12 Things I Learned In 2014

The end of the calendar year inevitably brings many retrospectives, lists, and best-of's.  I have not been posting much in 2014, with most of my focus spent on two not-so tiny twin girls and their big brother.  So this list of things I learned seemed as good a way as any to summarize where I've been.

I learned, in no particular order because my memory could never chronologically sort these, that:

1) I love instant win games.  Not the lottery type, because you have to buy a ticket specifically for the purpose of winning, but the type that says "Hey, you bought something anyway or are a member of our group, please enter for a chance to win!"  I didn't win much more than some fries and a free movie rental this year, but the chance that I could makes me feel like a kid in a candy store.
2) Raising twins is just as hard as I thought it would be. Sometimes in life I fret and worry over something that ends up being smooth and easy.  This would not be an example of that.
3) If you enjoy photography like I do, especially the editing and printing part, do not wait a year to process your pictures.
4) Losing a pet plain old sucks.  My first and only dog so far died abruptly in May, after 11 years of trailing after my heels and being awesome.  It still doesn't feel right around here.
5) Even at this stage in my life when I have seen a few rodeos and am responsible for the lives of three little people, I am still susceptible to fan-girl tendencies.  Exhibit A: The Divergent Series books.  See also Theo James, acting in the movie interpretations of said books.
6) Sometimes the hardest part of having twins is having a five-year-old too.  Poor guy had his whole world change pretty abruptly.  Sometimes he wanted to love them too much, sometimes he wanted more of his own attention, sometimes he was just plain old tired of the crazy here.
7) Related to #6, mommy guilt is the worst.  I'm doing the best I can, and because of that, I compare and second-guess and stress and worry that it's never good enough.  I know I'm not alone here, but it is still the worst.
8) I read a lot of young adult fiction this year. I figured out that I could navigate my e-reader while pumping during my nursing stage, so I was able to read a lot of books in 2014.  When I looked at my Goodreads year in books, I saw a whole lot of dystopia and escape from reality.  Why?  See #2.
9) Having twins, while being a lot of hard work, is a gift from God in so many ways.  One that I've reflected on a lot this year is the fact that a hard pregnancy and a crazy first year has made me SO very ok with being done growing our family.  This could have been a difficult time of my life, having to transition from family growth to family stability, but instead, I thank my lucky stars that I am moving forward.  Next time I get to enjoy this stage is when they are my grandchildren.  Minus the whole pregnancy and nursing thing.  Sweet.
10) I am happiest when my personal email inbox doesn't require the use of the search bar to find what I need.  Which never happens.
11) I am of the age, along with being a grown-up and parent, where current events make my heart hurt.  Everything is more.  More evil, more dangerous, more overwhelming, more sad, more enraging, more frightening, more divisive.  Stories of children in harm's way bring me to my knees.  Growing up we just didn't get it, why adults argued over politics, and read the paper every day, and cried over bad news half a world away.  I get it now.  Lord, have mercy.
12) Parenting young children is my most important life's work, but I miss things.  I miss pondering, creating, exercising, remembering, sleeping, blogging, gardening, relaxing, watching, cooking, organizing, baking, decorating.  A lot of "-ings".  I know from having my first child that this changes, and I have about another year before I start getting more consistent time for those "-ings".  Halfway there.

What did you learn in 2014?
May the next year bring you all the "-ings" you wish for, and maybe a few that are unexpected as well.

I really like New Year's Day

As I put away the Christmas decorations today, I came upon the thought that I really enjoy New Year's Day.  But probably not for the reasons most other people enjoy it.  With a two-year-old in the house, there's really no such thing as partying for New Year's Eve, and there certainly is not any sleeping late the following morning.  This year I did make it up til midnight, thanks to a movie that ended at 11:30.  But I like New Year's Day because of the restart.

First, the Christmas decorations.  I don't love decorating for Christmas.  Pulling out all the boxes, figuring out where to put all the normal decorations and furniture to make room for the Christmas stuff, wishing we hadn't been so careless when we packed everything away last year.  I do like decorating the tree, but beyond that, I guess I'm kind of a scrooge.  But, I admit, the end result is nice.  However, putting it all away, though hard work, feels good.  All of the sudden there is more space, less clutter, and everything goes back to where it belongs.  And so does our day-to-day life.  The chaos is over, normalcy is back.  Whatever normal is in this house.
(Totally unrelated vent, I really get frustrated by glitter and Styrofoam.  They have their purposes, I get it, but MAN do they get annoying)

Anyhow, the other thing I really like about this day is the calendar.

The clean, empty, unscheduled, beautiful calendar.  I am completely dependent on one, I can't remember birthdays, appointments, fun plans, anything, unless it is on the calendar.  I have one on my phone, which I use to log appointments made away from home, but I go home and put it on the wall calendar anyway.  And usually our calendar is full of birthdays for friends and family, church events, social events, doctor's appointments, park district classes, etc. etc. etc.  But on this one day, before I have had the time to transfer everything from last year to this year, it is blank and simple.  I suppose there is something nice about wondering what the year will bring, but mostly I just like it because it is empty.

But in a little while, I will start to fill it up with birthdays and anniversaries, and any plans already scheduled for January, and thoughts can go back to all our blessings.  Happy New Year to all.