WOW - I feel like last year flew by and can't believe we are half way through January already! After the Christmas rush I kind of went into a comma. Between Christmas, quilting, kids out of school, burn out from life - I just wanted to lay in bed and do nothing for a few days.
Just as I was getting my mojo back - we got hit with a horrible LINGERING head cold/flu thing that we just can't seem to shake! Needless to say I have had a very slow start to getting my New Year started out right!
I have had a lot of time to reflect on last year. I am amazed at all of you and the creativity you sent my way. I am so grateful for all the support you have shown me over the last year. This little "hobby" of mine has turned into an actual "business" and I'm so excited for what the new year has in store for us and for you! It has been a busy wild ride that I have loved! I'm so tired - but so inspired! I am in awe over the quilts that continue to come through my door each and every day. My to do list is getting longer and longer because I want to make all these quilts for myself. Its getting harder and harder to send them back!
With this new business - my point of starting it was to eventually be able to quit my day job and stay home with my kids. To spend more time with them. I knew it would be hard to do both - but I never realized my goal of staying home with them - would actually make me a ghost to them in the meantime. I've struggled with balancing work/kids/work-at-home/husband/cleaning life to say the least. So this year - my first goal and maybe my "word" of the year needs to be balance. I know most women struggle with this - the balance of trying to do it all. I've learned this year - that I can't do it all. I am SO lucky to have such a supporting husband who helps me all the time. He is Disneyland dad - and my kids count down the seconds til he gets home each day.
This new year I have already implemented an earlier bedtime (bedtime? whats that? is how we lived our lives last year). My kids will be happier with more sleep - it structures our nights a little better and I don't feel as guilty quilting the nights away when they are sound asleep! So I'm working towards scheduling our home life a little better. I feel like I'm running around with my head cut off 99% of the time - and I hope to calm things down a bit this year.
More fun time, more active time (I've even snuck in a short workout between the comma and sickness!) bike rides in the cold, bowling family time, dinners at home with real food. Healthier, happier home life - Jodi from Pleasant Home mentioned in a post that she decided to put her family first last year and was amazed at how everything else fell into place. I read this when I was having a down day - and it was exactly what I needed to hear. Jodi has been such a support and sounding board to me already - and then to read such profound words - I felt they were directed to me - even though I'm sure they helped others as well.
So this year - I'm not making a list of goals - I usually do and I always fall short. So I'm just going to say I'm going to balance things a little better. I'm sure some days will be better than others. But I'm going to try. My goal for this week is to just get back into the swing of things! Blogging being one of them. I know everyone does Instagram now, including me! I'm kind of obsessed. But I still check my favorite blogs each day. I love seeing more detail and pictures and stories behind the quilts and family goings on. So I hope you do too!
Come back soon - I even have my first finish of 2014 to show you along with some cute quilts I worked on this last week!
Here's to a start to 2014!
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5 comments:
Balance!
That's the beginning, middle and end of it all. It doesn't always mean finding time for everything... at least that seems to be the way I'm looking at it all these days. You - and Jodi - are so right! When you put what matters most to you first, the rest sort of falls into place.
So I wish you Balance for 2014! I hope you find it - keep it - and enjoy it. ;)
I so loved hearing your story. I am trying to do the same thing by trying to work at my "business" so I can stay home with my girls, but balancing my current job, quilting, the family, and my home has been really really tough. I am definitely falling short. I love the idea of striving for more balance. Keep posting your ideas. I love hearing them and it is so nice to hear someone else going through what I am going through as well!
I loved this post! Thanks so much for sharing your ideas! I think balance should be my word too!
I'm so sorry that you feel like you're a ghost in your home!! That must be a horrible feeling. But remind yourself that this is for a season. Soon you will able to be the super stay at home mumma you envision, and meanwhile you have your husband for support (just reminds you why you married him!!)I hope that the new year brings more balance to you. And I hope that when 2015 gets here you will feel more refreshed and energised than 2013 did to us :-)
E xx
I can relate to so much of your post and appreciate hearing somebody else struggles with the 'balance' thing too. I am still glad I can do my work from home but I am trying to make it work a little better. With two teenagers in high school and one in primary I have to make it more organised. Thanks for sharing.
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