sometimes you just have to make it happen.

Life can get busy...there is always something that has to be done and always a reason why we shouldn't do this, that or the other thing.

But sometimes, you just have to throw caution to the wind, let the laundry pile up and let other responsibilities go and hit the road and have some FUN.

We are so blessed to have family members, generous and fun family members, that have a beautiful cottage on the lake where we are always welcome to come and visit. That's exactly what they boys and I did for the past couple of days. We loaded up the car with warm clothes, sleeping bags and pillows and, of course, a survival bag (we were traveling in the snowy mountains after all!).

Once there we ate, sledded, finished a puzzle (that had one piece missing!), went snow-shoeing, shopped, cooked, ate, lounged, helped a man in a BMW stuck in the snow and laughed at many saved episodes of  Modern Family. And I took lots of pictures...many of the boys which is a bit of a rarity around here.

It was great...a wonderful way to end this winter break before getting back to the real world on Monday. It's been a nice two weeks...it was great while it lasted.

{yes}

credit

My word for 2013.

One word. One word to live by for the coming year. I have done this a few times now...chosen one word. And each time the word came to me quite easily. 

But this year? Not so much. 

This year I had to really think on it...and pray...a lot. 

And if I'm honest, I don't think it was difficult to come up with the word at all. In all reality, it presented itself to me quite clearly. The difficult part was admitting that this was the word I'd have to live with for the next year. And that word is...

L I S T E N

I'm sure it won't come as a surprise (especially to those of you that really know me) that I can be stubborn. I am not always good at hearing the advice of others. Especially when that advice is about hard things...or frustrating things...or overwhelming things that I already know the answer to but don't have the personal fortitude or the resources to DO anything about. 

As I mentioned yesterday, 2012 was kind of rough. And really, what year isn't rough? Right? I mean, it's life. Life can be hard. But it can also be good. Really, really good. If we are willing to live it. 

Lately I have been in a rut. On the outside I am humming right along, doing what I need to do, taking care of my responsibilities, day after day after day. But that's it. No more. Nothing extra. Just the bare minimum. 

And you know what? That's not OK with me. 

I came to this realization recently. And it made me sad. I want to enjoy life. Live life. Not tolerate it. 

I thought that maybe my word could be LIVE. And I tried to make it so. But when I thought about it...I realized that if I would only LISTEN...to my heart, to my body, to my instincts, to my desires, to that still, small voice...to God...then living would come as a result of that. 

I also thought that my word could be FOCUS. I can't seem to focus...on anything. I am constantly distracted. My mind never stops. There are so many things that I want to do...but so much that has to be done...and when I think about it all at once I talk myself out of all of it...out of being creative, or productive or taking time for myself. 

Then...I become frustrated. 
And then I don't do any of it. 
And then I sit here...watching life go by.

But again, if I would only LISTEN, then things will come into focus as a result. 

Bottom line? This year's word is LISTEN. God wants me to LISTEN. To Him, to my body, to my heart. And if I will just do that, if I will just be still and listen...everything else will fall into place. 

So here's to a new year...here's to 2013 and new things to come. Here's to change and growth and making progress. Here's to listening to that still, small voice and living the life God created us to live.

...let the wise listen and add to their learning,

Proverbs 1:5

on this last day of 2012...

I will...

• take down the Christmas tree.
• wash bed sheets.
• dust.
• go to the country store for chicken feed.
• go to the grocery store for black eyed peas...pretty sure I already have a ham hock.
• think and pray and decide on my One Word for 2013. I may already have it...but I need to make sure. 

2012 has been...interesting. Both good and bad in so many different ways. And at the risk of sounding pessimistic, I will admit, I'm not sorry to see it go. Even though I don't feel ready for 2013. I can't quite put my finger on why? 

Maybe because I have no idea what to expect. (I know, we never do, but somehow, each new year, I feel like good things will happen. This year? I don't feel as sure.)

Maybe because I know that 2013 is going to require a lot of work and a lot of discipline. 

It's also going to involve change...one BIG change in particular...sending Seth off to college in the fall. And for that, I am not quite ready. 

Either way...it's all going to happen. 2013 is going to be here whether I'm ready or not. Seth is going to go off to college whether I'm ready or not. Life is going to go on whether I'm ready or not. 

So I may as well get ready..I may as well live it - rather than fighting it. 

I think I will add to my list of today's "to-do" list...get ready...it will only make my days easier, don't you think?

I want to live where it snows.

Some of my flickr favorites of snow.

I have been in snow a handful of times. I've driven in it once...maybe twice. I am intrigued by it.

Someday I want to live where it snows.

Not a lot. Just enough to cover everything in a blanket of white.

It seems like a good excuse to cuddle up inside and sit by a fire...reading or creating or watching romantic comedies.

I suppose that means I would need a wood stove when I live where it snows.

That would be nice, too. A tea kettle on top...maybe a loaf of bread cooking in the oven door. It sounds romantic, doesn't it?

Yeah, I think so, too.

and just like that...it's over.

Christmas was so nice. Everyone was happy with their gifts...we spent lots of time with family...ate lots (and lots) of delicious food...unbuttoned our top buttons more than once...and moved our way through the holiday nice and slow. It was a nice change from the days prior.

Isn't that always how it is, though?

I figured something out this year. I have been saying that I "don't like Christmas". But that's not true. I DO like Christmas. I just don't care for the hype and commercialism and stress that leads up to Christmas.

I love celebrating the birth of Jesus. I love giving gifts. I love being with family. I love good food. And that is really what the holiday is about. All good things. And just because society has tried to ruin it and make it a crazed, rushed, selfish season doesn't mean I have to go along with it. From now on...I won't.

And now the days after?

Slow, slow, slow.

The day after Christmas I didn't leave the house.
Yesterday I left for a while with a friend but we took it pretty easy.
And today? Not much more than that. Laundry...oh, the laundry. (I think it's time to go through drawers and put together a donation bag.) And I will clean our room. It became the wrapping station and it shows. Yikes!

I thought about taking the tree down, but honestly, I am still enjoying the lights. I love Christmas lights and will miss them when they're gone. Maybe I will take the tree down Sunday...we'll see.

Oh yeah...and did I mention that I am off for two weeks? Yeah...I love working for the school district.

How was your Christmas? What are you up to today?

Merry Christmas