LADDventure

Intentional December

After a busy week of our last adoption home visit, a new front door installation, Thanksgiving, Christmas decorating, and a week back in Wisconsin for an early Christmas celebration, I started December feeling already frazzled and hurried. Then I blinked and December was halfway over.

I dove head first into Christmas by pulling out all the decorations. Inside one of the many red and green bins, laying on top of the tree skirt was a sealed envelope with "Remember..." on it in my own handwriting. Inside was our Christmas card from last year with a two column list written on the back. One column for things that worked well and made me feel good last Christmas, and one for things that did not. Last Christmas I'd written it and tucked it inside the bin right after packing up every last ornament. I had nearly forgotten this little attempt to send my future self a few helpful tips and things to focus on, knowing that I'd need it when the holiday craziness set in.

It's amazing how quickly the frantic hustle sets in whether you want it to or not. I've found the only way to combat it is to slow down, and to intentionally plan what you want your holiday to look like instead of letting it happen to you. So that's what I did. I looked up local holiday events and planned a night with Mr. Ladd to go look at a light display. I bought tickets to a local theatre's production of A Christmas Carol for my birthday. We'll go to the play and then out for dinner and drinks afterwards. I also sat down with my calendar and planned out the month, invited some friends over, made some space to connect with people over dinner and around the table. Whats the point in painstakingly decking the halls and setting a beautiful table if nobody gathers there?

I'm scheduling my priorities, making room for a few events that are meaningful around those, and then saying no to everything else to leave room for peace and rest and connection. I also have so many things I want to write about in December and never make the time to write here in this space. So, I'm carving out some time early on these gloriously chilly mornings to wrap up the year on the blog. Tomorrow, an adoption update. Stay tuned.

Five Minute Friday - Opportunity

I stumbled upon this little gem today on Jen's blog.  The goal is to write for 5 minutes on a prompt, without stopping and then hit publish and link up with other writers who are doing the same.  It's the kind of writing exercise I would have given my students in the past, just to encourage free thought and getting ideas down on paper.  But too often, I am editing things in my brain before a word has been typed.  So I think it's just the thing I need.  Since I still have 45 minutes of writing to get in today to stay true to my intent to write from 9-noon every weekday, might as well.
Here goes:

Opportunity

 The tree has fulfilled its Christmas destiny, and the pine needles have been vacuumed up.  Today, I will take down the garland and the snowmen, and full tubs of Christmas cheer will be hauled back in to the garage tonight.  It is always a little bit sad to say goodbye to the red and the jingle bells and the glitter, but the New Year is always an opportunity for a fresh start.

I know it's just a day like any other, but January 1st is a good excuse to reflect and resolve.  We need those kind of days I think.  We will just keep going otherwise with habits and the routines without a reset button.  The calander pages will keep turning, and we will be stuck in our ways for better or worse.

So, while 2013 is still fresh, I will take the opportunity.  I will sweep up, fold and put away and look for ways to be better, not because I'm inadequate, but because I believe in being the best version of myself. 

Time's up!  I'd love to see what you come up with in 5 minutes.  Link up over here:

2012 - The Year of New

I'm back! I think the teacher in me is still used to a long Christmas break of doing nothing particularly productive.  So, I've been absent from writing  (among other things like laundry or anything else that didn't sound festive).

But, I wished for presence this holiday season, and I got it. I was present on a 12 day trip back to Wisconsin for an early Christmas with my family; present in a quiet Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in our house for the first time at home in Arizona, just the two of us! Can you tell I thought it lovely?  Then I was present playing hostess to Jeremiah's family right after that for our Christmas with them.

So now that the cookies are gone (mercifully), the guest beds are empty, and the world is returning to normal...I am left to linger in 2012 for one last day and reflect. It can be all too easy when the tree needles are falling and the house is quiet again to jump into resolutions, and what you need to get done or be better at.  While I love the opportunity for a fresh start and improvement after cleaning up the tinsel (Does anyone still decorate with tinsel?), I don't want to miss the chance to ponder all that has happened this year.  Resolutions without reflection on where you are and how you got there seem kind of pointless to me.

So, I have dubbed this past year, 2012, the Year Of New for the following reasons...

New Career

This was by far the biggest of the new things that happened this year.  After a very difficult 2011-2012 school year, I needed a change, not just a job change or school change, but a chance to work at something new; a chance to pour all that energy into other pursuits, myself, and my family.  So we decided that I would not sign a contract for the following year and that I would take an indefinite break from teaching to pursue writing full time.  It was not an easy decision, and it has been an adjustment, but I can honestly say I have not regretted that decision once, and feel so incredibly lucky to do what I do every day.


New Health

With the career change, came major changes in my health.  I started seeing a chiropractor back around the time I decided to quit teaching.  She helped me realize that I needed adjustments in more areas than one, and just how much stress was contributing to very poor habits and poor overall health.  I now have very few migraines, get 8-9 hours of sleep a night, and literally have not been sick one time since I started going to the chiropractor back in March.  While there is much room for improvement and other health goals, I am happy about taking control of my stress and finding some peace and balance in 2012.


New Adventures

We invested in our new favorite hobby, modifying our Jeep to turn it into a bit of an off-road beast.  So, we hit the Rubicon Trail in California for our summer vacation this year.  We got really dirty, climbed huge boulders, almost got eaten by a bear, and it was awesome.

I went to my first blogging conference, BlogHer '12, in New York City for the first time by myself.  Still processing everything I learned about blogging and myself on that trip.

I got my first tattoo with my sister on her visit out to AZ in February.

New Friends

We are getting to the point where we are really getting to know the many acquaintances we first met when we moved here, and growing some friendships.  I'm looking at you bloggy buddy and next door neighbor :-)


New House Stuff

With extra time for creativity, the interior of our house that we've now lived in for 3 years is finally starting to shape up.  What was a glorified hallway of a front room is now full and inviting, and finishing touches like rugs and curtains are falling into place in the rest of the house.


New Niece News

Aidee Asuncion Luis was born on November 6th this year and I got to spend some snuggly newborn time with her.

Also, 3 of our other nieces started kindergarten this fall, and this former kindergarten teacher of an aunt can't get enough of their first day of school pictures and school stories.  I know full well how magical that year is for learning.


New Focus

We have begun really focusing on starting a family this year.  We're not sure exactly what that will look like just yet, but we know we both want a loud holiday table of our own someday filled with kids and grandkids, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Stay tuned.

Tomorrow I'll be back with some goals for 2013, but tonight we are celebrating the end of a great year with great friends.  There will be homemade pizza, pajamas, and champagne.  

Happy New Year everyone!

Thankful Thursday - Home for the Holidays

I know it's a day late, but I've been staying up way too late laughing with siblings, so you'll have to take it on a lazy Friday morning instead.  Here's what I'm thankful for as I've been back in Wisconsin for an early Christmas celebration with my family.

1.  Scarves, sweaters, boots and 12 whole days to wear cute, layered, winter outfits
2.  Another Packer win on a snowy memorable Sunday night with my dad
3.  Christmas shopping with my mom
4.  Time with this lady witnessing history and catching up
5.  Lenci's italian beef bombers, Infusino's pizza, and Wilson's coffee
6.  Dinner with my sister and sister-in-laws - all 4 of us in the same place at the same time
7.  My Grandma and her generous, hilarious self
8.  Giggly nieces who are all hopped up on goofball, and a bonus tiny, snuggly, grunty one for her
     first Christmas
9.  Mr. Ladd joining me in Wisconsin tomorrow.  I miss his face.
10.  Dinner and Christmas tea at David and Emily's cozy apartment
11.  Lunch with my mom's best friend Trish, who is family and one of my favorite people to talk to
12.  Lot's of extra time for new traditions, honest conversations, and belly laughing as a family

Join me, @ladderica in sharing your hometown holiday cheer with the hashtag #homefortheholidays on instagram and twitter this month.

Wishing for Presence

I am like a busy squirrel this time of year, tangled in tinsel while I busily prepare my nest for winter.  I hunker down and furiously prepare for the holidays, and find that I have not written nearly enough.  So here's an update...

Thanksgiving flew by, along with the rest of November.  The fall decorations were put away, replaced by twinkling lights and trees. I ate numerous turkey sandwiches and reheated mashed potatoes while immediately decking the halls.  Guest beds have been made and then remade and relatives have come and gone.

The past few weeks have been full...

First, there was a bonus trip back to Wisconsin to meet this little lady...

Then, there was hanging out in green rooms with these guys when they were in Phoenix...

 

This room was literally green.  Bonus.

It was my brother Ben's first visit since we moved here, and it was so nice to hang out and show him our new home.  I absolutely loved the four days of tagging along for sound checks, watching them sign autographs, meet fans, and generally rock.  They have to be humble about it, but I don't!

They sounded amazing, and I am so excited for all that is happening for Citizen Way.  They will be down in Nashville recording the second half of the album the week before Christmas, then touring lots in the first part of the year.  The album is due out this spring!

Then, we hosted a very low key Thanksgiving with Jeremiah's brothers here at our place, which always includes grilling the turkey...

and watching this video multiple times...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy-Y3HJNU_s]

 (If you haven't seen it, you're welcome.)


But sometimes in the midst of full houses, full plates, and full hearts, an emptiness is also highlighted.  This time of year there seems to be a lot of wanting and wishing mixed up with being painfully grateful for what you have at that moment.  Missing your family who lives too far away at this time of year, at the same moment that you are visiting with them.  Sighing over memories as you pull out old ornaments while wishing you had more red ones for the very same tree.  Shopping for others while adding items to your own wish list for Santa.  Resolutions and improvement sit next to reflection and contentment.

For the first time ever, we will not be in Wisconsin on Christmas day.  We are going back around the middle of December to have an early Christmas with my family.  Then, Mr. Ladd's family will be out to Arizona right after Christmas to celebrate. This means more quality time with family and friends overall, and that we'll get to be at our own house for Christmas Eve and Day with some time for ourselves.  But, it also means that things needed to be done earlier than usual and presents bought and shipped strategically.

I am so easily caught up in the holiday business, and I truly love nothing more than making Christmas magic.  However, I inevitably wake up one morning, like today, feeling more than a bit frazzled, with laundry piled up and packing for Wisconsin left to do.  I think of what's left to do, what I'm missing, and what isn't quite right.  The truth is, I need to stop scurrying and decking halls and snapping at Mr. Ladd, and start focusing on what I have and being present where I am before I wish for anything else.