Has anyone else seen this image floating around the internet? I saw it the other night, at the end of my second day in a row of all-day pajamas, completely unaware of what day it was, and got quite the chuckle out of it. We've been in full on post-Christmas hibernation mode around here, living off of leftovers, cheese, and chocolate, building Legos, playing board games, and staying up much too late watching season 2 of the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I'm not sure if it's how Christmas fell this year, but our break seems extra slow and we went from full-on jingle-all-the-way to that familiar purgatory when the festive fades and we haven't quite stepped into the energy and productivity of another new year. And I've cherished every second of it! I've still got another couple weeks of break and have so many plans to page through this past year's journal, clean out the pantry, and reset with some new intentions for 2019, but this past week has been full of lots of rest and lots of time to sit still and be present with all the gifts of a Christmas season; namely, a girl who just wants to play Wellie Wishers and a boy with a lot of Legos to build.
I don't really get into the whole NYE thing too much, but do love a good opportunity to reflect on what was and reset for what's to come. Beau helped me pack away Christmas yesterday which gave us a good part of our Sunday to engage in lots of conversation as we packed up ornaments and made several trips up and down our steps. And while new budget goals and meal time routines and plans for another January Whole 30 came up, we had the most fun talking about travel. Talks of where to go and what we want to see and experience with the kids before they leave the house, bucket list places we might check off in the year to come, and favorite trips both near and far left us both plotting and dreaming and feeling the familiar desire to get out and see this big and beautiful world of ours.
2018 was a big and fun year of travel for the four of us. Beau and I made our first ever trek "across the pond", visiting thrilling London and dreamy Ireland. The four of us spent ten days in sunny California, falling hard for San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. And when we weren't across many states or even an ocean, we were adventuring in our own backyard, whether it be Decorah or downtown Cedar Falls. And while home will always be my favorite place, what I love most about adventures near and faraway is that I always bring back experiences, memories, and feelings that help me home even better than before. 2018 gave me my favorite gray hat from Portobello Market and a special post-London early morning royal wedding with Mila, a porcelain cup of tea, and a Magnolia Table scone. It gave me Galway Girl, black currant syrup in my Guinness, and a newfound appreciation for Iowa green grass that rivals Ireland's green. This year gave me a weekend in the Mission District, a fascination and appreciation for culture, stories, hard work, and street art. It gave me a love of being on the water, preferably in a kayak, where my fingers and toes can skim the surface. It gave me a thrill for spontaneous weeknight dates to concerts, autographed vinyls, and Ray Lamontagne's Just a Simple Thing. It gave me Java John's Driftless Smooth, eggs cooked over a campfire, and countless late night dreams shared with good hearts under a blanket of stars. Whether it be the very hairy edge of those magnificent Cliffs of Moher, the Golden Gate bridge overlook, or Big Woods Lake at sunset, I long for more opportunities to sink in to the beauty of a place, to interact with the very way God formed it like the great potter He is, and to take pieces of it with me to live this one life with great purpose, appreciation, and beauty. Looking forward to more chances to sink in and experience new, near, far, and favorite places in 2019. But first, some favorites places and memories from 2018...
Portobello Market - Notting Hill, London
Portobello Market - Notting Hill, London
Dishoom - Carnaby, London
Tower Bridge - River Thames, London
Cliffs of Moher - County Clare, Ireland
Galway, Ireland
Connemara, Ireland
Great Wolf Lodge - Bloomington, Minnesota
Mall of America - Bloomington, Minnesota
The Painted Ladies, San Francisco
Baker Beach, San Francisco
Acqua Hotel - Sausalito, California
Mission District - San Francisco, California
Muir Woods, California
Lake Tahoe, California
Truckee River, California
Malanaphy Springs - Decorah, Iowa
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