End of the Year Reflections 2020

My friend, Courtney, normally does end the year reflection questions.  I do too, but I haven't checked to see if I did them last year.  Anyway, here we go.

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?

We moved.

2. What was the single most challenging this that happened?

We moved.  

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?

Sheltering in place with the family.  We still got to go places and see people, but things slowed down, and I was able to add things to my routine, like daily Mass.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

Sheltering in place.  ;)  Our family became really dependent on tech.  I don't like that.

5. Pick three words to describe this past year.

serendipitous

eye-opening

slow

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your year—don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you. 

challenging

exciting

busy

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their year—again, without asking. 

challenging, exciting, busy

8. What were the best books you read this year? 

Theology of the Home

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships? 

my family

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?

leaving my community and trying to join a new one 

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally? 

I had to let go of a lot of relationships that I tried to hold on to.  Moving is always emotional growth.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually? 

I had to trust God COMPLETELY.  I went where I was led, and I tried to do His will.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically? 

Unfortunately, I grew sideways.  ;)

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others? 

Since we were always together, I needed to be more patient and forget about my agenda a lot and just love.

15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)? 

Since I knew we were moving, I enjoyed my work more.  I found the joy that had been missing in teaching although I was still glad for the COVID respite from it.  I love creating a new home.  I did too much and burnt out, but it's still the warm and cozy I was trying for.

16. What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)? 

It was challenging because I wanted to leave my work with everything done for them.  I was working on creating a new classroom, and I had to leave in the middle of it.  At home I'm not much of a designer, so that was hard.

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year? 

PAINTING!  I kid.  It wasn't a time waster, but I sure spent a lot of time doing it.

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year? 

DAILY MASS

19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year? 

Trust in the Lord.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes this past year for you.

Don't look back.  You're not going that way.