But on the other hand, as I mentioned last week, I just love the start of the new year. It feels so fresh and full of so many possibilities. I love the feeling of newness and all the potential of the year to come.
So with that said, I don't necessarily have resolutions for the new year, more I have intentions.
In 2012 the kids and I are going to get outside more. We spend pretty much the entire late spring, summer and early fall outside. But in the winter, when it's cold and rainy, we huddle up in our cozy home. I recently picked up 15 minutes outside: 365 ways to get out of the house and connect with your kids and since I'm a sucker for starting (ahem.) any sort of daily project, the subtitle appealed to me in a huge way. I love the little prompts to get us outside in the rain on days we might otherwise not venture outdoors (and have entirely too much pent up energy by 3PM). And I especially love the way the February chapter starts: resist hibernating on even the darkest days.
In 2012 I intend to write more. I am a voracious reader and have always loved books, but I've always said I'm not a writer. I think it's one of my biggest weaknesses. But I'm pretty sure I do myself a disservice by saying I'm not a writer, because that means I don't even have to try. This year I'm going to start, I've already started. I'm playing around with 750 words and I'm working way through Writing Motherhood but if you have any great writing tips for me, I'd love to hear them.
In 2012 I want to be a more intentional friend, wife, mother, sister, daughter, etc. I intend to be kinder. I intend to serve more. With those I'm closest to I fall back on being sarcastic. And lately, I've been lazy and tend only to reach out with a phone call (or more likely a text or an email) if there's an invitation that needs to be made or a question that needs to be asked. I've been reading about being a Proverbs 31 woman and that's been rolling around in my mind lately too.
And at the same time, all my talk of more makes we tired. Because it's not like I'm sitting around for hours on end wondering what I'm going to do with all my 'extra' time. I just started reading Praying for Strangers and the first chapter starts with this about New Year's resolutions.
"Every year I see them as a way to complete myself, to make up for all those things I haven't accomplished in a lifetime but can now master in a year."
So to this list I add being more gentle - with our house, with the kids, with my husband and especially, with myself.
What about you? What do you intend for 2012?
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I love my Our Year in Photos project which has been challenging me to capture specific aspects of our family life and preserve them for my family.
But I was still searching for something that pushes me as an artist. And that's when my friend asked me to join herself and four other women in photographing one theme per week for the entire year.
This week's theme? Newness.
As much as the word newness for me conjures up visions of a beautiful glowing sunrise, a seedling bursting through the soil or a soft, beautiful newborn, for me today newness looks a little different. On this dreary rainy first week of January, when little #1 is just back at preschool and little #2 is upstairs napping, newness to me looks like some quiet time with my latte, a few books I've been storing up for just this time, a pen and a fresh white sheet of paper. It's a newness reminiscent of the first day of school with the smell of new school supplies, the excitement of a new teacher and the promise of a year spent with new and old friends.
And that's what today is. A day of excitement for the year to come, the promise of connecting with old friends and reaching out to new ones and the excitement of setting out intentions for me and my family - writing more, getting outside more, serving more. The newness of a year ripe with possibilities.
I'll post more next week about what I'm intending for my family in 2012 but in the meantime, please check out these amazing women and what newness looks like to them.
Michelle
Heather
Tracey
Stacey
Andrea
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I adore this shot! Really. It's been a time of laying out goals and list making here and the blank page just screams possibility to me.
Fantastic. Can't wait to hear what your intentions are next week.
Love you, Artist Friend.
I loved your words and your thoughts and the picture to match them. I love me a good quiet time and the thought of you sitting there with your two kids occupied elsewhere makes me sigh. :) So fun to meet you Jenn!
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This photo just looks new and clean and fresh! That sheet of paper just waiting to be filled with new thoughts and ideas for a new year. And your tie-in to the first day of school - I just loved getting all of the new supplies! Especially a new box of crayons. I'll be excited to hear more about what your plans are for the new year with your family. :) Happy Friday! (Oh, and I was going to say, I live really close to that "other" Vancouver. I actually live in Camas, just east of Vancouver. But we just tell people Vancouver because no one knows where Camas is. :) )
this is awesome. love the possibilities that lay ahead on the blank sheet and the mug with the word joy in red just makes this shot. looking forward to hearing more about what intentions you have for your year.
Love the simplicity of this shot, Jenn. Clean and lovely. Makes me want to make a list, and I am SO not a list person. Can't wait to hear more about your goals and see more of your beautiful photos!
I did want to let you know that there just might be a Boxing Day event in the near future so if you're looking to stock up on gift certificates for 2012, check back on Monday.
In the meantime, one of my favourites from our time in Mexico. Love this kid.
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We're home from a week of digging our toes in the sand and celebrating my sister's wedding in Mexico with family and friends. I'm working my way through an over-flowing inbox and massive piles of laundry but I'll be back on Monday with my regular Our Year in Photos post. If you're waiting for an email or phone call back from me it's coming - I promise!
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oh man, i wish i was there right now. she looks SO cute.
Congratulations to my beautiful sister on her wedding day.
Jason, welcome to our crazy, loving family.
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Thanks Jenn!! Love this pic you took of our engagement :)
In addition to my "to be read" shelf, I have a stack of books on my night table of the ones I'm currently reading and the ones that are next in line. Here's what's in my book stack today.
- Writing Motherhood. I preserve so many of our memories through photographs but I'm a terrible writer. I regret not having more detailed journaling of our life and my thoughts on our life. That is my goal for 2012 (I know it's early to be setting goals for 2012 but what can I say, I'm a planner). I've had this one for a while but I'm just starting to crack it open.
- Advent Conspiracy. Something that's been on my mind as we head into the Christmas season as I think about what I want to teach the littles while they are still little.
- Playful Parenting. I'm loving this book so far, maybe because it's something I need so much. I'm great at doing things with the littles but not great at just sitting and playing with them. One of my favourite lines so far... "when we join children in their world of play, we unlock the door to their inner lives and meet them heart to heart."
- Surprised by Oxford. Just got this one on a friend's recommendation and I'm going to read it when I don't feel like all the thinking that comes from reading Playful Parenting.
- What Women Fear. I just finished reading this one along with the Bloom book club and loved everything about it. I probably wouldn't have bought it if it hadn't been for the book club as I don't think of myself as someone with a lot of fear but so much of this book really resonated with me.
- Fa La La La Felt. I bought this last Christmas but never got around to making anything. I had fun last night going through and marking the pages of some ornaments to craft while we're on a little upcoming family vacation.
- The New Rules of Lifting for Women. I decided against Crossfit in favour of something I can do at my local gym, which is close and has childcare which means I can fit in a couple of daytime workouts each week. I've been at this program for a couple weeks now and am loving it.
At the risk of adding to my ever-growing "to be read" shelf, what are you reading right now?
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I started reading The Happiness Project, and then lost it. And I borrowed The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest from Karen. I really liked first other two. And to be silly, because I might watch the movie, I'm rereading Breaking Dawn (Twilight). Oh, and I kind of have Committed on the go too, but I'm having a hard time getting into it. I think you already said that about that one though. :)
Love hearing what other people are reading. There are so many books out there, it's nice to hear what other people think so it's easier to decide what to read.
I just put Writing Motherhood on hold at the library after reading your list. It sound like a really good book for me too. I have such a hard time writing.
I'm almost finished (on the last chapter) "How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk". It is such a good book. I have read many parenting books but none have been as good as this one. It's full of helpful, practical advice and examples, not just theories and research but no practical advice. I highly recommend it.
I love books, too! I adore Advent Conspiracy and what they do. :)
What am I reading? Fiery Cross... again. I blame Kristin C. :P Acts/Hebrews. ;)
I am Hutterite. Mad Church Disease.
:) Not enough time in life for reading.
I have done crossfit at home and bought the New Rules of Lifting for Men, which my husband uses. Great book. I haven't purchased the one for Women though. Glad you like it.
Sarah recently came out with this {be} series of prints and as soon as I saw them I knew they would be perfect for our playroom.
Definitely check them out on her site because they are so much more rich in colour than they appear in this photograph. This photograph is what you get when you use cheap glass in the frames because it's "just" the playroom. I'm really wishing I'd photographed them when they first arrived but I just couldn't wait to get them up on the wall.
Sarah also illustrated a Christmas book new out this year and I have a feeling it's going to be making it's way to our house shortly, along with one of her Christmas prints to decorate our front hallway for the season.
Do you have any favourite illustrators of children's art that you're loving?
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I love Sarah Jane's art! I must be lovely to see it everyday in your playroom. Have you seen her fabric line, "Children at Play"?
I love her stuff too. I think I have half her Etsy shop pinned. I love these prints - they are perfect in your playroom. And thanks for the info on her Christmas book - I want it now too!
reading: what women fear by angie smith.
loving: that they get so much enjoyment out of the little things. if you ask them, glowstick necklaces are about the best thing ever invented.
researching: crossfit. do any of you do it? how did you get started?
eating: chocolate zucchini cake. i made a couple loaves to use up the last of our CSA veggies. and it's part of the reason I need crossfit.
drinking: peppermint tea. when i gave up my afternoon coffee a month ago i replaced it with peppermint tea and I feel so much better for it.
enjoying: the peacefulness of naptime. naps are getting shorter and shorter around here (which means my nights are going to get later and later) so i'm savouring this time while i have it.
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We've been drinking tons of chamomile tea. :) The kids love coming home from school and having tea time. Like and actual sit around the table with tea and cookies tea time. It's one of my favorite things ever. :)
I don't do crossfit but I know it's hardcore and you'll be a muscle filled world dominator when you're done with it. ;)
First off, I am totally with you on the resolution comments. That's why I don't make them. :-)
I love your wish to be more intentional. This was a goal that I strived for last year and have made it a continual thing. It takes practice!
Also love your goal for writing. I love to write, although I feel like I am not very eloquent or poetic in my words. What I've found is that if I just start....if I just start typing....the words come. They might not be poetic, but they are real. And I guess that's what I'm going for. :-)
Oh boy! I'm hear you on this entire thing!!!
Last year, I made myself go outside every single day. (didn't always, but that was my goal) because I found that I would hunker down and then oddly end up unhappy. Outside is good for us.
I am with you on the being a better friend, too. Oh how I wish you lived close to me. I'd bring you a loaf of homemade banana bread and we could talk about all these fabulous books you're reading. Sigh.
I've got intentions or goals as I also like to call them. But they are balanced by grace. I've learned not to quit if I miss a day (or 12). But to embrace the shift in momentum and celebrate what can be celebrated as I make the changes.
I love your blog. :)
I'm with you about getting my kids outside as much as possible. I find that making intentions is good, but it's when I put it in my schedule that my intentions actually happen. So I am putting "outdoors" as one of my daily routines with the kids-- whether it's a park or the woods or the beach or just a walk. Your photo is beautiful.
i love your list of intentions, jenn. and something i always remind myself of every year is that i don't have to be perfect, i just have to try and i think making goals/resolutions/intentions is a great place to start. plus trying is better than not trying at all.
i'm excited that writing is on your list. that makes me happy because i love learning more about you.
i love that you added being more gentle. i should add that one to mine too.