind compared to friends whose kids are ahead and doing all kinds of amazing things. But when it comes to these tests, I’m reminded that life is not always about the score. The journey is important. Progress is important. Kindness and love are also important.
January Blog Posts
What I’m Reading in January [Book List]
Lessons + Tips from The Great Declutter [Week 1]
Lessons + Tips from The Great Declutter [Week 2]
Day-by-Day Chronological Bible
30 Days to Understanding the Bible, 30th Anniversary
FEBRUARY
February felt like a super long month but it also just flew by. We had a fabulous time at the Volunteer Appreciation dinner at church. The staff did a great job with the details, especially with the dessert table and the special performance with an original song. :p
And our firstborn turned 12! I’m not much of a birthday-partier and feel like I miss the mark on these types of milestones. But I think I do a good job at making ordinary days feel special so I hope it balances out. We did finalize our book list of books we are reading together this year. People don’t really “get” this reading thing we like to do but that’s fine with us.
Something else that keeps me busy is hosting the Hello Mornings Facebook Community group. It has gone back and forth in terms of interaction and size. Some have chosen to engage more in their HM groups or have started groups “in real life.” Others have joined the HM Academy, which is an amazing resource!! But I’m thankful for the accountability of the group and how it has grown me.
February Blog Posts
What I’m Reading in February [Book List]
The Great Declutter of March 2019
2019 Book List [Moy Chronicles]
DECLUTTERING PROGRESS
If you’ve been following for the past months, you’ll see that I’m on a decluttering kick. I actually was just planning to host my usual January/once-a-year decluttering group but it has caught on probably because of a combination of our church’s fundraising rummage sale, Marie Kondo’s Netflix show, and “new year new me” goals. But I’m okay with that if it’s going to help me declutter the rest of this house!! I’m super proud of my group and the progress they have made toward their own goals which are varying from wanting hospitality, not leaving kids to deal with junk once that time comes, and simply just less overwhelm with the clutter piles.
I decided to do a little experiment in February by tracking how many pieces of paper I was able to declutter to show some group members that a little really does go a long way. I have not decluttered our file cabinet since we moved in, so I wanted to be focused on it for the whole month. I missed 2-3 days. There were 2-3 days when I had extra time so I did more than 10 minutes. The rest of the 22+ days I only worked on one file folder a day for about 5 minutes. And the result? I decluttered 4554 sheets of paper!!! It’s not a lot (compared to how much clutter may or may not be still in this house) but it’s also not a little.
We’re going to keep plugging away at it even though it was only my goal to host one group in January.
Thanks for reading this whole long ramble on the past season. It has been stretching. I’d love to hear how winter was for you.
What did you learn these past 3 months? What resources have you found helpful? Do you need prayer?
OTHER LINKS + RESOURCES
- Tools: *Fitbit Versa Smart Watch
- Podcasts: Don’t Mom Alone, Clutter Free Academy
- Apps: *Evernote, Google Calendar, Google Podcasts
- Communities: *HelloMornings Academy, The Great Declutter
- Other Notable Books: *And Social Justice for All, *Decluttering at the Speed of Life
*Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a tiny percentage if you make a purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. Read my disclosure policy here.