Posted on December 31, 2008
Last year at the beginning of the year I came across several blogs, scrapbooking forums and photography sites where there was discussion on finding a word for the year. I didn’t participate last year, but I’ve decided to do it this year. The idea behind the one little word concept is to give yourself something to focus on throughout the year. Ali Edwards (a scrapbooker who’s work I really admire who is also due with her second child very soon) said in a recent blog entry: “A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow.” So with that in mind I decided to do some inner reflection and find my word for the year. Several came to mind, but one in particular kept popping up in my mind.
I’m going to soon be the mother of two, and just the physical and mental strength required for that alone is going to be great, especially at first when I’m initially learning what all being the mother of two really involves. I find myself focusing mostly on how I’ll cope the first few weeks, mentally going over how I’ll manage to nurse a newborn and still care for my precious Kate, reading up on child rearing books – everything from how to parent a strong willed toddler to how to help infants establish healthy sleeping habits. I also realize that the work and learning about parenting won’t ever end, as your child grows and changes you grow and change along with that as a parent. But for now I’m focusing on one thing at a time and that includes the short term goal of finding the strength to conquer the recovery period after delivery and then the longer term goal of reaching the end of 2009 and looking back on all I’ve accomplished and worked through.
I’m not only choosing the word strength in conjunction with motherhood though. It’s a pretty powerful word and I want it to transcend into the way I conduct myself as a wife, friend, sister, daughter, grand-daughter, etc. I want to be a strong wife for my husband, someone he can continue to depend on and someone who he can trust completely to keep the home fires burning as he leaves for deployments. I want to be a strong friend who has an available shoulder for them to cry on. I want to be a strong sister, daughter and granddaughter to my precious family members back in the states. I want them to know that while I’m in Germany and feel lonely occasionally, I’m also strong enough to get through this time and still enjoy the journey.
I really loved the word that helped describe strength on the 3rd bullet, courage. I’m by nature not very courageous, but I’m slowly but surely finding my inner courage and as the year progresses I want to continue that. Finding the strength to speak up for myself, for my family and for the important causes I support. Not in an in your face tacky way, but in a tasteful, polite manner, but still finding the strength and the courage to speak up and show a firm stand on what I believe in.
Now…I don’t just want to write this post and have the word bouncing around in my head only to forget about it by mid January. I really want to have this word written around my home for myself, as a constant reminder. I haven’t hashed out my exact plan for that just yet, but once I come up with something creative I’ll share it. And yes…even if that’s as simple as printing the dictionary’s definition of strength and taping it to my bathroom mirror. I just want to remember that no matter how tired I am, no matter how mentally drained I might be, no matter how much stress and strain I’m under, no matter how much I might be missing my husband, I’m a strong woman and with my wonderful family, my priceless praying parents and Jesus I can get through it!
Strength. It’s a powerful word. My word for 2009. Happy New Year Everyone!
Couples
Teenagers
Families
Children
what a great word to pick!! Thats a really good idea! I think I may try and choose a word for myself this year as well
What a great idea! Strength is a great word! Being a mom of 2 will will definetly being needed some strength! But it’s not so bad and honestly I thought the first couple of weeks were the easiest. It’s when they are old enough to fight that things get a little crazy!
Good word. Should be easy for a tough gal like you
We’re thinking of you as the countdown looms ever closer!
You are so strong already! It truly amazes me how you hold up!!! But it is a really good word to focus on! Love the new collage on your page!
strength is such a powerful word! great idea to choose a word for the year. ali edwards is amazing! i love her style and soak up her info in creating keepsakes each month! and i had no idea that she was preggers! thats awesome.
how are you feeling?