Welcome to 2021!

Hello, 2021! Today was a great start to a new year. Last night we had a Zoom call with the Harms family. We have spent pretty much every New Year's Eve together for so many years. This year was very different. But, we were still able to ring in the new year together. Covid is the worst. It does not discriminate and its severity is incredibly hard to predict. The vaccine has rolled out, despite the politics. It is starting to make its way into our lives. While a bit nervous about it, I am looking forward to getting the vaccine. I know many who are wary of it. I get it, it is natural to feel that way. I am watching doctors and health care workers getting the vaccine, and I am becoming less afraid. I don't want to get this virus.

Today our world embarked on another year. I began the day by sleeping in, walking Cookie, and then doing some yoga. I am obsessed with Yoga with Adriene on YouTube. Her new 30-day journey, Breath, began today. It was "orientation" and breathing and day 1 starts tomorrow. I have been having a lot of upper back pain, so I did some of her upper back and neck stretches today too. I highly recommend her videos to anyone who wants to give yoga a try.

Then, Allen and I took a drive to pick up a stadium chair that he purchased on FB marketplace. Our road trip consisted of picking up a couple of sandwiches at Wawa, a fabulous podcast with Bob Costas, and a great round of the name game. We then arrived at a place that was like something out of "American Pickers". We then made the trek back home in the rain. Maybe we should have checked the forecast first?

Now, as I sit here comfy cozy with a blanket, and a cup of tea, I am happy that we started the year off with a bit of an escape. Getting out of the house is just the medicine we needed in the middle of this pandemic that seems to be lingering. I would love to say that there is light at the end of the tunnel, but it is very faint and seems to flicker off and on.

So, I guess we just press on. I am really, really, really, going to try my best to complete the 30-day yoga journey in 30 consecutive days. I am also going to try to push myself to make a habit of adding posts to my blog daily. ??? Well, I will try...

Here's to an amazing 2021. Here's to finding the joy in each day, even when faced with moments that may not always feel joyful. Here's to spreading kindness. Here's to remembering to check in with your loved ones. Here's to keeping the lines of communication open with the teens in your life. They need us. They need to know that we are here for them. We are here to support and listen, without judgment. We are here to teach them and to learn from them. Most of all, we are here to love them and guide them through the ever-changing and sometimes difficult teen years.

Thanks for listening! xoxo