Clean Air

Winter in SLC means air that gets stagnant and gross and unhealthy.

But, the cure is just a few miles away... and up.

So, since our air quality is unhealthy and NOT breathing doesn't work so well...

We headed into the mountains for a little exercise.

Evan LOVED snowshoeing. 

Ryan loved just being with his Dad. 

And I loved the smiles on their faces.

And the fact that they slept the whole ride home! 

Just Call Him Patches.

We have reached the stage of Little Boyhood that involves crawling around on hands and knees making "Vroom Vroom" sounds.

Thus causing every pair of pants owned to need patches on top of patches.

And before you suggest ToughSkins... you're looking at them.

Both of my boys have given Sears a run for their money... and it's just easier to patch them than return them!

I'm just keeping my figures crossed for an early thaw so shorts can be reintroduced to the wardrobe! 

One Little Word

So, if you've been reading for a few years, you know that I don't do New Years Resolutions.

 

Instead, I choose a "theme" for my year. 

 

One Little Word.

 

The One Word is what I center my life around for the following 365 days.  It's a concept created by one of my favorite artists, Ali Edwards.

 

There are usually goals that go with it... but it's more than that.

 

It's an overall focus for my year.

 

Last year, after all we went through, I picked "Health". 

It was exactly opposite of what we had experienced in 2012 with all that happened...

and I wanted to focus on not just the health we had finally been blessed with at the end of 2012, but on healing our minds and souls after a very difficult year.  

 

There were a few things that I didn't accomplish, but overall, I believe the One Little Word helped me focus and heal.

 

This year, I'm returning to a overall theme of my life. 

 

I am a planner...

 

I am always trying to think 5 steps ahead. 

 

I find that when I do that, I tend to gloss over a lot of the Here and Now. 

 

I forget to ENJOY what I planned for, because I'm planning for the next step. 

 

In 2012, my word was Engage. 

 

I wanted to be engaged in what was going on in my life... not just floating through it. 

 

Well, 2012 went bat-shit crazy on me, and I was focused on not just the moment, but how my family was going to survive the next three obstacles. 

 

I was fully engaged in a battle. 

 

I wanted something less... powerful... this time around. 

 

I wanted something calming, that still held the same concept... enjoying the here and now. 

 

I was reading a book over the weekend between Christmas and New Years, and the author was describing a scene, and there was a typo... Imerse.  I stared at the word, my focus brought 100% onto it... the correct spelling and definition leaping to my mind... an I knew it was my word. 

 

Involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest

absorb in, engross in, occupy by/with, engage in, involve in/with, bury in

 lose oneself in

 

So, this year, as odd as it may sound... my word is Immerse.