Word of the Year: 2017

Last year I started off the year with one word to focus on.

Present.  

I really tried over the last year to be present.  To put the phone down, to not let life's distractions take me away from my family, friends, and faith.  While I was not 100% perfect, I was more mindful over the last year to be present.  I will continue in 2017 to be more present in my life. 

That brings me to 2017's word of the year.  

This year I want to focus on what's important.  It uses last year's word as a stepping stone in my life and gives me the platform to grow.  I want to focus on my family, my family, my job, and my faith.  HOWEVER at the same time I don't want to lose the progress I've made over the last year.  Focus allows me to let update my goals as the year goes on and I grow in every part of my life.  

Along with choosing a word, I also chose a verse that will help me focus on what is important throughout the year.  

Colossians 3:2 

Today is the first page of a fresh new book.  Now is your chance to write a masterpiece.  

What is your word of the year?  

I try to use my own pictures when available and if I do use other pictures I cite the source.  There are times when I'm unable to find the source for the pictures I use.  If you find that I have used one of yours please let me know, I will gladly give you credit!

RECIPE: Grandmother Snook's Apple Walnut Cake

This recipe/posts received so much positive attention from family and friends that I had to repost it on my personal blog.  It's been said that my Grandmother Snook only baked her apple walnut cake for special occasions and I can see why.  It was delicious!  I also want to keep the tradition alive and also reserve it for special occasions.  My family however is very impatient!

(Originally posted on 7/31/2016 on my genealogy blog Discovering Family Roots. ) 

Mildred Snook (nee Swezy) is my grandmother on my dad's side.  She was born 1919 and died young at the age of 43 in 1953.    About 6 years ago in 2010 I received a letter from my cousin (actually first cousin once removed) who enclosed a few old family recipes.  Sometime after that I had misplaced the letter, I was devastated.  Even after moving from our old condo into the new house, I still could not find them.  Making up the spare room this past July I moved an old photo album and they fell out!  I was so excited!   I showed my father the Apple Walnut Cake recipe the following week.  He hadn't had that cake since he was about 12 years old.  It was a cake that she was known for.  I knew I was going to have to make it soon.

My grandparents Edward & Mildred (Swezy) Snook

My Grandmother Mildred Snook (Swezy)

This past weekend I finally made it!  I called my dad to check on a few things hoping he would remember, like how big were the chopped apples and what kind of pan did he remember her using.   Once it came out of the oven, I sent a picture to him and it let me know that it was just as he remembered.  Success!  The house smelled wonderful and my husband and daughter both agreed, it was delicious.  

  My father also said that the walnuts came from an English Walnut tree they had on their property.  It was the only in in Vernon.  Unfortunately that tree is no  longer here, it was in 1967 cut down to make room for the now Minerals Spa.  At that time it was 5ft in diameter.

I've included the recipe in my post.  If you plan on using it, I only ask that you please credit me & my blog in anything you post.  Thanks so much!

Garden of Abundance: Our 2016 Raised Garden Adventure

A little over a year ago we began the journey of looking for a new home.  We wanted to upgrade from a small 2 bedroom condo with no property to a bigger home with a little green space of our own.  One of my biggest requests was to have enough space for a garden.

In September of last year, we closed on a 4 bedroom house with a little backyard.  Perfect for our daughter, 2 mini dachshunds and a garden!   All fall and winter I researched raised gardens, spent hours on Pinterest, and drafted up plans for my garden.

Finally in April, my husband (with a little help from our daughter) built a raised bed for me.  

After 2 truckloads of compost/soil mix from our local garden store Enchanted Nursery & Stone. I had a awesome 4X8 garden ready and waiting for plants.  

Follow along as I document our 2016 garden adventure, if you have any questions along the way just ask and I'll be sure to answer them!  The next post will have the plant diagram, pictures of the plants, and more of the journey.  

Bible Journaling on Easter

I wanted to catch up and put the pages I have worked on so far in my journal in one place so that I stay current.  I focused and prayed over 2 pages today and I love how they turned out.

This one is my favorite from today.

 The rest I have done over the last 2 weeks.

I love working on these.  I really makes me focus on the verse/book I'm on and it relaxes me.  I know I'm not an artist but I'm not worried about that at all.

Have a blessed Easter.
Lis

It's been a while...

Life has a way of going out of control.  And I'm not talking about a bad way, just in general.  I mean here it is, 23 days in to March already and it's 83 days into the new year.  I've been working like crazy at work, at home and just in general while my blog sat waiting patiently for me to return.

To tell you the truth, I didn't know what to write about.  I needed to refocus and see what came to me. During that time I started bible journaling (I'm DEFINITELY no artist!!) and dove into a bible study led by Time Warp Wife.  I started up my genealogy hobby again (more on that later)  and planned out my garden for the summer.  Then it occurred to me.  I just listed off everything I want to write about.  

So That's what I'm going to do.  Over the next few days/weeks I'm going to fill in the missing pieces of the blog, introduce you to my hobbies and entertain you with my craziness I call life.  

One Word 2016: Present

I will admit, I struggled with this.  I tasked myself and you all to find one word focus on for the upcoming year.  I prayed over it, read my bible, talked to friends, and I still struggled.  Last night while I sat alone with my thoughts I finally came up with mine.

Present

I want to focus on being present.  I worry about tomorrow and how things were handled in the past making me miss the present.  Each moment is a gift and I want to be able to value each one.  My daughter is 12 and growing into a strong young lady and I want to be present more in her life.   My husband and I are in a great place but I need to remember not to get distracted when life gets hectic and to always make time for us.   I’m do well with my devotions and my first 15 but there is always room for improvement.  I plan on making an effort to put down my electronic devices and live in the now. Last year was a blur with buying a new house, problems at school, work, family, etc.  Now that we are settled, it’s time to focus on what’s important.

I know I will need to redirect my thoughts and actions over the next year and it will take a great deal of prayer to help me along the way.


Did you find your one word?  Let me know!