Resolutions and Rest
It is officially the first day of the year and the decade and I can’t believe it. Time is flying by! I remember adults saying that when I was young and I thought they sounded so ancient and out of touch. I am officially that old adult. But truly, it feels like no time has passed since we were sitting down ahead of 2019, looking over the year gone by and what we wanted for the year ahead.
2019 was a big year for us. We navigated tragedies and life changing accidents. We also checked off a dream of traveling to Europe for the first time together. I started running and completed two 5Ks. I paid off two of my five student loans. We spent a lot of time with family this year which was an amazing blessing. We celebrated friends weddings, engagements, and birthdays. We checked off so many of our goals this year and had fun while doing it. God placed things in our path that we never could have anticipated and not only did He give us the tools to navigate each step, He was undeniably with us for every moment.
This is a time of year where every brand seems to be advertising “New Year, New You”. The idea of self reinvention is powerful at all times, especially after a difficult season. I have had numerous New Year holidays where it has not been a happy reflection on the year gone by, and instead I am confronted with what I feel are my shortcomings. It is so easy to get caught up in what didn’t happen, instead of reflecting on the amazing things that did.
I struggle with the idea of “hustling” that is so popular right now. I absolutely have seen the benefit of working diligently in one direction toward a goal. I am a list maker at heart and I get such satisfaction from checking off tasks. It was a thrill to complete the 5Ks this year that I never thought would be possible. And to pay off two student loans! There is something to be said for working toward dreams and goals. There is something inside of me that is programmed to love laying out a plan and moving toward the finish line, step by step. But at the same time, I think one needs a balance of rest and reflection.
All hustle and no recharging leaves me irritable and snappy. And at the same time, no hustle and all “fake-resting” (as beautifully coined by Shauna Niequist) leaves me exactly the same. I personally need a balance. I am slowly learning that if I don’t plan my rest as well as my work, I get imbalanced very quickly.
As we look to the year ahead, I want to be intentional about this plan. I want to plan time to visit with my family, as well as weekly date nights for Davor and I to connect, savoring every moment. I want to plan gatherings without worrying about the perfect presentation or less than perfect setting. I want to invest in my health with new goals and tasks checked off my list, and I want to cook wholesome food that nourishes with delicious flavors. I want to plan time to rest as well as hustle ahead. Some of these goals will be reflected in posts to come, stay tuned and let me know how your journey is progressing as well! Do you have any goals you are working toward? What are your steps to get there? Are you a professional at planning time to rest or are you learning like I am? How are you planning time to recharge in the year to come?
Originally, I thought it might be fun to host a brunch at our home for New Year’s Day, but see above for comments on needing to rest. :) Although we are not hosting this year, I always love the idea of a brunch gathering. Now that I have it in my head, I am itching to host one soon. We have our families over for Christmas Eve every year and we always prefer to have non-traditional items like Tex-Mex or Mediterranean. This year someone threw out the idea that next year we should have a PJ party Christmas Eve and maybe breakfast for dinner. I love the idea and I think it would be a fun way to gather together over the holidays. Just think of the festive options!
No brunch spread in our family would be complete without my Auntie Carole’s breakfast potato casserole. My brother in law has said before that it is a staple for brunch that we have all come to expect. It is not a healthy option to fit into the fitness craze that is commencing today, but as we have already discussed, it is all about balance. Every once in awhile it is more than ok to plan a cheat day and to even work out a little harder after enjoying a cheesy, gooey casserole like this one.
Auntie Carole’s Potato Casserole
Ingredients:
Large bag frozen hashbrowns (cubed/diced kind work best)
1 stick of melted butter
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 pint of sour cream
10 ounces of grated cheddar cheese (more to taste)
½ cup of onion (optional)
1 teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of pepper
Directions:
Stir all ingredients together and pour into a 9” by 13” pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for one hour. My Aunt Carole would top with 2 cups of crushed cornflakes mixed with ½ cup of melted butter in the final ten minutes. I normally do not to avoid the extra gluten, but it is an option!
We have served this with scrambled eggs and bacon, or with spiral cut ham and sauteed veggies. It is delicious for breakfast or even as a side for dinner. Let me know how you enjoy it!
However you celebrate the new year and whatever your goals and approach for 2020, I wish you a Happy New Year filled with love and blessings! Here is to 2020!