One Word 2017

It's time to chose my one word for 2017. I started thinking about this in October. Words have flitted through my mind. I've paused to consider them. Then my mind has moved on to other thoughts. Nothing has stuck. So as I write this post I'm still trying to make up my mind.

2016 was so chaotic in our country that I briefly considered the word serene. Our family is growing by leaps and bounds so the word family got consideration. Dan and I are trying to make more time for ourselves so I even thought of using marriage. But the word I keep coming back to is hope.

I have hope that our country will settle down. I have hope that the world community will get its act together. I have hope for my children and grandchildren. I even have hope for something as trivial as getting more stitching time in!

But the real reason I am choosing the word hope is because of my faith in Christ. Because of my faith I do have hope. Hope for my future, hope for my family, hope for the world.

So there you have it. My one word for 2017 is hope.

A Look Ahead...

I've come to really enjoy this week of the year. I enjoy taking stock of the year that's ending and making plans for the year ahead.

I don't make New Year Resolutions, but I definitely make goals for the new year. I lay out goals for stitching, for reading, for home improvement projects, for travel, for gifts, for family events. Of course, all of these are written in pencil, you know how real life can interfere with plans!

Stitching - {{sigh}} my stitching this year was the pits. I was shocked when I counted up my projects and saw how few I completed. So, in true to myself fashion, I've decided to overcompensate in 2017. I need to stitch six Christmas stockings. I want to finish my afghan. I want to stitch a baby sampler for my soon-to-arrive grandchild. And of course, I have a pile of WIPs to get to.

Quiet Time - if you've read my blog for any length of time you know that my favorite source for daily Bible reading is the Chronological Bible. In 2016, I tried something new. I had a flip calendar of daily readings from Jesus Calling. I really enjoyed that. So for 2017 I bought "Jesus Always". I'm also doing a weekly Bible Study with some friends, which I think will continue in 2017.

Blog - last year I switched to a "Verse for the Week" format. I really liked that and I got a lot of very encouraging comments. So I'm sticking with that for this week. I hope to post a stitching post once a week, but I'll be satisfied if I manage one a month! I did better over on my Christmas blog this year. I published a countdown for all 52 weeks leading up to Christmas and I managed to write all of "Christmas in July". I also posted most of the days in December. Again, this plan worked for me so I'm hoping to duplicate it next year. I already posted "Christmas Countdown: 52 Weeks From Today" on Monday.

At home - we have so many home improvement projects to complete. I made a list of the interior projects and a list of the exterior projects. I'm hanging them on the pantry door and we'll cross them off as we get them done. But as you know, you're really NEVER done with home improvement!

Travel - in 2016 we took the trip of a lifetime to Disneyland. We also traveled to Kansas to visit JD and Janel in September. This year we're tentatively planning to travel to see JD and Janel at least four times. We want to go to San Diego at least three times and we're thinking of going to Disneyland for Christmas. Now that we're both in our 60s we feel the urge to do things we've never been able to do before...

Family - and of course, we're hoping to host many family events this year. As the family grows there are more reasons to celebrate each other!

A Glance Back...

Boy, am I glad 2016 is coming to an end. It's not that there was a lot of stress within my personal life, but there was sure a lot of stress in the world. And since I'm a news junkie, those stressful events affect my peace of mind!

All in all, 2016 was a great year for our family. We welcomed two new family members, Snow in February and Summer in July. We took an awesome family trip to Disneyland. Grammy Summer Camp was a rousing success. And we got the news of a new grandbaby arriving in late January.

Dan's business has grown to the level of needing me to help out again. So, since I can't do everything at once, I'm giving up Grammy Daycare. At least until the summer when Grammy Summer Camp will resume. I am so far behind in work with Dan that it will probably take me til summer to catch up! Hopefully that's an exaggeration...

In the summer I began a Bible Study with one friend, which grew to two friends, which expanded to three women when we started a new study this fall. All of these "girls" are much younger than me and I'm enjoying myself immensely. The first study we tackled was "Experiencing God" which I led. The study we're currently doing is "The Unexplained Life". The cool thing about it is that the girl that suggested it is leading it! I love the enthusiasm of these women. They inspire me.

As has been the case the past few years, my blogs were pretty neglected this year. I'm hoping that all of the extra time I have I will find time to be more structured about writing posts. I love to blog, and it irritates me that I've not made or found the time for it lately.

I only stitched 10 projects this year. However, in my defense, four of them were Christmas Stockings. I love doing them, but they do take a long time. I'm slated to stitch six of them in 2017.... hmm, we'll see how that works out!

As 2016 draws to an end, I'm making lists and plans for 2017. I'll be sharing those soon...

Merry Christmas!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Family Christmas

We held our family Christmas celebration last Saturday. It is tradition for us to have it the weekend before Christmas, freeing up Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for celebrations with in-laws or for each family's own traditions.

The only problem with having it early is that I'm a "planner". I derive most of my pleasure from planning and anticipating events. I enjoy the actual event, but most of my joy comes in the preparation. Once an event is over, I'm done and ready to move on to the next thing. When the grandkids were younger, this was easy. I just took down my Christmas decor as soon as family Christmas was over. Now, they're older and they know that "real" Christmas is yet to come after family Christmas. So I leave all of my decor up. At least until Christmas Day.

We had a great time at family Christmas. Sunny read the Birth of Christ to us from a children's Bible. We sang Christmas songs and carols led by the three oldest grandkids. We had plenty of food, fun, and family memory making.

Zach and Skye

Dan and I

Vasquez Family

Sunny reading the Christmas Story

I love the chaos of Christmas!

The greats (my folks) with the grands!

Snow got a hippopotamus for Christmas!

Storm listening to the Christmas Story

Official Ten Month Photo

Look at this sweetie! She is such a joy to me. Always smiling. Always ready to laugh. Always snuggly. Snow is cruising the furniture and really wants to walk. I'm sure she will be very soon. She waves hi and bye. She says "uh-oh" and "hi" and "mama". She loves the cousins and it frustrates her that she can't keep up with them... yet!

Verse for the Week: Jude 24-25

A Stitchin' Post

You wouldn't know it from my blog, but I HAVE been stitching this year. My main focus has been on Christmas Stockings. It looks like that will be my focus next year also! That's what happens when the family keeps growing.

I completed four stockings this year. One for Snow for my house and three for my nephew's family.

In this post I'm sharing the stockings for my nephew's family. I gave them to Shelby yesterday at our Annual Cookie Baking/Exchange. I was relieved that she like them. I always worry when I make stockings whether I've chosen a good pattern, if they'll like them, are they good enough... yeah, I'm that kind of a stitcher.

My favorite is the one I made for Shelby. My daughter Katie said "Mom, you should make those and sell them on Etsy". I told her it takes me up to three months to make just one, so I have no idea how I would price them and it would take me forever to fill orders, so no thanks! hahaha

Showing Summer her stocking

Mission accomplished!

Verse for the Week: Jeremiah 31:3

A Visit With Santa...

We made our annual trek to see Santa at the Mall. It's such fun to see how each child reacts!

You can see that Thunder and Sunny are old pros at visiting Santa

All five of them together ~ Grammy's favorite photo

Skye is another veteran of Santa photos

Grammy, Jessica, Katie

Skye, Storm, Snow, Thunder, Sunny

It was Snow's first time, but she's smiling as always

Storm on the other hand, did not like Santa again this year!

Verse For the Week: Joel 2:25

Sunny and Thunder

I hosted Thanksgiving this year and I didn't take a single photo. I was too busy enjoying the house full of siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, kids and grandkids!

As usual, I provided the meats and a couple of other plates, while everyone else contributed several dishes. This year Sunny and Thunder were eager to contribute too. They made "Acorns" for dessert. They  enjoyed making them and were very proud of the outcome. Can't wait to see what they make next year...

Official Nine Month Photo

She's nine months old ~ Pulling up on every piece of furniture in the house, eating every "real" food that's put in front of her, smiling, laughing, enjoying life!