JOY to the WORLD-- a KING is born...
Christmas Day 2016
Evan and Andrew, Jerry and Amanda, Ryleigh, Karsyn, Blayklee, Candice and Zachary, Alex and Me
Christmas Day 2016
Evan and Andrew, Jerry and Amanda, Ryleigh, Karsyn, Blayklee, Candice and Zachary, Alex and Me
So, it's been a long time...
We are in a house with a porch again... Not The Brick Street Bungalow's porch... but a good porch. A porch that finally feels like HOME again.
So much has happened in the last year... most all of it good. A while back, I began taking a hard look at my life. I'd been essentially treading water for several years. Emotionally and spiritually I was stuck. Stuck, I tell you. Physically... well, let's just say I might have been beyond Couch Potato... maybe a Mashed Couch Potato. I needed to move forward.
I came to recognize that all my recent years' hobbies of knitting and painting and blogging had two big things in common... they involved a lot of sitting AND they fed my introversion. Plus, I had some sadness that had hung on like a bad onion smell. Sitting and sadness are dangerous bedfellows. I'm not gonna lie... I'm NOT a graceful age-r. I'm not good at letting go of things I love. It takes a LONG time for me to move through big (unwanted) change: getting OLD (ha!), giving up running, kids moving off, etc. The sitting and the isolation took their toll. And, I finally reached a point I was ready to move forward... with more grace, less resentment... with more willingness, less resistance... more acceptance.
April of 2015, I started this 21 day FIX program. Thirty minutes a day, no excuses. It was REALLY hard at first. I worked out with "Kat, the modifier" most days. I've fallen off a couple of times since starting it (with selling the other house, moving and a few other life events) but, always I get back. I cannot stress enough how IMPORTANT it is to MOVE and to maintain your strength especially as you age. It does wonders for your mental health, too. Thirty minutes is not much; however, it is enough for me to feel a BIG difference. I wish I could tell you that I followed the eating program, too. But, I have not. Maybe this year...
When I felt physically better, I was emotionally able to make some changes, too. We listed and sold the Big Bah-Nilla... it was never going to feel like home to me. My Beloved and I both love our place now... It's not our OLD house, but it's a good house... it's HOME.
I cut myself off the computer. After a several month hiatus, I allowed myself to check Ravelry once a day but blogging had to stay in time out. There are 11075 emails in my inbox right now; they are on my list to clear out before the New Year.
I bought this book.... sometimes, I just buy self-help books and let them sit on my shelf. I guess hoping by osmosis some kind of improvement will occur. LOL! But, I read this one and took to heart her challenge to say YES to any invitations for a year (almost). We really stepped out of our little Introvert Box on a few occasions. Truthfully, it never got easy for me to say YES, but I learned that there were some really wonderful people and experiences out there when I could muster the courage to do it. The YES project was a success.
I am looking forward to 2017! I think I can add blogging back AND stay active. I MIGHT get on a good eating program this year. And, if 2016 was the year of YES, 2017 is going to be the year of NO. I'm really ready to step away from anything that sucks my JOY. Life is short.
Also in 2017, I plan to enjoy more time on the porch with my Beloved. Extend invitations to others more... for their YES (plus, keep my introversion in check). Pray more. Play more golf. Walk more. Laugh more. Enjoy all of my Littles as much as possible. Catch up with my virtual/imaginary/blogging friends, who I believe must be my kindred introvert-souls. Get back to my knitting. And, my painting. And, who knows what new thing will pop up! Life is good.
I turned 60 in November and I was so very, very blessed to be surrounded with ones whom I love dearly and who love me back... on a big ole porch. I couldn't have asked for more. I'm welcoming the sixties with open arms and moving on to The Next Chapter.
I hope 2017 brings Joy and Peace and LOVE to each and every one of you.
(Wish I could site the source... but, I can't)
I'll be by to visit soon.
blessings ~ tanna
21 comments:
Welcome back Tanna!
What a lovely story you have shared...kudos to you for taking charge of YOUR life!
We have recently met up on Instagram, and I am pleased as punch!
Looking forward to your future posts....
Happy new Year to you and your great big family!
Cheers!
Linda :o)
Tana, I just knew you were somewhere safe. So looking forward to reading about more of you and your changes. I have missed you and continually prayed for your health and endurance. I am happy. Susan
You must have felt me thinking about you! Just a couple of days ago I was wondering where you went and how you were. So great to hear from you and get your message. Even better when I clicked on your name and blog and you had posted! Such an uplifting message and one that is all too familiar. I'm such an introvert it's not even funny, but I have pushed myself to be more involved with people since we moved, and what do you know...I'm so much happier and less sad about things I can't control. I'm so happy to hear you've regained some of your control and are feeling better! Now you know we all want to see your new place, so get to clicking that camera! Welcome back! Love and a big hug to you.
Ahhhhh...She's back!
You have been missed so much. Thank you for answering a few of my questions.
Really, you have been missed!
I have few more questions but they can wait.
Right now, I'm so thrilled you are here.
Well, I just loved this....all of it. 2016 was a big change year for me, too and I want 2017 to be even more so! Thanks for writing this...I peeked a few times this past year to see if anything was new here. Glad you found a house you love and are feeling better all the way around!
Oh my gosh - this is a Christmas present for me! I have been so worried about you and could not find a way to get in touch with you. You have been missed more than words can say. So happy you have a new home, a new outlook, a new peace. You are a blessing to me Tanna. Thank you so much for letting us know you are well. So very happy to hear from you. Thank you! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Tanna..I was disappointed to see you go almost as I found you.
I am happy you are in a HOME you love..and in a good place.
Your family is beautiful and so are you.
It is important to move..before something happens and makes it more difficult
I am a porch girl too.
Happy New Year..I look forward to seeing more of you..📷🌞
Tanna: I am so very happy to hear from you!!! So happy to see the "littles" (they are growing beautifully!). I have some working to do on myself and am inspired by you. I hope to get back to my neglected blog because I miss it. Wishing you a happy and healthy new year.
Best,
Bonnie
Oh, Tanna, how great to hear from you! I can relate to all the things you have written, and am fifteen years ahead of you. Carpe Diem is my motto still, and in 2017 I hope to make it more so. Big hugs to you, and here's to great things in 2017!!!
JOY is in the air . . .
I couldn't be happier to see your name, learn of your 2016 transformation.
Happy 60 and "new big porch" living . . .
LOVE . . .
I"ve missed your sweet smiling face. No way you are 60. You look beautiful. I've seen 40 year olds that look older than you. Goodness, you look so happy and healthy. I am very proud of you. I, too, am following your lead on getting rid of all things that suck joy from my life. 2017, the year of Joy!
I look forward to seeing more of your posts. I have you in my thoughts and prayers always sweet friend. ((hugs)).
TANNA! I'm so happy you are back. I've missed you and thought about you so often. I have found that in the "9th" year of every decade, I made big changes. It sounds like you needed to step back and get your life and everything in order before you could embrace this next decade of your life. Congrats on the new house! That is one honkin' porch. Fantastic! Great family pictures. I am already setting my intentions for 2017. Looking forward to seeing more of you. Wishing you and yours all the best. :) Tammy
it is wonderful to see you back! i do love your new porch! a lot of great memories to be made there! i have been wanting to try the 21 day fix...good for you! you made me laugh at your masched couch potato comment :) happy new year!
Tanna, I am so happy to see your return, but even happier to read this exciting post. The new house and that marvelous porch where all your wonderful family fits during special occasions! The new you, most exciting of all, and may I say completely inspirational! Thank you so much for sharing all this with us. I've given up on most resolutions in recent years but as 2017 approaches, I want to be more like you, my dear girl! Because I felt as if your post was a personal pep talk. Your workout routine might be too advanced for me but I can surely do the easier one I've abandoned this year, and as you know we're moving in a week back to a state I love to a dear little cottage our son bought for us. So much to look forward to there, and I plan on following your way and accepting opportunities to get out and mingle and lose a little of my hermit inclination.
A big pat on the back to you, Tanna! And blessings in the New Year,
Dewena
Tnna,
I am so happy to see you here in this space. Thank you for sharing your story, you are not alone in being sad and overwhelmed. Growing older, kids moving away, houses that sell and new ones that don't feel like home. I am wishing you the very best in 2017 and hope to see and hear from you more.
Much love,
Meredith
Hi Tanna! It's so good to see you again! I'm looking forward to seeing more of your new home. I love the porch! Also, a belated Happy Birthday. 60 really isn't so bad and I can say that now that I've turned 70. Yikes...how did that happen? I don't feel that old, most of the time, and they tell me I don't look that old which is something they will quit saying soon, I'm sure. I love your phrase "mashed couch potato". Suits me to a T. ha! I'm an introverted mashed couch potato. :) I have started reading a book, "Quiet", by Susan Cain about introverts which had some great reviews. Can't wait for more time to get it read. Hope you and your family have a wonderful New Year!
So so good to see you Tanna! Sometimes taking a break is wonderful and you sound like you needed one. I love your health focus and yes, aging is not easy and having the kids leave is not easy either. However, onward and upward!! May 2017 be kind and generous to you :)
So good to "see you" again, I've missed you. It will be four years next month that you sent me that comfort shawl. I'm happy to hear you have a new house that feels right to you, it looks lovely and very "you." I appreciate what you've shared about all you've been pondering and processing. I think of all the adjustments to new seasons of life, this has been the most challenging for me, but probably when I moved into all the others, life was non stop and there was no time to think about it all. Now there is time, and I pray for grace for it all, especially aches and pains which are how I know I'm older (I certainly don't feel it). Wishing you all the best in this new year and hope to see you again soon! Your darling kiddos are growing.
Yay!!!!! I'm so excited to see your blog up and going. I can't wait to add it to my weekly happiness!! Love ya!!!
It is so good to see you back online Tanna! We have all missed you! Wishing you a very blessed New Year.
Woo hoo! I'm glad to see you are back to blogging, Tanna! Congratulations on your new health, new house and 60th birthday!!! So many good things to celebrate!
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