SNOW DAY!

We so rarely get snow here so when a snow day does come along, we take full advantage! We went a couple blocks over to Congressional Cemetery and sledded down the big hill there, along with many other families in the neighborhood. It was nice to see some of our neighbors that we haven't seen since the summer! It also gave me the chance to try out my new iPhone X, which I splurged on just so I could have the awesome camera. I figured that since I don't tote around my huge DSLR camera with me and pretty much only use my phone camera, it would be nice to have a really good one. 

Oh, but I have such conflicting feeling about technology. Smart phones are so convenient and amazing, but much too distracting and addicting. I try not to look at it when other people are around, especially the kids. But I am grateful that I can listen to audiobooks and podcasts with it. And Instagram is so handy for recording our daily life in pictures (which is partly why I am perpetually late in my blog posting). 

Also, I finally gave up and made an appointment with a doctor (side note: we switched over to Kaiser and I was able to do a phone appt!). Turns out I have a sinus infection (makes sense - I've been sick with this bad cough and sinus pain for ages!) so now I'm on antibiotics. Ugh, I hate to be on those things because I'm a big fan of my beneficial microbes, but I've been suffering for weeks! So, I think I'm on the mend now. Fingers crossed.

January Sprouts Class 1

In Sprouts class today I learned that there were no flowers during the time of dinosaurs. So, no fruit or vegetables either! Only leafy green things like ferns and trees (non-flowering, presumably). I never knew that!
I love this class!

enter 2019

On the drive to and from New England, Mike and read this Medium article about 30 Behaviors that will make you unstoppable in 2019. It is similar to this article we read last year that inspired our resolutions for 2018. I love reviewing the past year and making plans and goals for a new year. I've picked up journaling more in the past few months, especially as a way to start my day and set up the kind of headspace I want to be in. It's been helpful to name my goals, my successes and my struggles. To articulate what I want and what I'm afraid of. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with the world and the way of things but journaling and reading and praying really helps me to gain perspective and focus on the next right thing. I know so much of what I do on a day to day basis seems small and unremarkable, but I truly believe that that it is the small things that add up to make a big difference. I really believe that there is nothing more important I could be doing than raising these four sweet children and creating an authentic, mindful life for our family. But sometimes I feel inadequate and insufficient and like a big fat failure. I suppose that is normal... but unacceptable, really. I don't want to waste time doubting myself! 

Anyhow, beside being sick and trying to get over this cold that I've had since Thanksgiving, the new year has started off well. We had a sweet little celebration for 12th Night, we've had a Family Night lesson about respect (complete with homemade puppets for acting out different scenarios) and we've been looking forward to this new year.

vacation wraps up and time to go home

As always, being with our extended family was delightful, but we are always happy to return to our own home and daily schedule.

Kimono Sunday

I know it means a lot to my mom when we wear kimono to celebrate the new year with her. She's gone through great lengths to procure kimono for everyone in the proper size. It's quite a process getting everyone dressed and ready in the morning, and then we go to church where we try to be as inconspicuous as possible. Ha!
Kimono are so uncomfortable to wear, though. I'm glad we only wear them for a couple hours! I can't imagine living during a time when this is what was worn. Give me my yoga pants any day!