My 2025 Word of the Year

For quite a few years now, I have been doing a word of the year and will be doing one again this year.

For 2025, I have decided that my word will be:

INDEPENDENT

It didn't take me very long to decide on this one, as I am tired of relying on others to do things for me, that I am fully capable of doing myself.

I am an adult, and I need to remind myself that I am capable of doing things for myself, and that people won't always be available or able to help me all the time. I want to be able to take charge of important appointments, getting myself places, making phone calls and more on my own, so that I can prove to myself that I can do these things.

I am also worried about what other people would say or think about me, if I say or do something, so I tend to not do things I want to do.

Every single time I had to make a phone call, or practice driving, I always thought about what could go wrong and that I couldn't do it myself, which made my anxiety go up. And I want to change that. I want to live a life that I love, instead of living in isolation, fear, and anxiety.

The things I want to work on, to increase my independence, are:

• to feel more comfortable making phone calls, especially important ones
• to feel more comfortable driving, so I can get my license and not have to rely on others taking me places all the time
• to speak/stand up for myself 
• when I feel like something is wrong, or when I have something to say
• to feel more comfortable with public speaking
• to try something out of my comfort zone more often
• to relearn how to play the violin, be proficient in playing, and to play in front of a group of people
• to have a new job, that is a good fit for me and my abilities
• to ask for help only when I actually need it, instead of just having someone do something for me before trying myself
• set healthy boundaries and stick to them as much as possible
• to be more responsible with money
• to learn how to not let my emotions get in the way of making decisions
• to feel more comfortable going places on my own more often
• to not be so afraid of change
• to learn at least one foreign language so I can help people who aren't fluent in English
• to do things I want to do without worrying about what others think/say
• to feel more comfortable starting a conversation with someone
• to be comfortable with grocery shopping on a regular basis
• to take better care of my health/prioritize self-care (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) instead of ignoring it
• to learn basic home maintenance skills
• to improve/maintain my friendships
• overcome my fear of failure
• to not let fear get in the way of living an amazing life

I hope to work on these beyond 2025 as well, not just for the one year. I just have to push beyond the fears, doubts, and anxiety to get to the things that truly matter.

Are you doing a word of the year? If so, what is your word for 2025?

My 2025 Reading Bucket List

I have always loved to read, but lately I haven't been able to concentrate on reading a book myself. Every time I start a book, I would end up not finishing it. Not because I didn't like the book, but because I didn't have the motivation to keep going.

This year, I want to do better with reading more. I only read one book last year, and it was a short one at that (The Great Gatsby). Very disappointed with that, as I wanted to read so much more. 

I hope to read at least 6 books in 2025, but if I can read more than that, that would be great. I know 6 isn't a lot, but with the way I am, it is a good starting point. I really want to get back into reading on a regular basis again.

I tend to gravitate towards young adult fiction books, but the last few years I have started branching out towards other genres like non-fiction and faith-based books. Which is good, as I want to get out of my comfort zone more often, even with the types of books that I read, so that I can expose myself to different types of writing styles.

In no particular order, here is my reading bucket list for 2025:

• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
• A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
• A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
• A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
• A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
• A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
• The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
• The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
• The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
  
• Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
• Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire
• A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire
• Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire
• Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
• Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
• Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
• Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
• The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
• A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
• An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
• Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon
• Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone by Diana Gabaldon
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

What do you want to read this year?

My 2025 Goals/Bucket List

I can't believe 2024 is just about over! It was an ok year for me. Nothing special, significant, or interesting happened, so I am hoping that 2025 is more exciting.

I take that back. I suppose a few special/interesting things did happen in 2024.

I made my first t-shirt quilt, which is also my first sewing project. I also got to make a garden sign in my library's creative studio, as well as decorate a wooden Christmas ornament in the studio. I also went to a local summer festival, made Thanksgiving dinner, and celebrated Christmas with family.

Without further ado, here is what I would like to do in 2025:

• Be an STM at a Joni and Friends retreat
• Go to a Joni and Friends Walk N Roll
• Work on writing a book
• Visit a friend in another state
• Read the entire bible
• Learn to juggle
• Be in a loving, healthy relationship with a significant other
• Binge watch a TV show
• Have a job that I love, that works for me
• Get bedroom cleaned up
• Get bedroom redecorated
• Be more comfortable with driving, and get my driver's license
• Get tested for autism and ADHD
• Relearn how to play the violin, and learn how to play 2 songs a month
• Learn how to play the ukulele
• Learn how to meal plan
• Learn how to grocery shop (how to get the best prices for what I want)
• Write and send letters to friends
• Journal at least once a week
• Make a second t-shirt quilt
• Start a YouTube channel, and post regularly
• Cook Thanksgiving dinner
• Improve my baking skills
• Improve my cake/cookie decorating skills
• Create and use a prayer board
• Connect with friends once a week
• Learn how to apply my own makeup
• Deepen my faith
• Deepen my relationship with God
• Go back to church regularly
• Be involved in church
• Become more independent
• Read one book a month
• Knit/crochet at least one thing each season
• Dye my hair purple
• Update my resume
• Grow out my hair
• Get a tattoo in memory of my mom
• Get my passport
• Decrease my screen time
• Exercise in some way 30 minutes every day
• Build up stronger relationships with my friends
• Work on overcoming my fears and doubts
• Practice, improve communication skills
• Declutter at least 2 rooms in my home
• Memorize important phone numbers
• Put together Downton Abbey puzzle
• Create a vision board
• Make a charcuterie board
• Build an emergency fund
• Unfollow accounts that no longer serve/interest me
• Learn self defense

I know this is a lot, but there is a lot I want to do in life, and I hope to be able to do more in 2025 than I did this year. I can't wait to see what 2025 brings!

What is on your bucket list for 2025?

What I Got for Christmas 2024

To those who celebrated, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! 

I had a good Christmas with my family. I made Christmas cookies, watched Christmas movies, and opened presents. It was kind of funny opening presents, as my cats went crazy playing with the wrapping paper, so that made the day more interesting!

A scare that happened a few months prior made me worried about how the holidays would look, but fortunately things were good, for which I am so thankful!

So, without further ado, here is what I got for Christmas this year:

• Bible cover
• 25-pack of blank canvases for painting
• Loop Engage earplugs
• Loop earplug connector cord
• Acrylic paint pens
• CD/DVD holder
• Plain white t-shirts (this was added after making the initial wishlist; I wanted a plain shirt to use for a library event next month, where we can customize a shirt)
• Wallace figurine, from Wallace and Gromit (this was an unexpected gift from one of my brothers. I do love the Wallace and Gromit movies, so I am happy with this gift!)
• Essential Elements for Strings: Violin book 1
• Essential Elements for Strings: Violin book 2
• Fabric marking pens (for sewing)
• Bonanza season 8 on DVD
• Hawaii Five-0 season 2 on DVD
• Call the Midwife season 3 on DVD
• Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (book)

I am very happy with all that I got, and I can't wait to enjoy using my gifts. 

I already have a project that I will be using the paint pens for, so I can't wait to get started on that. I have also been wanting to relearn how to play the violin for quite some time now, and the violin books will hopefully motivate me to get started on that. I love being creative, and can't wait to use the items I got that help with making things.

If you celebrated, what was on your Christmas list? What did you get? I hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday, and if not, then just know that you are loved, and that you are not alone.

My Winter 2024/2025 Bucket List/Goals

It is almost officially winter and although I am not looking forward to the snow, ice, and cold temps, I do look forward to other aspects of the season.

As I do every season, I made a bucket list of things I would like to do this winter, and hope to do as many of them as I can.

I recently posted about my Christmas bucket list, so I won't really include any Christmas things to do on this list.

In no particular order, here is what I would like to do this winter:

• Make and have hot chocolate
• Make a 2025 vision board
• Read 2 books (and read them while drinking something warm, and wrapped up in a cozy blanket)
• Create and use a prayer board
• Relearn how to play the violin and learn to play at least 3 songs
• Apply for a new job
• Binge watch at least one season of one of my favorite shows
• Sign up to volunteer at a Joni and Friends retreat
• Work on cleaning up my bedroom
• Have a movie marathon
• Put together Downton Abbey puzzle
• Create a charcuterie board
• Improve my cake decorating skills
• Improve my cookie decorating skills
• Learn Spanish
• Bake at least one loaf of bread
• Have fondue
• Memorize one bible verse every 1-2 weeks
• Knit or crochet a sweater for myself
• Bake cinnamon rolls from scratch
• Build a snowman
• Write letters to friends
• Create a winter self-care kit
• Create a snow globe
• Have an indoor picnic
• Have an at-home spa day
• Make paper snowflakes
• Plan a staycation
• Color in a coloring book
• Play video games
• Start an indoor exercise routine
• Connect with friends once a week`

I may come up with other things I would like to do this winter, but this is a good start. Hopefully I can make this winter as enjoyable as possible, with the things I want to do.

What are things you would like to do this winter?

My 2024 Christmas Wishlist

Well, it is Christmas time once again, and I am looking forward to it this year. Except for the snow, ice, and cold, there are many things that come with the season that I enjoy, and can't wait to experience them this year.

For quite a few years now, I have posted my Christmas wishlist on here and am doing so again today. It took me a while to decide what I wanted to put on my list this year, but I am happy with this list, and I can't wait to see what I get.

Note: I do not expect to get everything on this list. I will be happy with whatever I get. These are just things I would like to get this year.

Here is my Christmas wish list for this year:

• Loop Engage earplugs
• Connector cord for Loop earplugs
• Disney Dreamlight Valley Cozy Edition PS4 game
• 3-tier rolling utility cart
• Sheet music stand
• Violin stand
• Bible cover/tote bag
• Bonanza season 8 on DVD
• Call the Midwife season 3 on DVD
• Outlander season 3 on DVD
• Hawaii 5-0 season 2 on DVD
• Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
• The Art of Getting It Wrong: Finding the Good in the Misadventures of Life by Stephen Miller
• Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life by Nick Vujicic
• Living with Hope by Michael Panther
• Essential Elements for Strings: Book 1 for Violin
• Essential Elements for Strings: Book 2 for Violin
• Essential Elements for Strings: Book 3 for Violin
• CD/DVD case
• Earrings
• Canvases for painting
• Salt lamp
• Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza card game
• Erasable fabric marking pens
• Light therapy lamp
• Plastic storage bins (I plan on using these for my cookie cutters, if I get them)

I am looking forward to Christmas and can't wait for it to come!

If you celebrate Christmas, what is on your wish list? I hope you have a wonderful Christmas this year!

My 2024 Christmas Goals/Bucket List

It is the holiday season again (this year went by so fast!!), and with it comes all of the fun activities we can do. 

I don't care for the cold, snow, and ice, but I enjoy pretty much anything else about the season and can't wait to experience these things this year!

I had been thinking a while about what I would like to do this year, and this is what I came up with. I hope to be able to do many of these this Christmas season and am looking forward to making some new memories.

In no particular order, here is what I would like to do this Christmas season:

• Drink hot chocolate
• Go ice skating
• Decorate a gingerbread house
• Watch Christmas movies
• Listen to Christmas music
• Bake Christmas cookies
• Play video/board/card games
• Build a snowman
• Drink non-alcoholic eggnog
• Make ornaments
• Put a puzzle together
• Send Christmas cards
• Paint
• Create an Advent wreath
• Make/get an Advent calendar
• See the Christmas lights at the local zoo
• Visit a Christmas market
• Make and decorate a Christmas cake
• Have a spa day
• Read A Christmas Carol
• Attend a Christmas church service
• Make paper snowflakes
• Write and send letters to friends
• Attend a Christmas craft fair
• Create a charcuterie board
• Learn about Christmas traditions in other countries
• Make a chicken pot pie
• Learn 1-2 Christmas songs on the violin
• Learn 1-2 Christmas songs on the ukulele
• Make a prayer board

If you celebrate Christmas, what is on your list of things you would like to do this year? I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season!!

30 Things I Am Thankful For in 2024

Well, it's the holiday season once again. 

Once again, I have decided to make a list of things that I am grateful for. It helps me to see all that I have, and all that I am able to do in my life.

For a few years, I struggled with enjoying the holidays, as I was dealing with grief, but now I enjoy the holidays again (albeit still with some grief). I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas this year and can't wait to see what they hold for me and my family and friends.

Here are 30 things I am thankful for this year:

1. My home
2. My family (which includes my cats)
3. My friends
4. My health
5. My faith
6. Joni and Friends
7. Get Organized HQ Virtual
8. My library's Library of Things
9. My library's creative studio
10. My blogs (yes, I have more than one)
11. Getting to make my first t-shirt quilt this year
12. A loved one doing much better after a health scare
13. Being able to declutter expired food from the kitchen (we unfortunately had a lot!)
    (I know this is a weird thing to be thankful for, but we had a lot of food that was just sitting there for a very long time, not being used, so it was time to get rid of it all)
14. Being able to declutter Christmas decorations that we don't use/are broken or in bad shape
15. Getting to design my own garden flag in my library's creative studio
16. Watching a presentation by a librarian at my local library, on ADHD and autism
17. Audiobooks
18. Knitting
19. Crocheting
20. Baking
21. Photography
22. Making a garden flag in my library's creative studio
23. Living close to shops/stores/restaurants
24. Being able to watch livestreams of church services
25. Being able to get a new phone when the old one quit working
26. Video games
27. Reusable water bottles
28. Books
29. Movies
30. Music

What are you thankful for this year? If you are celebrating, I hope you have a happy, safe Thanksgiving!

Five Minute Friday: Fight

It has been quite a while since I have participated in a Five-Minute Friday, but I felt inspired by this week's prompt, and decided to join in.

I love to write and have missed these weekly prompts, so it feels really good to be back, doing these again.

Without further ado, here is my interpretation of this week's prompt.

Fight

Just over 14 years ago, my mom was fighting for her life, and although the fight ended here on earth, she won when she went to heaven.

Her fight has ended, but mine has just begun, fighting depression, anxiety, grief, and all the emotions that come with losing a loved one.

My mom was the one I always went to when I needed to talk, especially if I was having a hard time and needed comfort. She was so patient and understanding with me when I was going through the worst of my depression, knowing that I was in a battle with my mind and struggling to overcome the fears and thoughts I was experiencing.

I have also been fighting with not speaking up and reaching out to people I trust in times of need. Especially with God. Much of the time I feel like I would be a burden to others, to God, if I reach out to them, asking for help.

I know that is not true, but it is hard not to believe that, when I am feeling down, like I am not worth being heard.

With God, my friends, and family by my side, I am winning this fight, and I know that I can continue to win. I know that I am stronger than my fears, my anxieties, and anything else that may try to bring me down. I know that I will one day, I will see my mom again, and that is something worth fighting (and waiting) for.

My Fall 2024 Goals/Bucket List

It is nearly Fall, which means it's time for my Fall goals/bucket list! I love making these kinds of lists, as it helps me figure out what I want to do this season and find events near me that relate to what's on my list.

I have been thinking about what I wanted to do this Fall for a while and am looking forward to doing as many of these as I can.

I think I love making to-do/bucket/goals list because I can write out the things I want to do and feel a sense of accomplishment from checking something off. It makes me feel productive, like I am able to do the things I love without too much trouble.

So, without further ado, here is what I want to do this Fall:

• Paint/carve/decorate a pumpkin
• Watch Fall/Halloween themed movies
• Make Halloween cookies
• Paint
• Knit or crochet a blanket
• Knit or crochet a sweater for myself
• Put together a puzzle
• Create a Fall-themed wreath
• Make crafts with fallen leaves
• Paint my nails a Fall color
• Roast pumpkin seeds
• Do a corn maze
• Make s'mores
• Read 1-2 books a month
• Drink hot chocolate
• Make a scarecrow
• Have a game night
• Put away summer clothes
• Attend a Fall festival
• Bake a pumpkin pie
• Cook Thanksgiving dinner
• Go on an outdoor photography walk
• Decorate my room for Fall/Halloween
• Spend a day scrapbooking
• Binge watch a TV show
• Color in a coloring book
• Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade
• Make chili
• Go to a Joni and Friends Walk n' Roll
• Have an at-home spa day
• Go on solo/self-dates
• Make Boo baskets
• Make cinnamon rolls
• Donate to a food bank
• Go thrifting
• Create Fall-themed charcuterie boards
• Write letters to friends
• Make second t-shirt quilt

What do you want to do this Fall?