Friday, January 12, 2018

January 2018 . . Looking Back and What's Happening Now

Late is not a great way to start a new year, but I guess that's how it goes sometimes. While my kids were out of school for Christmas break, I sorted out a list of my top 10 posts from 2017 and had every intention of writing them up in a post to kick off 2018. I got busy working on a project I had volunteered to do for my kids' school, though. Then, I lost the motivation to write the post and, suddenly, here we are almost halfway through January. I had basically given up on it, but a couple days ago, Kristi and Kenya announced that they were teaming up and shaking up the Finish the Sentence Friday Linkup that I have always loved. Even better - this week's theme under the new set up is a listicle (for non-bloggers, that's just "fancy" blogging term for a post that is pretty much just a list of something. It makes it sound extra special, no?). That gave me just the little nudge I needed to write the post after all and I decided to include that mini-list in a larger list by turning this into a "Currently" post for January. 

Of course, I'll start by saying that I am currently looking back on 2017. We are less than two weeks into 2018 as I write this, but, still, last year feels like it is pretty far away in the rear view mirror. In the last twelve months, blogging really, really took a back seat in my life. I wrote 33 posts in 2017, averaging about three per month (compared to 41 in 2016 and 106 in 2015 😳). These post would probably, mostly qualify as my favorite posts of 2017, although there are a couple outliers int he group. Since they were my most viewed post, however, I guess, maybe, they are my readers' favorites. 

  1. All The Things I'm Not. This was one I was very hesitant to publish, but it seemed to strike a chord with lots of folks and was shared many times. 
  2. Eight Things a Girl Mom Hates to Hear I guess I'm not the only girl mom who can relate to these! 
  3. My Books to Read in 2017 Confession: I only read three of the eight books on my list. I started two others from the list, but they didn't float my boat after all and I never finished them. However, I did read a couple other books last year, but, much like blogging, my reading ebbs and flows with the busyness of life. 
  4. The Angst of Almost 40 The good news is that I survived turning 40 and it won't be long until I cross over to 41. The bad news is that I still don't like it! 
  5. 40 Totally Random Questions and the Answers You Never Knew You Wanted to Know wins the "What was I thinking with that exceptionally long title?" award and comes in at number five for 2017. I have no explanation for this other than the fact that it was published in January and had more time to get views. 
  6. The Most Important Job In The World The intro for this one speaks for itself. It is and will always be one of my favorites. 
  7. Miles and Miles This post was a lot of random thoughts about miles in my life and my kids' lives. 
  8. Coffee Dates With My Daughter  As much as I may already be looking forward to the end of the school year, I will sure miss these! Next year, she will be driving herself and these precious moments will be no more. 
I'll stop there because the next two on the list are extremely random and certainly not my best. They were just "out there" longer to receive a few more views.
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What else I am currently doing?

I've been watching a lot of movies in the theater lately it seems. During December I saw four  which is an astronomical increase! A group from our church watched "The Star." I also saw "Wonder" and "Jumanji" with my kids and "The Greatest Showman" with my family. They were all really, really good. 

Speaking of "The Greatest Showman," I didn't realize when we went to see it that it was a musical, but the songs were so catchy and the movie was amazing. Since we saw it, my kids have been listening to the soundtrack, which means I have been listening to it, too.

I suppose we've all be weathering the weather. We had two weeks of unprecedented cold and today as I write this it is almost 70 outside with a chance of thunderstorms this evening. What?!?!? The thunder is from a cold front that will send temperatures back down to below average over the weekend. After nearly 41 years in North Carolina, I suppose I should be used to this by now!


Finally, I'll say that I'm feeling excited about this new FTSF format. While I don't miss the stress and pressure I used to put on myself to write, I do miss all my blog buddies and the connections that have diminished as many of us have been blogging less lately. Maybe this new setup is a chance to re-commit and re-connect just a little. 😄

I guess this post is better late than never as the old saying goes! I hope all of you had a great new year that that 2018 will hold much happiness and joy for all of us! 

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Linking up with Finish the Sentence Friday hosted by Kristi & Kenya
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33 comments:

Kenya said...

Great list, and I'm so glad we inspired you to write your first post of the new year and that you are excited to continue. I went back and commented on the post about the books. So how did you like Jumanji? Some people liked it some people are like eh. I enjoyed it and laughed so hard I embarrassed Christopher.

Kristi - Finding Ninee said...

YAY for finishing the post you'd thought about. I love the way you did this, Lisa and hope that the new Finish the Sentence format will help all of us. FTSF is basically the only time I write anyway, and I think it'll be nice to mix it up. I can see why "All the things I'm not" was your #1 for the year. It's so honest and real and completely relatable. Also, I can't believe I haven't seen Wonder yet. Tucker and I listened to the audio book and I've been wanting to go really badly and keep forgetting about it. Thanks for the reminder and thanks for linking up!

Vickie said...

I also did not know that the Greatest Showman was a musical (I guess I am not paying as much attention to the things around me lately) - My son LOVES a good musical! Thanks for the tip!

Mardra Sikora said...

It's weird to look back at tour blog views and see what caught on, isn't it? Or is that just me? Sometimes our personal favorites "make it" and sometimes it's an unnatributable catch that catches on. But i digress. Looks like 2017 was a greta year and I look forward to being in those "view counts" in 2018, too! :)

clarkfarley said...

I'm with everyone else... the surprise post to everyone responds to is fun (and I try to keep that in mind when I'm confronting the 'surefire hit' that people say, 'oh yeah, that was a good one, too'.
I suspect (I haven't read my post 'as a Reader' yet) the blogosphere and all that it means is a core of most lists that I might create.
Total fan of the FTSF (first bloghop and all) but missed the business of Listicles... this varying format looks to be promising.

Julie Clarke said...

What a lovely piece. I had no idea it was a musical either, makes me want to see it even more!

Dana said...

I'm so happy you posted, Lisa! I'm hoping to post more regularly this year too, but we will see how it goes. I want to see The Greatest Showman, but I think it will be one to watch by myself at home when it comes to on-demand. Last night Matt and I saw Molly's Game in the theater - really good!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I didn’t want to go to Jumanji becasue I thought it would be dumb, but it’s what my daughter and her friend wanted to see. I ended up loving it - laughed the whole time!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Wonder was amazing! You should definitely take Tucker - and a box of tissues!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

So weird. I have written several and though “This is the ONE!” But then they got almost no traction. The ones I think are blah are often the ones that get the most.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Yep! It really was good. You can listen to the music on YouTube & Spotify, too!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

So true! I’m excited about this new FTSF format & think it will be a great reinvigoration! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

You totally should - it was wonderful!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

My girls and I loved it but I don’t think my husband was too impressed - musicals are nit his thing. But, I would certainly watch it again on the couch when it becomes available.

Pat B said...

What a great way to approach this Listicle! I need to come back and get acquainted with your posts!

Kenya said...

For the most part I feel like that too because here in NC we don't have tough winters with blizzards that we have to go out and deal with. I wanted it to snow SO bad while the kids were out of school for the holidays and then the very day the went back to school it snowed. It was beautiful and I enjoyed the first two days of it and then understood why it may not be a favorite to others. Like you, that snow kept them out for the rest of the week AND that following Monday. Good luck ;-)

Debi Lewis said...

I wish I could say that I agree, but I'm just too cold all the time to enjoy snow. You can enjoy it enough for the both of us! :)

Janine Huldie said...

Lisa, as much as I am not a winter, but summer fan, you truly made winter sound like it is a season to indeed enjoy at the very least. Thanks for your take. But I will just agree to disagree as I am all for summer and the heat anyway of the week over snow and colder than cold temps ;)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

That's one reason I like winter - I'm hot natured, so, in the winter, I actually like to be cold! :-) I'm so weird!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

All about perspective and preference, I guess! I can't stand the summer heat! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Yep - we were out Monday for MLK day, went Tuesday, then have been out the rest of the week. I love it, but I'm ready for them to get back on schedule next week!

Kristi Rieger Campbell said...

I love winter too and love how you did this with the timer. I started with the timer but didn't have the guts to be "done" although maybe I'll get used to that. I'm so glad you love the snow - me too, although I grew up with it... and hope so badly that my son will be a skier or snowboarder one day (I'm also a snow snob - the snow here sucks compared to that in Colorado... so...) Maybe one day? Or maybe I'll get over the snobbery and take him already (although he does get to go tubing in Colorado on New Years day each year which is great too).

Kristi Rieger Campbell said...

SO GLAD to see you again, by the way :)

Mardra Sikora said...

You're so right - the anticipation...that is part of the magic of snow, isn't it?
This is a lovely 5 minute write.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

The timer was really hard! It went by so fast and not editing as I went was really tough!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

:-) Me too!

Gina said...

I love winter for the exact same reasons as you wrote above. It's just the feel! But I also love summer, and actually prefer it, though I wouldn't trade the change of seasons for anything!

Dana said...

I always proofread too! I love winter sometimes, but I'm like that with every season. I'm always ready for the next one. Now that the temperature has risen above "hell freezing over," I"m enjoying winter much more!

Patricia Elaine Brockett said...

Ideal temperatures for me are between 50-80 degrees F, because I feel physically most comfortable then. That being said, I really like the seasons and the changing of colors and landscape, so let come what may as long as I don't have to suffer too much. HaHa
Your border collie must have loved that snow!
Nice FTSF.

Tamara Bowman said...

The cozy factor is high. If it weren’t for the cracked skin, icy driveway, and rampant viruses, I would sorta love it.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I think it’s the change tha makes us appreciate them all.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Yeah - winter started out really, really cold this time! I’m just so hot natured that I don’t mind the cold, though. I actually find it refreshing.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Even though I love winter, I also really love that the sesaons change. I think that’s what makes us appreciate each one for what it is rather than it always being the same.

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