How are we already 44 days into the new year??

Today bug boy had his well check appointment. The doctors office that’s usually brimming with people and couches was bare. We walked in double masked and they gave us one more since it had to be one of theirs. I’m grateful that we get to go to the doctor because back in March of 2020, we couldn’t of course. But sad that 11 months later, life still is so restricted.

We then had to go get passports renewed for the kids which was another crazy ordeal of its own.

Both chores done. We still have drivers licenses to renew, orthodontist, opthalmologist, and who knows what other surprises await us in 2021.

I’ll take all of these and more over covid of course. These are signs that we’re healthy and living life. I am grateful to be here and not in a different state.

Also grateful for the 3-day weekend. Perfect time to rest and recover from this very busy week.

Yes to doing life’s chores. Yes to rest. So grateful.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

I am grateful that while I’ve been really behind all week both personally and professionally, I feel okay this week and feel a sense of calm.

And I really cherish this feeling. Knowing that I will catch up, I’ll read all my email, and then there will be more email and I’ll read that too.

I generally feel a sense of overwhelm and self-disappointment when I am in a place like this, so I am very grateful that I appear to be giving myself grace and that I am dialing into book club instead of feverishly doing email at night.

Yes to doing the best I can and yes to creating boundaries.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

I have a sign on my desk that says “We can do hard things.” It’s from Glennon Doyle and I love looking at it every day.

Over the years I’ve learned that different things are hard for different people. And that sometimes big things are really easy for me and small things are really hard.

Today I did a bunch of those small things. Getting paperwork ready for a passport renewal, sending off tuition payments, and other paperwork. Calling to cancel things or to change service. Booking a small getaway. The small daily tasks are overwhelming and hard for me.

I find myself postponing them again and again and feeling the dread of them permanently sitting in my to-do list. So today I booked some time on my calendar and gone it all done in one shot. And now I feel that overwhelming relief of getting to cross off those things from my list.

Celebrating getting small things done today. Yes.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

Big boy turned 16 today.

Sixteen.

I remember my sixteenth birthday. I even remember what I wore for my sweet sixteen party.

He was the only one of us who hadn’t had a pandemic birthday and now he gets to have that honor, too.

I am so incredibly proud of this boy and the person he’s becoming. He’s always had an unwavering sense of self and still does now. We are just lucky to get to do life with him.

Happy birthday sweet boy! We love you so incredibly much.

Yes to celebrating. Yes to family.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes