Happy Belated New Year!
I’ve been thinking about this blog post for weeks. How do I pop back into the space after such a long absence? What do I want to say besides “hi?” Is anyone around? Do people even read blogs anymore? Are they relevant or interesting? Is everyone spending their time on social media instead? What do I want to write about? Do I still want to share recipes? Talk about books? Write about parenting and kids? All of the above? You can see why it’s been hard to know where to start.
Last year literally kicked our butts. There is no other eloquent way to write that. It started off one way, ended in another, and in between were roughly nine or ten long, challenging months. From the conversations I’ve had in person to things I’ve read online, I don't think too many of us were sad to say sayonara to 2017. I’m hoping this year turns out a bit differently.
Speaking of last year, as you know I completely immersed myself in my work, writing a 65,000-word cookbook. Curiously, this year I feel the call to scale back. Rest and regroup. Decide what comes next. It’s a big year for this family, with the first of our young chickens preparing to flee the coop, and I honestly feel completely consumed by my kids and their needs right now. Not in a draining way, but in a there-is-nothing-else-I-want-to-do kind of way. I crave spending as much time with them as possible, probably bordering on needy if you were to ask them, and I find myself constantly wondering if I’ve taught them enough, read to them enough, laughed with them enough, and most importantly hugged them enough. Also, I need to learn how to make a quilt.
We enrolled Ben in t-ball for the first time when he was four-years-old, and I decided then and there that I would save every team t-shirt and sweat-stained jersey that ever stretched across his small shoulders. I would harbor them in a plastic storage bin at the back of my closet, and when he applied to university my plan was to turn each one into a block of fabric used to fashion a quilt that he could take to school with him. The bins have doubled in size since then and the university applications have been submitted. I think it’s time to get to work.
As for the other kids, Jackson, who was just seven years old when I started this blog, will be old enough to get a driver’s license next week. Matthew is five short weeks away from turning three. Rob and I are truly challenged with raising our kids and taking care of our parents these days, as I’m sure so many of you are, and oh my goodness why is this stage of life not talked about more?
I’m not exactly sure what’s next for me, but one thing I’m certain about is that I want to read and write. And cook, of course, but lately I’ve been feeling uninspired in that department, so I’m simply rolling with it until I feel the creative juices begin to flow again. For the time being, I’m reading. I’m on my third book of the year and hoping to read no less than a one a week in 2018.
Now, it’s your turn. I’ve missed your comments and emails, and I’m curious how things are going for you? Now that we are two weeks into January are you keeping up with your resolutions and plans? Are you cooking anything amazing? Reading anything worth talking about? How are your kids? I hope to hear from you.
P.S. Based on your lovely responses early last year, I’m relaunching my newsletter! Look for that at the end of this month.