2020 Resolutions Wrap-Up

I think it's safe to say that 2020 was not what any of us thought it would be, but I did still manage to make some progress towards my resolutions. Here's this year's update, as requested by my "fans" ;)

1) Get a will - Done, 1 pt
Ryan and I did this right after we found out we were expecting a baby - we had already planned to do it and with a business and a baby we really needed to get everything laid out.

2) Remodel our Master Bathroom - Done, 1 pt

Oh boy, this one was an adventure. We interviewed contractors and had literally just signed with one guy the week before the state shutdown...We waited 3 months before he was allowed to re-open his business and come to our house to do the work. And even then, so many things were delayed in arriving. But both our upstairs bathrooms have been redone now, and we have a great relationship with our contractor for future jobs.

3) See a comedy show live - COVID cancelled, 0 pts

I had planned to see the Iliza Shleschinger show at the Casino in Arundel Mills...no idea when I'll get to do this in the future, sadly, but I've listened to Iliza's podcast all year instead.

4) Sew my own clothing - Do masks count? 0.5 pts

I fully intended to do this but then in march was making masks like the rest of the world, and then I was pregnant and my measurements were all out of whack for making the skirt I have planned. I did do more sewing this year (masks, curtains, pillowcases) so I'm giving myself this half point for meeting the intent of the resolution (better understand my sewing machine/gain sewing confidence) if not the actual letter of the resolution. Also, masks are clothing items now. :)

5) Add backing to my two quilt tops - Did one of the two quilts! 0.5 pts

I did finish a lovely baby quilt for my cousin's new baby, and then ran out of quilt filling for the larger one, which is quite expensive. I have made some quilted pot holders and learned a lot on this crib quilt - this is a hobby I hope to be able to hold on to after baby is born :)

6) Complete an Olympic distance triathlon - COVID cancelled, but I did a duathlon of the same distance, 0.5 pts
I was all registered and training for a race in May that obviously did not happen! I did push myself to do duathlons this spring (run-bike-run instead of swim-bike-run) but the loss of the YMCA and loss of my weekly swim trainings is something I really missed this year.

7) Make a grilled cheese from scratch - Nope. 0 pts

I made pita bread and flatbread but yeast was VERY hard to find (thanks, pandemic shortages!).

8) Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge with Stephanie - Done! books below, 1 pt

I read a total of 50 books in 2020, according to my Libby and Goodreads shelves, with a focus on trying to read books by women - so the "challenge books" are listed below:

1. A book published the decade you were born - Wild Swans, by Jung Chang

2. A debut novel - Everything I Never Told You, by Celeste Ng

3. A book recommended by a source you trust - Homegoing, by Yaa Gyaasi

4. A book by a local author - A spool of blue thread, by Anne Tyler

5. A book outside your (genre) comfort zone - The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende

6. A book in translation - The Littlest BookShop in Paris, by Noel George

7. A book nominated for an award in 2020 - The Glass Hotel, by Emily St. Mandel (2020 National Book Award Finalist)

8. A re-read - The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet, by Kate Rorick

9. A classic you didn’t read in school- I know why the caged bird sings, by Maya Angelou

10. Three books by the same author -  Christmas Shopaholic, Surprise Me, Undomestic Goddess, by Sophie Kinsella

9) My Utmost for His Highest daily devos (also with Stephanie) - Did well into March...but failed. 0 pts
OK, I find Oswald Chambers to be...not that inspiring. I tried but I think I need something more self-driven. I also tried an advent devotional this year, but just reading a little message doesn't do much for me. Next year I'm trying a weekly instead of daily and a journal instead of just readings...we'll see how it goes.

10) Finish "While True: learn" game, TIS-100 game, and Human Resource Machine Game - Done! 1 pt

I wrote a little article for a journal at work reviewing video games that introduce you to coding concepts that covered these games. While True: learn is my least favorite - it's fun to play but doesn't teach the concepts well. Human Resource Machine is my favorite, and most recommended for learning computer concepts. TIS-100 is too much like actual programming work (I needed Ryan's help to finish it).

Score: 5.5/10 (2 were made hard by COVID-19 restrictions, so we could say out of 8)

Thanksgiving Gratitude Poems

 It's Thanksgiving, in this year of 2020 where things are...different...than anyone expected them to be. Instead of being with my large family, I made dinner for just me and my husband (left photo collage). Macy's still held the parade, but no spectators and a bunch of masked volunteer participants (right photo collage).

This post started as a tweet:

Six-words of gratitude, inspired by the @nytimes newsletter (all about my spouse):

He holds me when I cry Tells me I can do anything Washes all the dirty dishes daily Driven by his sense of duty Sees things through to the finish Apologizes always, and grows with me.

but then I decided to expand it as I thought more about things I'm grateful for this year.

 Here are seven more six-line, six-word-each poems of gratitude (it would have been more poetic to only write six more but I lost count and then didn't want to delete one - better to have more blessings to be thankful for anyways).

-- Baby Bear --

one June day, blue plus sign

gel on my belly, flickering heartbeat

later, visible head, hands and feet

butterflies turn into punches and kicks

yellow paint, a crib, and diapers

next year holds such frightening wonders

-- Mom --

"What grandma name would you want"

when expecting myself, suddenly things change

I see mom with fresh eyes

memories of always tired, rarely angry

now taking my calls with grace

gently, firmly, pointing me towards Christ

-- Discord --

Notification from an app I had ignored

someone called Sophie remembered my name

an online birthday for sweet Jane

suddenly I have many new friends

in this year of weird loneliness

we are united with magical technology

-- Pioneer Girls --

March: the school year abruptly ends

no more church activities this spring

spend summer building new fall plans

return to activities, outside with masks

"I  really missed you, Mrs. Brown"

nothing like being loved by kids

-- Andrew --

"can you see how we fit"

she asked anxiously, "yes" I say

and honestly he has melted in

their wedding day seems long ago

my new brother from this year

much celebrated before the pandemic hit

-- Zoom --

maintaining regular monthly tag up dinners

online work meetings are now effortless

enabling coast-to-coast online parties

celebrations of loved ones without airplanes

full of security flaws; for sure,

but in an unusual year, suddenly usual

-- Long Reach --

Long bike paths around ponds and lakes

places to run when gyms closed

gardening advice, puzzles and baby toys

all within Buy Nothing walking distance

when suddenly told to stay put

one realizes this is a nice home

Prayers of the People

This morning I got to lead prayer for our church live stream during a regular segment, "Prayers of the People". I wrote out the prayer so that I'd be eloquent and not say um too much, and I want to share it with you all out there in the blog-universe.

Heavenly Father - We come to you this Palm Sunday as a remotely gathered body,
learning new ways to connect with each other, and grateful that we continue to
have prayer as a way of directly connecting with you. And as the weather turns
to spring, we’re reminded of your attention to every detail of creation, how you
care for the lilies of the field, and how much more you care for us. We know your
ability to hear each of our individual anxieties, and thank you for the grace we are
extended by being allowed to approach your throne in prayer.

We pray that you’ll continue to show us your power and grace and peace as we
face the global pandemic. We lift up our local and national leaders - Dr. Ball and
the Howard County General first responders, Governor Hogan and his task force,
the president and his task force, and ask that you give them wisdom and compassion
in this time of economic and public health crisis. We pray for churches around the
world, remembering that we are a part of a larger body. We ask that you help us to
demonstrate love for our neighbor, that you would remind our hearts that fear of
this virus cannot translate to fear of our fellow humans. We ask that you continue
to lead our elders, deacons and pastors in identifying and caring for the needs
of the church.

We pray for our missionaries, many of whom are facing this global crisis separated
from families in other countries. We lift up our local crisis centers, such as the
Grassroots shelter and the Saalam center, as they seek to serve those in our
community who struggle with homelessness, or have escaped as refugees
and are not equipped for social isolation in a new country.

We pray for the parents in our church - those who are managing remote schooling
for teens and tweens, or caring for young, active and bored toddlers, or parents
of adult children, who are distanced from their families for the safety of all - we
pray that you’d give these parents the strength to continue on. We particularly
pray for the D Family, as they seek to protect their son as he’s treated for cancer,
and for S&O, who have only just become parents this week. 

We pray for the marriages in our church, as those with spouses can find comfort
in the presence of a partner during this crisis, but also confess that we are sinners,
and that often the stress of this situation is sinfully spent in frustration towards our spouse. 

We pray that you’d comfort those in our body who are dealing with anxiety from illness,
unemployment, loneliness, or any other unspoken need. Lord, we crave your presence
and protection. It’s in Jesus name we pray, Amen