…first we RISE…

Around here, 2019 sucked pretty epicly. I was thrilled to kick it out the door and usher in 2020. I was ready to RISE. At the end of 2019, I chose the word “RISE” as my One Little Word, ready to shake the dust (and ash) of 2019 off my feet and knock 2020 out of the park.

Of course, 2020 had other plans. But as I reflected on my year and my word, and started planning for 2021, I decided, I did manage to RISE, despite the hot mess that the world descended into. My creative output has been the strongest it’s been for a long time. We rose to the challenges that isolating as a large family in a tiny house threw at us. There is so so much good still to be found in this craziest of years.

The number of long-neglected projects I finished was crazy. I didn’t quite finish my materials list or my 202020 list, but they served their purpose – they kept me moving when I was tempted to fall into doomscrolling. I finished quilts and blankets. I sewed clothes and knitted socks. I read book after book after book. I made care packages to somehow fill the dent that was missing quilt camp. I started and finished year long stitch alongs. I bought far too many craft supplies.

I loved hard. I laughed until I cried, and I cried until I couldn’t any more. I held space for friends, and had them hold space for me. I worked on me. I worked on what I want my life to look like, and worked to make it happen. We knocked homeschool out of the park and finished the year a month into next term. We grew our farm menagerie with chickens, and more recently, piglets. We made plans and cancelled plans. We prayed and we played and we walked and we come to the end of 2020 older, wiser, but still hopeful. 2021 will not be the clear, easy, happy year we hope for, I’m sure, but 2020 has given us the lessons we need to stand strong and resilient, come what may. Farewell, 2020, as we say around here, you were indeed Really Something.