End of 2020

Today begins the end of the calendar year of 2020. While this will be the end of 2020, it is not the end of so much turmoil and chaos that surrounds us daily.

Health

Today was good for PT as my appointments have been widespread apart in time due to her schedule. She is a very in demand PT, and she knows her stuff. All good, except there are only so many hours in a week. But today we went over the exercises she has given me and discovered a few things I need to tweak my alignment on to ensure I’m doing them correctly for the hoped result. While the exercises at times feel simple and they shouldn’t be that exhausting, they are.

As I was leaving PT today I was reminded again about how important it is to remember what I can control and what I can’t. My van, and what I may find out about it in the next four hours, I cannot control. My body’s response to the uncertainty though, that is within my control.

Relaxation

This has been evident as I’ve worked through the breathing with the Calm app and the Relax menu on my Fitbit. (You can read more about that here.) I have discovered this week I really do not care for the voice/music in the Fitbit premium area for relaxation. Perhaps that is a good thing as that I cannot continue past the free trial for the monthly cost is just too high for what we can do.

I do really kinda wish that I had enough influence that Fitbit and/or Apple would give me a watch of each so I could compare them real time. I would be very curious to see how Apple’s watch would track my sleep, relaxation, etc in comparison to my now getting quite old Fitbit.

Fit2B

For years I have been working on engaging my transverse abdominis through the awareness that I have gained through Fit2B. My PT today was encouraged, and I think a bit surprised, by how easily I can activate it on an exhale of a deep tummy breath. It is encouraging to see that the knowledge I’ve gained is proving to be as I continue to work on the deeper issues that I had no idea were there as I began my journey with Fit2B years ago.

Editing me: in full disclosure, the rest of this section of the post was written much, much earlier today before 2020 decided it wasn’t done with us yet. I’m going to leave it as is in the hopes I get this posted in the next few minutes but… keep that in mind for my words on timing.

Today (12/31/2020) is the last day of the Holiday Open House, where you can go in and see what the premium membership looks like without actually paying for it yet. Enabling that gives you two weeks to try out premium.

Today (12/31/2020) is also though the last day to sign up for the current pricing structure. Tomorrow with the new year rates will be raised. There is a lot they have added this year despite the pandemic, and premium membership gives you access to everything as they add it. The color series this year has been awesome. This week’s free video, as a part of the weekly moves newsletter, is the Fuchsia Fascia and I’m looking forward to doing that before bed tonight.

Homeschool

While it is not the end of our homeschool year I have still been evaluating what has been working and what has not. The kids have a bit more realization that their friends who attend public school get a break and negotiated a break this week. Honestly, I needed it a bit too.

I’ve been very happy with most of what we have been doing. I’m evaluating and planning and hoping to really get things set for the turn of the calendar, so no matter what 2021 throws at us we feel like we progress along their educational path.

I’m excited as we purchased a year of Skillshare {referral link} and Craftsy for additional educational opportunities for the kids to try out some classes. On Skillshare there are a lot of different types of classes. Miss L has already been browsing the classes on Procreate Animation, I have some planner ones from Cindy Guentert-Baldo that I’m eyeing, as well as an Animation Station with Neil Patrick Harris. (Yes I was a young girl who loved watching Doogie Howser.) I’m not sure if Craftsy will have as many but for the price, it was hard to pass up. The nice part is the kids can try out something and see if they like it, and the teaching is not being done by mom.

Planning

I have always been a paper planner girl. While I use Google calendar for ease of always having the dates with me, but writing things makes it just easier to remember. I tried writing things with the pencil on my iPad but I’m finding it just doesn’t stick as well as it did when I write it down.

Right now I’m using a Scribbles that Matter bullet journal, and I am just starting to go through the Cultivate What Matters Powersheets. There is a wonderful group of people in this group and I was gifted one who wanted to pass on some Christmas joy. I felt so blessed to be one that received a copy.

I have wanted to try the Powersheets out for quite some time, but 2020 and life got in the way from trying to do it and a possible purchase. I still dream of being able to get a copy for Miss C and Miss L to try out and begin to learn to do some goal planning. I am really hoping to enable them to learn more how they work, and how they need to plan to get things done. It will be easier if I can assist each girl find their style that works before they move out and are on their own.

I do hope to do a post soon that shows what I’m doing and how it seems to be working. Each girl has received an Artist Loft notebook from Michael’s to try to do a bullet journal in as well. If that starts working maybe one of them will want to share.

Homeschool Planning

Planning also comes into the homeschool realm but that has been a bit more digital and “plan from behind” kind of planning. I am using Trello to organize our curriculum (Torchlight, Blossom & Root, and Build Your Library) where I have different pieces of different levels that I am pulling together for this year.

I am hoping to have my boards “cleaned up” and set for the beginning of the new year and maybe then I’ll pull up a screen capturing program and try to show what I’m doing and explain a bit on why.

Reading

My reading list is getting longer for the new year. Books I have started yet not finished. Books I just received, thank you Christmas gifts, and so many on my want to read. That stack is coming soon.

Final Hours of 2020

Our final hours of 2020 will be spent just doing a normal evening, with a few more minutes tacked on. Our family doesn’t exactly have a normal schedule already as both Hubby and I are night-owls by nature. But, tonight the girls will ring in the new year on their Animal Crossing Island. Only four of us can play at a time so I’m encouraging them to be on.

But I hinted at something above of 2020 not being done with us yet and I figured as I wrap this up I’d better explain.

I awoke with a cold sore for the first time in years. Usually, these are brought on by stress for me, so I’m amazed I made it this long. Later in the day, I began to wonder if my body just knew of the phone call I was going to receive about the van.

Yep, a major repair. The transmission is gone and has to be replaced. {facepalm} It was good I was already sitting when the phone rang. We have a plan, that we will have to see if we can implement next week. So for now, we have one car, that won’t hold of us, family.

Some upcoming appointments will be kept, some will be moved. There is not much else I can do. Even when we find the funds it will be likely two weeks before we have it back. {shrugging shoulders}

As the calendar changes I hope you remain safe, well, and healthy. For now I’m going to get off, and try to enjoy the final minutes of this year with my family.

Blessings,