Rebecca's Joy

January feels like a new beginning. New years goals resurrect and Christmas paraphernalia is tucked away for the next year. It is a time of reflection, motivation, and goal creating. I have always sparked goal making in my own way. Perhaps it’s a firstborn tendency or just part of my personality, but I can’t help but make goals. Checklists and a paper planner keep me on track as I navigate what needs to be done daily, weekly, or monthly. Frank is much more relaxed and yet he also is motivated. He loves a good challenge and will make something happen whenever it sparks his interest or solves a problem. He is currently working on our living room, which is a wide open space with tall ceilings and lots of walls. From scrapping off the popcorn ceiling on our overhang, to painting the walls Swiss Coffee white, I can see how this project is coming together. However, one thing I admire about Frank is that he can put down the paintbrush and find the more important work of people. He will invest in others over an hour of painting. Or, he’ll take a break and run the dogs to the dog park, or split a coffee with me at a local shop. I, on the other hand, will dedicate myself to tasks with unbridled motivation, until it is accomplished and I can move on. In starting the new year, I am reminded that life hangs in a fragile balance between the goals we seek to accomplish and the reality that smacks us in the face, when least expected. Another hinge is laziness. Whether we think we can accomplish something or not, it takes self-discipline and fighting the nagging propensity to skip today (which turns into skipping weeks or neglecting goals altogether). For example, I have the motivation to regain some components of my health, including my weight. I have struggled with hypothyroidism for well over a decade. Initially, it is known as a disease process that slows down metabolism and can make losing weight hard. I have tried to set variety of doable things: add more veggies, drink more water, scale portions down, avoid sugar, and eat less processed foods. I also have added gentle exercises and walking into my daily routines. However, I have not seen the scale tip in months! In fact, I am feeling stuck. I keep reminding myself, that I have to be honest. In one sense, I am accomplishing the goal of being more intentional in what I consume, and conscious of my sleep, stress, water intake, and a TSH level in normal range. All in all, it is a striving, in progress and patience.

Process is progress.

Another area I am longing to grow in is our decluttering journey. I continue to grab a few things a day and contemplate their existence in my life. I have thrown out a few things that no longer serve, given away stuff on a free community Facebook group, added to Facebook Marketplace, and started a small pile for the thrift stores or a garage sale. This month, we redid our office area, which meant we got rid of a bunch of stuff that was stagnate. I also donated some clothing, and sold a few items on Facebook Marketplace.

I have made a few of the regular foods this month: sourdough bread, deviled eggs, chicken salad, scrambled eggs, and chicken soup. I also made hummus from scratch, and sticky toffee pudding. I tried homemade terriyaki sauce and mediteranean lamb bowls. I wanted to make shrimp spring rolls, but maybe I’ll try that in the beginning of February.

I also made progress in my settling into routines. I started subbing, and just completed onboarding for a licensed teacher online tutoring program. I have learned to be better prepared for last minute calls or requests, and to hoan in on jobs that I want and enjoy. Oh, and always bringing a book. Not a bunch of teachers hang out in the teacher’s lounge at lunch, and there’s often dead space in the middle of the day.

I read two books this month: When People Are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch and The Women by Kristin Hannah. I plan on continuing to read, and have already put in a few requests at the library for when they become available. I also desire to re-read some childhood series in the next few months.

I know this is a bit of a different format from the norm, but I wanted to get this out, even if its a few days late.

No adoption news. We did have one opportunity presented, but nothing came from it, so we trust and pray for whatever God has next for us.

Love,

Rebecca & Frank