This is 2020.

“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” – Vern McClellan

“You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream”. – C.S. Lewis

“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each year find you a better man.” – Benjamin Franklin

I always choose a word to focus on for my year ahead.

I have chosen adventure, firsts, resilient, joy, service, love …

This year I felt stumped. What would my word be? What do I want out of 2020?

New Years rolled around and I worked it – I left work with my students rocking out to a dance party and headed home. Mike and I planned to take all the kids ice skating and to the New Years count down at the oval.

I got a call he had a flat tire … luckily in town here with me. So I went to help, My mom watched the boys, got them yummy food and taught them to play cards while Mike and I attempted in the cold to swap out tires. We finally got the car to a shop, though everyone was closed until Thursday … so we headed home.

Of course we missed the ice rink, but we sat at my table over a super late dinner laughing and smiling and together.

Later as we got ready for the midnight fun, one of our kids got sick. And I am talking the horror movie I need a shovel to clean this up sick.

I could not believe this was. how my night was playing out. Now our reservations at Osaka for New Years dinner seemed out of the question.

I got things cleaned and disinfected, showered, and plopped on the couch in disbelief. Mike came and sat by me … and we both just smiled and shook our heads.

Life happens no matter what day it is. No matter the plans we lay out.

And yes, I missed Bentleyville because someone zambonied the entire state Saturday, and now we had missed our big plans for skating, now dinner for New Years day … but as I looked at my guy I realized there is really no one else I would rather have things go wrong with.

My midnight kiss was a peck, a smile, and shared giggles at the irony of our lives.

The next morning after very little sleep since I played nurse, I made everyone waffles and we had a huge family breakfast. I had never seen Mikes little guy eat as much as he did that morning!

Then we went to check on the truck and realized we found the hole, so we got what was needed, patched it up, and went back to fun mode.

We loaded up on surf and turf to make at home, did a new years pinata for the kids, went sledding, sipped cocoa, and had a genuinely good day with a lot of smiles.

Sometimes I feel crushed by life. Other times I am so grateful for my ability to be in the moment and not let life keep me down.Even the small things … when added to the big things it all piles up … but I still find joy.

I am resilient, but I would enjoy a break from having to be.

I am a joy seeker.

I am an adventurer … full of wanderlust and so grateful for firsts …even the little firsts.

I show love to others and serve others.

See … I have become the things I have focused on. I have engrained them into who I am.

So here I am, back to this year. And my word?

Be.

I just want to be. Be in the moment. Be free. Be happy. Be at peace. Be un-busied.

Be.

What word would you choose? Leave a comment and share!