polar bear plunge

...or a santa bear plunge. Either way, super fun.

stockings and the christmas box

I've been wanting to blog about this for years. It's my favorite Christmas tradition, and one that I married into: The Groves family christmas box. 

Every Christmas, each person in the family writes on a smaller piece of stationary for about ten minutes. During that time we are to write two paragraphs. The first paragraph tells of the things you are thankful for from the past year. Or just thanksgivings in general. The second paragraph are hopes and prayers for the year ahead. What you pray might change, the parts of your life that may require extra grace and strength.

That's it: 1) what you're thankful for from this past year 2) what you're praying for in the year ahead.

Then the next year, we read those two paragraphs aloud to each other, each person taking their turn to read their own writing. It is so powerful. It is powerful to remember your own joys from a year ago and to remember burdens you were giving to the Lord. And even more amazing, to hear the hearts of every member of the family (everyone does this...I wrote Ivar's thankful list this year to be read next year) and the way God has moved in each of our lives in the 365 days since.

Last night, after we read aloud our paragraphs from last year, Lisa collected the papers and put them in The Christmas Box where they will be held with the previous 10+ year's worth of thanksgivings and prayers. Then she handed out new paper and we wrote our words that will be read next year. Those, too, were collected and put in the Christmas Box.

It's the coolest tradition, trumps presents by long shot (in my opinion) and one that I think every family should begin. 

The other part of this Groves family gathering is Stockings. Each person in the family has a stocking. The year before, each empty stocking is put in a paper bag and each person is secretly and randomly given another family member's stocking. And all year long we are to purchase things as we think of that person. For a long time it was to get something for your stocking person as you traveled, which meant as the stocking was unpacked, stories were told of where that object came from and why they chose that gift for you. This year we streamlined a bit (the stockings were coming with side bags, overflowing with gifts and a bit out of control...) and gave four gifts: something your stocking person would want, need, eat and read. It was good, but I guess I'm partial to the travel gifts. (Maybe with a set limit of gifts in the stocking.)

I adore this tradition too. The presentation of the stocking is always very dramatic, with the stocking giver walking around the room, faking each other out, pretending they're setting the stocking on someone's lap only to pivot to the other side of the circle. The surprise is so fun, especially because few remember what their particular stocking actually looks like (you never have it in your possession, except for when you're unpacking it...) The night is very organized...one person begins by handing out their stocking and then the person who last opened their own stocking is the next to give the stocking they've been filling all year. This year we added family clapping, applauding for gifts we were particularly impressed by. Which was hilarious and never got old (to me and Lisa.)

And for his first time, Ivar got to take home a stocking last night (he was too young to understand last year) and he is so excited. I told him we get to buy presents for this person all year and Ivar has all sorts of ideas. I'll bet we don't make it until Christmas before he leaks the surprise of his stocking person, but in the meantime, the boy is thrilled.

I wanted to share these two favorite traditions now, because I would guess there are some families out there who might adopt them. Now would be the time to shop clearance stockings, or to have a family member sew some up for the next year. And you don't need a fancy box for the Christmas Box. You just need someone to head it up each year, to collect pens, have some sort of paper and to get the family to begin this beautiful ritual.

my 2014 one-little-word

Newsflash: it's bitter cold today. Oh, you've heard? I mean, it is impressive when schools are shut down state-wide three days in advance. And a -53 windchill is pretty awesome. I suppose this really is weather to talk about.

It's also weather that will lead you to do crazy things to survive. Like last Thursday night when Rory and I stayed up until 2:30am because we got this funny idea that we should go to Disney World this winter. Without the kids. With Rory's amazing folks lined up to watch the wee ones, we booked our tickets and made reservations at a hotel.

I haven't stopped smiling since. I am so excited. Rory and I need time to play. We need to reconnect like that, and I can't wait to spend a few magical days with him at the happiest place on earth.

I took note of a serious shift in my winter attitude once we got this escape plan on the calendar. Suddenly I  had something to look forward to, and no forecast of subzero temps were going to get me down.

Contrast this to last winter, when the only getaway we had planned was a trip to Dysart, Iowa to see my Great Aunt Stella. I was looking forward to this trip in a big way, and was devastated when Elsie got the flu the day we were to leave. It was the furthest south we were going to get that winter. It wasn't until summer that we finally were able to reschedule.

All that to say, last winter was long, but also uneventful. I had nothing on the calendar to anticipate for all six months of that long, long winter.

This trip to Florida, where the temps will likely be in the 60's, has me thrilled. I have noticed my shift in attitude when I wake each morning and all throughout the day. I am excited, I feel hopeful.

My Grandma Bredberg didn't love surprises because, as she said many, many times, "Anticipation is half the fun." And it's so true! I love a good surprise, but I also love getting excited and feeling the hope and eagerness for something fun on the calendar.

Choosing my one-little-word has taken a more time this time around. I first landed on Inspire. And then morphed that into Inspired. Then I was thinking about Spontaneous, because our trip to Duluth was so awesome, and so last minute. And I want more spontaneity in my life.

But it wasn't until this whole plan to go to Disney World that it all fell into place. And the word I chose is: Anticipation. Anticipation has everything to do with hope for the future, planning the fun to be had, and is the opposite of reactionary. It is totally proactive. If there are going to be things on the calendar to Anticipate, then I have to plan them. It's forward looking and reminds me of my deep believe that we make our own lives, our own fun, our own choices. And then our lives look like the results of those choices.

This doesn't mean we're going to Disney every month. In fact, I love this word because it lends itself to little things to anticipate as well. I went grocery shopping last night in preparation for the cold and got the stuff to make a big pot roast. All day long today we could smell our heavenly supper in the oven. And we were so excited to sit down at the table tonight. So from something as small as a good meal at night, or a babysitter on the calendar for a date night, a trip to the cupcake shop or a trip to Disney...it all gives me something to look forward to. To Anticipate.

I am really excited about how motivated I am by this one-little-word. It feels like a new role of mine. Different from Arnold Schwarzenegger's The Terminator, I am The Anticipate-r. These are my days to live, and I want to live them fully. I've got my calendar out lots lately, planning babysitters, looking for fun things to go and do. It's going to be a fun year to live out this word.

***

This is my fourth year choosing a word to focus on during the year. I love the practice and highly recommend choosing a word for yourself if you've never done this before. It's different than a resolution, and sort of shapes the whole year...maybe it's something you want to focus on, something you want to welcome into your life, something you want to be more of... Here's a huge list to help get your wheels turning...

reflections on my 2013 one-little-word

My 2013 one-little-word for the year was Reflect. It's a good word, and a good practice. I enjoyed it for the first half of the year as it led to some soulful conversations and thoughtful writing at the end of most months.

But you know, I had a little epiphany with this word and in the end I didn't care for it anymore. I'm just now (with some ahem further reflection) realizing why.

Reflection is all about looking backwards.

I spent the year turning my head to the recent past and asking reflective questions about my own life: am I happy? what would make me happy? what do I need to accomplish to be happy?

The whole process of reflection is quite self-centered and takes little notice of the long view. (Okay, I hear what you're thinking...yes reflection is important. Yes, what we discover can shape our future. Yes, it is good to take note of how we spend our money, time, gifts etc. Yes, you are right. But hear me out.)

I think I spent the year over-reflecting. Thinking too hard about the happiness of my every day. And the truth is, taking care of two very dependent kids, meeting their every need, feeding every meal, changing every diaper (or potty training mess) isn't necessarily happy work. It's worthy work, but not always laugh-out-loud slap-my-knee I'm-so-blissed-out happy.

Checking in with myself so frequently was getting me all out of joint. Becoming so introspective was becoming a serious downer. Because turning so inward isn't healthy. There's a whole lot more to life than just my own little opinions of my own little life.

So I'm going to stop reflecting so much in this year ahead. And in 2014, my word will turn my head back so I'm looking forward again. It's exciting, it's got me all fired up and I'm already living it out.

More on that tomorrow...

best of 2013

This is my third year doing a 'best of' post, and every year I am amazed at all that happened in three hundred and sixty-five days. It's such a fun way to reflect on an entire year.  And once again, this year was packed full...full of chickens, kittens, bees, two growing children, a garden, maple syrup, a chicken coop, and lots of cupcakes. 

I give you the best of 2013:

Next up: some thoughts on 2013 and why I'm totally ready for a fresh start in 2014.

(And here's the best of 2012 and the best of 2011.)
Happy New Year Everyone!