Taking Inventory 2021
Inside: While this entry comes a few days late, it is no less compelling. . . Taking inventory 2021.
Taking Inventory 2021
Before this post becomes as stale as last week’s bread, I need to spend a few moments taking inventory of 2021.
These ten questions are simple yet thought-provoking to help put the past year in perspective. For an even more abbreviated form, simply answer questions #1 and #2.
- What worked?
Combining prayer time with walking to get more steps. Staying spiritually fit while getting physically fit, you might say.
Daily devotional time. Keeping an open prayer dialogue throughout my day. (Meaning talking to God throughout my day.)
Giving myself time to think.
Resting. Keeping a light schedule. While at times I felt like a real slacker, and I had moments of really questioning why God was wanting this for me, deep down I feel there was a good reason, even if I didn’t quite understand what that reason was.
Doing virtual write-ins with some of the girls in my writing critique group.
Exercising on my rebounder! I’ve finally found a type of exercise I like!
Fruit-infused water for mild detoxing. I particularly liked adding chunks of watermelon to water.
Switching every other week to shop at Aldi, to save money. More variety in products, too.
Mondays shopping with Mom.
Saturday mornings of bacon and eggs and tomato juice with Mike while watching classic cartoons on MeTV. (Love me some Bugs Bunny!)
Sunday nights watching Monk reruns.
Haphazardly placing some sweet potato vine (edible variety) cuttings in a large corner tub at the side of the house. I did it purely for looks, not food, yet it ended up giving me more sweet potatoes than where I actually planted sweet potatoes for eating. Go figure.
Running the critique group solo while my friend Candace took a sabbatical for a few months. (But I’m glad she’s back!)
Letting go of perfectionism. Letting go of a lot of things that don’t matter, really.
- What didn’t work?
Spending too much time reading news reports and wanting desperately to see change for good and corrupt people brought to justice. Being angry about things happening around the country. While this did prompt me to pray, I spent entirely too much time reading articles and news stories. Me, the person who used to fast the news!
Trying out various types of eating plans but not losing weight. Trial and error with various supplements, although I think I’m getting closer to finding what works for me. Not there yet, though.
Not reading books enough. I didn’t finish many.
Feeling aimless and distracted. Could be that I didn’t feel very excited about my goals.
Not finishing the edit of my novel.
Me–literally! I didn’t work much, so I wasn’t bringing in an income for most of the year. The editing jobs weren’t coming in.
- What surprised you? (Whether good or bad.)
That I got Covid right before Christmas. (Definitely bad.)
- What disappointed you?
That I got Covid right before Christmas. (We had to cancel our Christmas this year.)
- What were you most proud of?
That despite question #2, I actually stayed optimistic and positive for much of the year.
- What gave you the most joy?
Spending time with my family and friends.
- What drained you?
I honestly don’t remember feeling drained this past year. It could be because I spent so much time resting and keeping a light schedule.
- What wasted your time?
Reading too much news. (See question #2.)
- Who did you enjoy spending time (or connecting) with?
Mike. Mom. Emily and Jared. Karisa. Patty. Joy. Kaitlyn. My writing critique group.
- What gave you the most peace?
Knowing God has a plan for good things in the very near future. Living in a safe place with no restrictions on my freedom.
_____
It wasn’t a banner year, and Christmas was disappointing–and I love Christmas! Yet despite all that went wrong, I still experienced joy and kindness and love and happiness. I even laughed a few times. (Okay, more than a few.)
I look with hope toward 2022. The year of double portion.
Resources and related posts:
This day in past posts:
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 12: Filled With Joy
“When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.”
Matthew 2:10-11
Merry Christmas!
From A Rural Girl Writes
This day in past posts:
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 12: Reflections 2017
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 12: The Real Christmas Light 2018
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 12: Among Us 2019
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 12: Moved into the Neighborhood 2020
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 11: Different Reasons, Different Seasons
Inside: Sometimes Christmas is not what you hoped for or expected–for different reasons, different seasons.
Different Reasons, Different Seasons
We canceled Christmas this year. No big family get-together with stacks of presents under Mom’s tree. No Christmas feast with family favorites. No family gathered round for the reading of the Christmas story, no blizzard of torn wrapping paper covering the living room floor after opening presents. . .
This wasn’t our choice. Right smack dab in the middle of holiday preparations, Mom and I got sick with covid. At that point the to-do list pretty much went out the window. No energy, no desire. No taste or smell.
I didn’t take it very well. Disappointed, and, if I’m being honest, a little mad at God. . .
Mad at God? Whose birthday is this, anyway?
Ouch.
Not one of my better moments. But getting sick rerouted me, and I didn’t want to be rerouted. I was happy doing my usual thing. Ready for my yearly download of seasonal joy. This year, besides being sick, I’ve been sad, distracted, and with a general feeling of malaise. I found myself saying to Mike, “All I want for Christmas is my sense of taste and smell back, and a hug.” He happened to not get sick, and we had to keep him healthy to work. December is the busiest month if you work at a church. So separation in the same house. Not easy.
Not much about this year feels joyous. Yet Mom and I decided that she and I would meet at her house. I read the Christmas story, and we took communion together before exchanging gifts. No, it wasn’t the same without the rest of the family. I unwrapped my gifts at the table, and she did as well. Then it was time to go. But before I left, I called her into the living room and tossed my spent wrapping paper on the floor.
“Look at all the wrapping paper all over the floor!” I said, joking. She laughed as we thought back to all of the Christmases with Christmas paper covering the floor. Trash bags full of the stuff.
We lingered a moment at the door, and she gave me a hug.
“Next year is going to be an amazing Christmas!” I said. And she agreed.
Different reasons, different seasons, yet a quiet, understated, yet no less persistent joy emerges.
God with us.
Indeed, He never left.
This day in past posts:
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 11: It’s Okay to Say ‘Merry Christmas‘ 2017
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 11: Stable Reflections 2018
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 11: Our Family’s Christmas Eve Traditions 2019
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 11: What I Want Most for Christmas 2020
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 10: Chocolate Orange Fudge
Inside: It just wouldn’t be Christmas without fudge, so here’s our offering–Chocolate Orange Fudge!
Chocolate Orange Fudge
I love those chocolate oranges that are so popular this time of year, so it only stands to reason that Chocolate Orange Fudge would make a great recipe for Christmas. Here is my attempt at an easy recipe:
- 2 cups of heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup of Truvia (erythritol stevia blend)
- 2 teaspoons of orange zest
- 1 teaspoon of orange extract
- 6 ounces of unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped fine
- ¼ teaspoon of fine sea salt
- Line an 8 x 8 square pan with parchment paper, lightly buttered.
- In a small saucepan, stir together heavy cream, sweetener, orange extract, and orange zest and bring to a simmer.
- Remove from heat and add chocolate and salt. Stir until chocolate is totally melted and mixture is smooth.
- Pour chocolate mixture into parchment-lined pan and spread evenly to the edges.
- Cover and refrigerate until set, several hours or overnight.
- Cut into 16 pieces.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
This day in past posts:
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 10: Simple Ornaments 2017
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 10: Festive Simmering Potpourri 2018
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 10: Christmas is for the Birds 2019
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 10: Jute Basket Ornament 2020