End of December, MidVacation Update

Healthy, happy, feeling fulfilled. These are the words I used to describe myself today and are the things I've been thinking on over the simple busyness of the last few weeks. Blogging is blogging. Sometimes I post to keep a running record for myself of where I've been and where I'm heading, sometimes I hope to maintain connections with others via the blog, and sometimes I just let it lay where and how it is.

I don't know that I'd truly say that things have been "busy" as the days kind of have a simple joy to them too and I try to just focus on one or two things each day that happily fill the time. Two weeks of break goes rather quickly I realized, as I woke up this morning and thought about needing to finish prepping for the upcoming term that starts in exactly one week. I already have my term prepped as a student, but I need to prep for my instructor role and alter the courses that I regularly teach. The dogs are lazily lounging by my feet, there is a cup of tea sitting on the ottoman to my side, and I've spent most the morning lost in my own thoughts and reflections. Sometimes it's just nice to have time to b.e.

I'm halfway through that book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker that I've been wanting to read for over a year. It might turn out to be the only book I read fully over break but I'm okay with that. It's words and reflections are allowing me to re-ponder the years of my life when I focused on living a more simple and mindful life that included more awareness of how my actions truly impact the globe as a whole. I also was gifted "MiniFarming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre" from housemate M...and it's reminded me that I probably need to finally let myself ponder a little deeper about where and how I want life to head. I'm pretty sure that some of my coping and happiness has been due to staying busy and allowing myself to live more superficially while not thinking too deeply upon things. In the big scheme of things, I'm still not letting myself really live deeply and authentically these days....which is somewhat ironic, since I FEEL pretty good about who I am right now and where life is heading...and for now, I'm just going to be okay with that alone.

Christmas was quick but lovely. I was able to catch up with one of my gals from grad school and her husband who were in town for the holidays before driving down to my parents for two nights. A little time with my brother and his lady, a good run in my hometown, a trip to the beach with mom and the dogs, the candlelight service at my parents church, and a lazy morning opening stockings, before returning back up to the city where I hosted my parents for a night. This Christmas made me realize how much I consider this to be my home, how content I feel with where things are in this moment, and yet also feel a little hope for what could be in the year or few to come. Prior to heading south, I was able to finally check repainting my bedroom off the to-do list, and the day after Christmas I spent 12 hours cleaning the carpets in my rental home (although they could totally use SO.much.more....how I would love wood/laminate floors!). My cousins and I were able to spontaneously meet up and have happy hour with Granny, we've had a few other family moments together, and I also had my regular girls coffee date with my gal N.

M's back in the house and working nights, so while it's nice to have him back we're also on completely opposite schedules. In some ways it makes the transition easier as we both do our own things but appreciate the stability of the other. We did have a little transition conversation to reset the expectations in the home to keep the peace with all three of us still being here, but I'm hopeful that things will continue to truck along fine with both housemate C and M here together through at least January. Continuing to rent the middle bedroom will be the best financial option....and regaining financial independence continues to be my main priority for 2014.

Speaking of 2014, I'm really looking forward to what all it might bring. I know I'll be busy throughout the duration of the rest of the massage program, but I'm hopeful that next term's scheduling might ease some of the overscheduledness of the last several months. The last two years have been full of some great experiences and amazing moments (many of which I won't have as much time to repeat this coming year), but the last two years have also taken me through the bottom of a place that I hope not to have to return to.....thus, I'm looking at 2014 with realism that it might not turn out 100% but I'm still hopeful for what it might hold. And honestly...it's just great...to have that hope.

Some other random things:

--I'm bringing the mayo, meat, and cheese sandwich into daily rotation.
--I'm so incredibly thankful for my brood of gals who normalize that waiting til your mid 30s to have babies is just a-ok. Every time I talk with any of my other MPH related gals, life just feels well, normal...and encouraged. I've been focusing on surrounding myself with supportive friends who encourage and embrace where life has taken us.
--Next Christmas I want to be traveling...
--There's something about a peaceful, organized home that is just so enticing.