Lessons that 2020 Taught Me

I made a list because I know I will always look back on this year with both awe and thankfulness, and I don’t want to forget the lessons I learned.

I need people. I am an introvert. Like, a super introvert, who has to purposely make plans, or I will never, ever leave my house. But one thing I have learned is that I NEED my people. My husband is the very best man in the entire world, my kids are two of my very favorite people. My family, beyond us four, are the ones I will jump at the chance to be with. Our quarantine pod brought life to my family in April and May. I cannot imagine my life without my girlfriends. And our church family is more than I could have ever imagined a church family could be. I need my people. And they need me. And that is a really good thing.

I am a bread baker. Legit, I have a go-to bread recipe that I have memorized!! Who does that?? ME!! I do!

I’m a gardener. And I LOVE it!! The feeling of dirt in my hands, dreams of snap peas straight from the vines, and a tomato sandwich made with my very own “homemade” tomato became quite exhilarating!! Going out and watering my plants and flowers, and watching them start to produce brought me a ridiculous amount of joy, I am grinning just thinking about it! I cannot even wait for spring to come around again and start dreaming of what we will do different, what I want more of, what I don’t need as much of.

A backyard pool is a must. Seriously. A MUST have! We call it our Covid pool, and bought it as soon as that stimulus check hit our bank account! The best kind of relaxation and the best kind of conversations happened in and around that pool the summer of 2020.

I don’t fit into a political box. 2020 was a year that made me realize that I had to be ok with not being able to fit into boxes that many in our country expect everyone to fit into. And I could still love people really well even when I don’t. I am a theologically conservative and socially compassionate Christian. I found that I am too progressive for many conservatives and too conservative for many progressives. I became aware of a lot about myself through the political season of this year and I felt confusion for awhile, but ended standing on a more sure foundation than when I started the year.

I have a newly found, deep, forever abiding love for the state of South Dakota. And buffalo. Like….love, love. I love the land, I love the animals. I just love it and cannot wait to go back some day.

I love living a slower paced life. In 2019, I was craving slowness. I read books, I listened to Podcasts, I was trying to figure out how to live a life that didn’t demand a hustle, one that was simple. I jokingly said I wanted to live a homestead type life, but without all of the responsibilities, and with a washing machine, dryer, and a refrigerator and freezer. And of course, internet. And then we got hit with a pandemic. Our “normal” came to a screeching halt on March 13, 2020, and I got that slower life. And I’m not sure that I have ever been happier with it.

I’m a knitter. I have gone beyond dishcloths and scarves, my friends, which is where I have been resting in my knitting skills for about 15 years. In 2020 I bought a whole SET of needles. I began a blanket, made many hats, and thick cowls. One of my favorite things is to meet a friend at our local coffee shop and knit and talk. Seriously, I am a knitter, and I am cozier than ever.

I love being a dog mom. I know! I can’t believe it, either. I am sorry to all of the people I have judged in the past. We got a new puppy on December 21st and I love him. Otis is brilliant, and busy, and exhausting. Also, so calming and relaxing to my spirit.

Life ends and family really is where one belongs. On the day after Christmas, my father in law passed away. I watched my sweet man process this news, and rush to figure out how to get to Alabama so that he could be with his brothers as soon as possible. They are the ones that his heart needed in those moments. No one knew his dad the way that he did, except for his brothers. His death will leave a forever ache. But also, there is a deep thankfulness. Wade’s dad, my babes’ grandfather, (“Big Daddy” as he chose to be called by them), never left a conversation without letting his family know how proud of them he was and how loved they were. I am so thankful for his life, I am thankful to be a part of the family he helped to build. His legacy will live on.

And now, we are leaving 2020 behind and I feel like I am tip-toeing into 2021, rather than celebrating and running into the new year like I have in years past. I feel more calm, more contemplative. When I pray about the new year, I feel like the Holy Spirit is whispering to my soul, “Continue”.

And so I will. I will continue to love my people. I will continue to live the life placed before me. I will continue to grow as a disciple of Jesus. I will continue pursuing the grace He offers me, so that I can offer it to others. I will continue to put my hands in the dirt so that I can watch things grow. I will continue to build places for conversation with the people God puts in front of me.

I will continue in this slow life, because I feel like I have really found myself in this rhythm. I will continue in this slow life, because even though it feels smaller than my life did in 2019, it has filled me up on the inside and is everything that I want in this season of my life.

Happy 2021, my friends. I hope it is sweet.