I decided that Rhythm would be my WOTY in 2024, and one way I tried to establish a rhythm was by keeping a very brief daily diary, to watch for daily and weekly patterns to develop and to be intentional about keeping the good ones going. In this final wrap-up post it's no surprise that the rhythms of life are quite different during the holidays than most of the rest of the year. I think it's also helped that I've established at least some solid routines to fall back when life got busy or stressful.
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December 1 - I love it when the first day of a month is a Sunday! Starting a new month and starting the week with worship is perfect. We were both on worshp team this week too. Had a quick lunch, then I went to the Worthington holiday fair to do some caroling with SVC. After a late nap, we had pizza for dinner.
December 2 - The Monday rhythm is work and then SVC rehearsal.
December 3 - After work, our son and his family came over to enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers with us. We made waffles out of the leftover stuffing and had hot turkey sandwiches with those.
December 4 - The Wednesday rhythm is work and then Dinner + Discipleship.
December 5 - After work I went straight downtown to the State House, where SVC performed Christmas music at the Holiday Open House.
December 6 - Work and relax in the evening.
December 7 - Went to the cookie walk with the kids and caroled with SVC.
December 8 - After worship team and church, we went out to lunch with our Dinner club. Later in the day we went to Timbuk Farms for my holiday wreath and planter. In the evening we watched the old movie Holiday Inn and then a couple episodes of Only Murders In The Building.
December 9 - 12 - Regular rhythm days!
December 13 - A regular workday, but enjoyed watching one of my favorite movies, White Christmas, in the evening.
December 14 - Went to La Comedia with a group of friends from the 55+ at church to see a stage production of Holiday Inn. We enjoyed great food and a very entertaining show. Once we got home I refreshed briefly then went to quartet with friends at Ohio History Center.
December 15 - Church, a long afternoon nap, and an evening of Christmas shopping.
December 16 - Work and SVC, although instead of rehearsing, we had our holiday party.
December 17 - Followed the regular Tuesday rhythm.
December 18 - Started the day a little differently, with a phone call from my good friend while on my commute to work. Work was not the greatest, as we had technology problems. There was a Christmas party at church in the evening, and afterwards we dropped off our car for an oil change and some work to be done.
December 19 - Being down to one car for the day, I left early so I could drive hubby to work. And it seemed like a very long work day besides! Finished Christmas shopping - mostly!
December 20 - Started my day with another phone call with my friend, and after work we went downtown and met the kids so we could see the Wanderlights display.
December 21 - I slept late, did the last pre-holiday grocery shop and got the last gift on the list! Did some Christmas baking and in the evening we went to the Blue Christmas service at church.
December 22 - Church and a nap. In the evening we saw the Hartford County Wonderlights with the kids. Got all the gifts wrapped and ready to go!
December 23 - This week would definitely not be the usual rhythms! Work was just as usual, but in the evening we went to the Blue Jackets game. After the game, we had to shower and do all the "water-related" things before going away for the holiday since we'd received word that the water would be off on the 24th for maintenance work. Not great timing since we need to leave in the morning!
December 24 - Got up earlier than I'd wanted so we could get packed up before the water was shut off. Drove to Maryland, with one unplanned stop along the way, since our son's family had car trouble. We met up with them and made sure all was well, but still arrived at the kids' place in Maryland around dinner time. Some of us went to the Christmas Eve service and we all enjoyed family time afterwards.
December 25 - Christmas morning! And the time-honored rhythm of getting up and opening stockings and presents, our family's traditional wrapping paper war, and then brunch. During the rest of the day we played games and had fun together. For dinner we had "Homeless Trays" (crackers and cheese trays, and appetizers - our new name for it after autocorrect changed my husband's text about "Hormel" trays to "homeless" and it made us all laugh). Games and movie in the evening, and a bonfire.
December 26 - Spent a relaxed day with family, watching TV, playing games, and playing with the kids. We had our big Christmas dinner and played more games in the evening.
December 27 - My day started with birthday wishes from Aubrey! Hubby and I went out for brunch with friends, then he went to visit with old work friends while I stayed home and made some phone calls to family and had a relax. Went out to a birthday dinner with the whole family, then to Carroll Creek to see the boats. Playing family games in the evening was a regular rhythm over the holiday.
December 28 - I went out to breakfast with friends, then stopped to visit another friend on my way back to the house. Hubby and I did some cleaning while all the kids were out, then we went shopping and to dinner with Kennady and Dan. And once again, games with the family in the evening.
December 29 - Started this week off at church in Keymar and just like old times we played on our daughter's worship team. We had lunch with family, packed up our stuff and gifts and headed home to Ohio. Got home in time to relax with some coffee and watch A Christmas Carol.
December 30 - A regular Monday rhythm, minus SVC.
December 31 - A regular Tuesday workday, but instead of the usual evening at home, we were celebrating New Year's Eve by going to the Blue Jackets game.
Happy New Year!
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Rhythm was my Word of The Year for 2024 because I realized I'd need to adjust my routines and work on my time management as I started a full time work schedule, and I couldn't be striving or fighting all the time - I need to establish a healthy, balanced rhythm to my days and weeks. And additionally, in the last part of 2023, I felt like God had really been speaking to me about the subject of Sabbath, and that he was inviting me to be more intentional about practicing and celebrating a Sabbath rhythm in my life. Here's my WOTY post to explain: WQ - Rhythm Inspires
A post about my 2025 Word of the Year is coming soon!
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