Friday, March 27, 2020

What is Saving my Life Right Now

Hey there friends! Coming atcha from my dining room table during this lovely Covid-19 quarantine. Staring at the same walls all day long is starting to wear on me, but I'm trying to stay sane in the midst of this incredibly strange last few weeks.

 At the end of 2019, I wrote that I hadn't spent a lot of time writing last year. The words hadn't come so easily, and I didn't have much that I could say- not at least to the world. Older children=privacy barriers. I need to find a way to fix that. Maybe that's my cue to get creative. My kids are a huge part of my life and my identity, but they aren't all of it. I need to get creative on the things I write about because despite not being able to write much about my kids, there are innumerable amounts of things I could be talking about, and writing is so cathartic. I need to keep doing it. Clearly, we have some time to get the ball rolling on that, so......

With that being said, I thought I'd write a post on the things that are saving my life right now. Jen Hatmaker has a podcast that I like to listen to when I have the time, and she always ends them the same way- by asking her guest what is saving their life right now. Sometimes the answer is light hearted and funny. Other times it is deeper and more meaningful. My hope is to find some positivity in the midst of the struggle. Feel free to add some of yours to the list also!

1. Journaling every day- Ten years from now, we are going to look back at this time, and I want to remember what we did to pass the time. Some days I set a timer and just write a stream of consciousness- not really caring what I put down. Other days, I just write a bulleted list of what we did. Both are sufficient!


2. Keeping a morning routine- I still try to set my alarm to wake up when I would for school. That small window of time before my kids wake up gives me clarity and helps me set intention for the day. I use that time to journal, do my devotions, do my gratitude practice, read a book, watch a video, meditate, write my to do list for the day- some of those happen every morning, but some of them I pick and choose different ones to do every day. It definitely helps me stay focused throughout the day!

3. Move my body- I literally have no excuses now. Shucks. Haha! But really, moving my body clears my head and helps with my stress. I have a few dumbbells, so I do a workout video or go for a walk every day. Many days- both.

4. Get outside- Having depression and anxiety during a time like this can be very difficult. Too much time has been a trigger for me in the past, so I have to find ways to make sure those things don't take over. Fresh air and working out were two big ones my doctor told me that were key to keeping those demons at bay. So far they have worked!

5. Finding productive ways to pass the time- I try to have a few things that I can put on my to do list every day to feel accomplished. So far I've cleaned out one storage room and the downstairs bathroom. Lots more on my list, but even if I only get through half of it before we are finished, that's that much less I have to do this summer. :)
Not my room, but could have passed for it HAHA!

6. Stay away from the news and social media- This one is hard for me. If I'm not staying busy, it's so easy to be mindlessly scrolling social media. It's not good for my mental health guys. I try to limit my Covid-19 exposure to the daily press conference from our governor and messages from the CDC. While I am not perfect at abstaining, I am getting better every day.

7. Doing our part to help our local economy and other small businesses- Dan and I are so grateful that we both are still getting a paycheck during this time. We have continued to try and do our part to help our local restaurants by ordering from them while they are only able to do take out. I've tried to buy my books from small independent bookstores who I'm certain are struggling, buying cupcakes from our favorite cupcake business- Frosted in Sanborn, and then using those cupcakes to bless others. Making someone's day really does help lower my own stress.

8. Connecting with my family- My kids are a little older, and therefore, the desire to spend time with us isn't as appealing as it once was when they were younger, but regardless, we have found ways to connect even if it's only for a little while at night. Some of those include but are not limited to nightly supper together, puzzles, family kahoot, game night, dusting off our old xbox 360 and playing Rock Band and Kinect Sports, and watching movies. I'm hoping to have us pull off a cooking competition in the next few days.

9. Staying connected to my people- I'm so grateful we live in 2020 with the ability to stay connected while being apart now more than ever. Between Snapchat, Zoom, texting, e-mail, Google Classroom, and Facebook/Instagram, I am able to stay connected to people while having to stay home. That has been such a blessing.


10. Making space for creativity- I will never be the craft mom. Not sorry about it, but I do have creative outlets that I don't make time for like I should. Two of those are writing and photography. Like I said, I'm doing more journaling and hoping to blog a bit more. I am taking a mini 8 day photography course by a blogger that I follow, and hoping to document more of our time at home during quarantine. I may even hit up Skillshare for a class or two and take our camera out to practice.

What is saving your life right now? I'd love to hear!!

Monday, December 30, 2019

Decade in Review

I have to chuckle at the amount of time I didn't spend blogging this year. I'm not sure how on earth I believed I'd find more time than I did, but this year was exceptionally low on the posting. Maybe it was because I have felt so overwhelmed on the parenting front this year, or perhaps it was because the words just haven't come as easily as they normally do, but either way, here I am- wrapping up not only a year in the life of the Wolfswinkels, but also the last DECADE. That seems surreal.

I thought it would be fun to do a decade review with some of my favorite photos of the past 10 years. The 2010s was an era of littles turned preteen/teen. We put our kids through elementary school, I started teaching at Kinsey, Dan started working at Den Hartog's, I broke my ankle, we took a lot of trips, we got involved with RFKC, we moved to Sioux Center, and in between all of those things, we lived life and had fun doing it.

I've spent the last few hours looking at pictures, and it reminds me how grateful I am for the life God has entrusted to us. It's not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but I get to be the mama to three beautiful children. I get to be Dan's wife, and I get to be an aunt, a daughter, a sister, a teacher, and a friend to some pretty great people. I've experienced so many wonderful things in the last ten years, that I feel guilty for the moments when I am down on myself for life being so hard. While that is true 150%, it's a hard that not everyone gets to experience, and I don't take that for granted for a single second.

With that....here's our review!
 Note: I am well aware that some pictures I chose are grainy and blurry, and I'm AOK with that. It represents how far our photos have come since then. Thank Jesus we no longer oversaturate photos like we did in 2012. HAHA!

Also note: There was no possible way I could add every picture I loved, so I chose only a few that represent our favorites. I already know I forgot a few things, but that's completely okay.

2010
Tenley Rose was born May 13, 2010

Sawyer turned one!

Jae starts Kindergarten

Carter started 4 year old preschool




Dad helping the boys put the ornaments on the tree
2011

Lake Michigan Vacay

Lili J

Sidewalk summer memories

Hudson Reed born August 15, 2011

Dad and Sawyer were UP characters for Halloween 
My first Broncos game



Dan's homemade Barbie house for Jae's Christmas gift

Sawyer loved his cars
2012
The One March 31 that was 93 degrees.

Hudson and I at Easter

Sawyer

Family pics taken by our friend Ashley while visiting in May 2012

Carter- the only one of my kids to have a graduation for kindergarten (Jae didnt have one at Hospers, and Sawyer got sick for his.)

Monster birthday cake

Love those buns

The morning before the worst summer ever.

If only we could see the future....

2 surgeries- 2 plates- 14 screws later....I am bionic woman

The one date Dan attempted to take me on. Drive In!

Freedom! But I wouldn't be able to walk yet for another month. 
Red Hot Chili Peppers concert with Dan and friends.



Sawyer

Carter

My babes

Family pics
Christmas Tree hunting

Beginning to look like a tween!
2013
Carter wrestling while dad, grandpa, and both uncles cheer him on

Uncle Colin love

When I found my knack for running

Sawyer


Lili and Marley

Birthday bash

I miss coffee dates with these three

Pool time
New adventure for the family. New boat!

Father's Day swim

Colorado with the fam

Yankton

One of many days hanging out with Amy and the girls. This particular day held much entertaitment by way of crummy driving in this jeep.



One of few pictures of all my  kids on the tube.

Sawyer taking pics of his mama

picnic afternoons with dad over lunch break

Smiley stamps for going on the big boy potty

Dad and Sawyer

Carter catching 

Morgan and Jae

Sleepy babe


Falls park



Tenley and Casey at Christmas

Christmas overnighter with the fam

Jae and Sawyer's Frosty



Lili and Carter
2014

Date to see Nickolas David from the Voice at Grand Falls

Family Valentine's Date



Mom can I have this dance?

Celebrating Melissa's amazing achievement of getting her Master's. So proud of her.



Taking the pup for a walk.


Asparagus hunting

Jae taking her shot at pitching

Little league All Star game

Brave boy going off the board


Fishing with gramps

Three Bears resort with the family and Melissa's family

Lincoln and Sawyer's ball game

One of the last trips to Potato Lake



King of the Raft

Dad's a crazy driver

Our dock


Birthday celebrations





Walking Lili home from school



Teaching Jae how to knit
2015


Running my first 5k in my first team triathlon

Anniversary trip to Florida

Softball 
Fell in love with Harry Potter and finished the series this summer




RFKC

Sawyer's best bud Brent

Father's Day 


Cutting down the tree

First year to get together with these old neighborhood friends. Rekindling friendships is so much fun.

Dinner and Dessert Auction
2016

School wide sledding party


Annual Shopping trip

Jae's first and only play performance

Porch hangs


His obsession with the Flash was strong

Schelling trip to Florida. Sunrise was beautiful.


Universal studios 
Mud volleyball for Hosper's Celebration days


Jenni's wedding

Last family picture in front of our home

Moving day

My letter to the new family
Annual Ozarks trip




Grandma Patty passed away in November from cancer


First Christmas in the new house


Mom's birthday to Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith
2017

Snow storm

Dad doing hair for the dance

2nd triathlon with friends


Brady's senior pics

Urban Plunge Omaha



Grandpa died June 2017

Jae in her show choir Wave your Freak Flag

Jen Hatmaker October

Birthday at Bracco's

RFKC


RFKC dinner and dessert


Only pic we took as a family


2018
Trip to the Dominican with Rifly

Shopping trip

Mom finished my quilt after 16 years

Wicked with my girl




RFKC leadership meeting in the Black Hills

Denver with Dan and Sabrina to visit Shalee.

Black Hills

Denver

Ozarks





Ozarks
More Dominican

Kansas City

Mt. Rushmore

Hiking 


Calm before the storm

My happy place between Thanksgiving and Christmas 
New Year's Eve




2019
Bridal Fair

BASIC battleship

Meeting Arley Jo

Chicago Christmas Trip- February





Griffin's basketball games


Photography class Flat Lay assignment

It's raining flowers

Silhouttes

Wipe outs

Ozarks

My girl


Family pictures

My team



Last Christmas Program with a leading role as Balthazar

So on that note, despite the hard this decade has held, I am walking into 2020 with my heart open to the opportunities and possibilities. I vow to be a light for others and continue to show up for my people and for MYSELF. Intention and wellness will be words I hold in my heart as we flip the calendar in a few days. 

I pray that whatever this decade has impressed upon your lives, that you are able to squeeze the good from it, learn the lessons needed to move into the next year with hope and strength and confidence. 

Happy New Year friends!