Word of the Year 2016

For the past couple of years, as the end of the year draws near, I choose a word for the following year. That word kind of becomes a mantra for me throughout the year to focus on. I pray and ponder on what word to choose and then finally choose a word. I try not to think about it too terribly much and more of let the word choose me.

The first time I did the word of the year concept was back in 2012. 2011 had been a hectic year full of ups and downs with Noah’s health and I chose the word breathe. I connected with that word so much on so many levels. I feel like that word really carried me through that year.

I usually make something with my word of the year on it to display it so that I see it over the year. And because I usually blog about it, discuss it with friends who also choose a word of the year, etc. my friends and family will even tell me sometimes throughout the year to remember my word of the year causing me to refocus.

So, the word of the year, I have chosen for 2016 is grateful. Over the past couple of months, I have made a more conscious effort to be a more positive person. To be honest, I’m a pretty positive person for the most part I think. I’ve always kind of had a Pollyanna attitude about life but I want to take that a step further and try to focus a little more on finding the good, the positive, and the happy in the little moments of my crazy, hectic, wonderful life. It’s easy to be grateful in the good moments of life, but it’s harder to be grateful when things are rough and that’s what I want to focus on; finding something to be grateful for in the midst of chaos.

So, did you choose a word for 2016? If so, leave it in the comments? 

"This is the Stuff"

Do you ever have those days where absolutely nothing goes right and everything seems to go wrong? Today, seems like one of those days for my little family complete with massive Noah meltdown and seizures. Followed by a mini Momma meltdown once Noah was asleep.

But even in the midst of the "stuff" I'm reminded that in the middle of the mess (food on the floor thrown there during the meltdown, dog barking, messy kitchen, crying Momma) that it could be SO much worse. And I'm blessed.

And so I choose to find joy in the midst of it all. I find joy in the texts and notes from friends, from songs that feel like they were written for me, for outlets, an understanding husband, parents who will listen when I vent, amazing friends, and a God who loves me in spite of it all.

I leave you with this song which felt like it was written for me tonight.........

One Little Word 2013

My word for 2012 was breathe. It was a great word for the year. When I decided on breathe, Noah had just had his first ever (and only!) grand mal seizure and my world had been rocked so breathe felt like a perfect word. And it was a very good word. I repeated it to myself, reflected on it, and used it all through out the entire year.

But in some ways I feel like I just breathed and got through the year. This year, I want to enjoy the year and all the little moments. So my word for 2013 is............

I want to find the joy in the all the moments - good and bad. I do think there are small spots of joy to be found in bad times, you just have to look harder to find them. I also think sometimes joy is a choice - you can choose to see the negative in a situation or you can choose to find the positive, the joyful so I am choosing joy. I'm also reading the 1,000 Gifts Devotional book so I think that will help me find the everyday joy.

And I want to build off of what I learned in 2012. I want to breathe in the situation, breathe in the moments, breathe in my life and then I want to find the joy and breathe in the joy.

Have you chosen a word for 2013? What is it?

March OLW Layouts and Blog Hop

The March assignment in the One Little Word class I am taking at Big Picture Classes was to come up with and execute "one little action" in relation to our word and then document it.

My word for 2012 is breathe and just as with February's assignment, initially I had trouble coming up with an action but then I stopped thinking so much of the word itself and began to think about the things I'd listed in January that I hoped to bring into my life as a result of this word like peace, reflection, calmness, and the ability to enjoy the small moments in life.

Suddenly it dawned on me - what better way to reflect on the small moments that by preserving them through (digital) scrapbooking which is also an activity that makes me feel peaceful and calm. So, it was a winning solution for many reasons.

We were provided with a template to document our thoughts and progress through the month which you will see in the first layout below and then I made a second layout to show the pages I'd made as per my action.

I'm also participating in the OLW Blog Hop this month so if you popped over because of that, your next stop will be Naomi's blog, Poetic Aperture. 

Feb OLW Layouts and Blog Hop

The assignment for February in the One Little Word class I am taking at Big Picture Classes was to photograph our word in our everyday lives and plug those into the provided template as well as take one photograph and journal over it.

My word for 2012 is breathe and at first, this was hard for me but then I stopped thinking of it so literally, I noticed that I had pictures of things I turned to when I was stressed and needed to breathe so I continued on with that theme. And I’m really pleased with how it turned out.

I'm also participating in the OLW Blog Hop this month so if you popped over because of that, your next stop will be Melissa C.'s blog, Smudges in Time.

One Little Word: January

As I mentioned before I am taking the One Little Word 2012 class at Big Picture Classes. Our prompts this month involved digging deeper and exploring our word with definitions, synonyms, and quotes. Below is my January layout.....

(click to enlarge)

Creating this layout and the class thus far has been fun and some really good "me" time.

I'm excited to see what February brings! 

Credits: Feathers Digital Scrapooking Kit by Just So Scrappy Too

One Little Word 2012

Last year around this time of the year I saw many bloggers posting about choosing one little word to focus on for the year. This year, as 2011 rolled around to a close, I began to think of a word that would be a good focus word for me for 2012.

Ultimately, I have decided upon on breathe.

I decided on this word for many different reasons. Let me give you some scenarios of instances in which I want to remember this word……

When spring baseball starts and I’m watching Noah and my Dad round the bases through the lens of my camera and I have a huge smile on my face, beaming at my boy, I want to think to myself “breathe” and breathe in the moment. I want to breathe in that moment and store it in my heart for safe keeping.

When Paisley is barking, dinner is burning, the microwave is beeping, Noah is fussing, it’s raining, and J is running late, I want to think to myself “breathe” and get through the moment.

At the end of a busy day after a long day of multi-tasking, I want to soak in a hot bubbly bath and breathe in the solitude.

In May, after a hectic and slightly stressful time of planning the annual BirthMom Buds retreat, I want to remind myself to deeply breathe and let myself enjoy what has been planned.

I’m naturally a sort of high strung person. This year, I want to slow down, breathe, enjoy and soak in tender moments with family and friends. I want to slow down and breathe through the stressful moments.

I've signed up to take Ali Edwards year long One Little Word class at Big Picture Scrapbooks and am excited about it. I'll be periodically sharing the journey with all of you.

Have you chosen a word for 2012?

Edited to add: I completed my first layout for the One Little Word class. Check it out here!