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  • Raising Outdoor Kids
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      How to Make Birdseed Ornaments for Wild…

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      Beautiful Spring Picture Books for Children

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      Rock Climbing with Kids in Jasper National…

      August 8, 2017

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      Family Adventures in Jasper National Park: 10…

      July 26, 2017

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      Shaw’s Point Resort

      August 6, 2015

      Alberta

      Apiaries in Northern Alberta

      August 5, 2015

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      St. Isidore, Alberta

      August 4, 2015

      Alberta

      The Hoodoos

      July 29, 2015

      Alberta

      Royal Tyrrell Museum

      July 28, 2015

      Alberta

      Bow Valley Campground

      July 27, 2015

      British Columbia

      Hiking and Camping with Kids at Kokanee…

      July 30, 2018

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

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      A National Park Reserve in the South…

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      June 6, 2015

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Backwoods Mama

Family Life

A New Year and a New Word

January 2, 2014

 
 

We did not usher in the new year with much fanfare. The fact that we are still recovering from being unwell meant that most of us were already in bed sleeping when the new year began. Truthfully, I was happy to get a good night sleep after a rough week of nightly wakings to treat fevers and raspy breathing. I will admit that it wasn’t the way I had imagined the end of the year to unfold and I would be lying if I didn’t say it made me feel a little sad that we were so unwell during our family gathering. Yet, I am grateful that we gathered. Despite being sick there was still joy and laughter, followed by a symphony of hacking coughs. There was a constant supply of tea and usually a movie or two to get us through the day. Now we are finally on the mend, and everyone but my brother left this morning.

The new year has begun. When I think back on the last year, I feel so blessed. Yes there were struggles, times of suffering, sadness and stress but I cannot ignore the many joys and blessings that we, as a family, were given. And so while reflecting on our experiences I am grateful, and I look forward to what this new year will bring.

For the last few years I have chosen a word to remind myself to live life in a special way. My words for the last three years have been cherish (2011), embrace (2012) and patience (2013). This year no word was immediately forthcoming, but after some thought and looking at a few words on an online thesaurus I discovered a word. My word for 2014 is delight. I almost feel guilty picking a word like delight and perhaps that is a reason in itself to choose it. This year I want to find delight in small and big things, the wonderful and even the difficult. I want to step back, scale back and remind myself to discover or rediscover delight.

A New Year and a New Word was last modified: May 31st, 2016 by Josée
Reflecting
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8 comments

Kim Corrigan-Oliver January 3, 2014 at 1:01 pm

We had a pretty low key New Year's Eve as well, and it was perfect! Glad everyone is feeling better.

Great word! Mine for 2014 is play!

Reply
Josée January 3, 2014 at 10:24 pm

Thanks Kim! I really like your word and it was actually one of the things that inspiration me for my word this year.

Reply
Angela January 8, 2014 at 6:58 pm

I do this too! – how beautiful to choose 'delight'- I turned over joy, and grace, but in the end chose economy, I think it's funny how we imagine that those 'fun' types of words aren't as serious- when really they can be very profound- and even, paradoxically, hard work to implement. Happy new year!

Reply
Angela January 8, 2014 at 6:59 pm

I do this too! – how beautiful to choose 'delight'- I turned over joy, and grace, but in the end chose economy, I think it's funny how we imagine that those 'fun' types of words aren't as serious- when really they can be very profound- and even, paradoxically, hard work to implement. Happy new year!

Reply
Josée January 9, 2014 at 4:04 am

Economy, that's an interesting word 🙂 Happy New Year to you too!

Reply
Elisa Armstrong January 10, 2014 at 2:18 pm

I think that is perfect! Delight! What a great word. It is so rare that we give ourselves the pleasure of taking delight in the little things. Like you said, you almost feel guilty! But I think God wants us to delight in all His wonderful blessings every day.

Reply
Josée January 11, 2014 at 4:13 am

Yes, I think there is this pervasive misunderstanding that striving to reach heaven or becoming the best version of yourself (as Matthew Kelly would say) means we must be morose and glum.

Reply
Jenny February 1, 2014 at 8:12 pm

Oh my gracious! We have the same word for 2014!

Reply

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