2021- What will it bring?!

 I am going into 2021 very differently.  I feel like I have learned a ton this past year and want to see how it all progresses for me.

Because of COVID, I learned to FIND time to read my scriptures and the conference talks DAILY.  I was able to build that habit and am able to immerse myself and find joy in my study.  After each conference, I order the conference guide from Deseret News and then read a talk each day.  I also use scripture study guides.  For 2021, I got this wonderful D&C guide to goes along with Come Follow Me. I also got these great Book of Mormon made easier books that I LOVE.  Because if I have learned anything, it is that our priorities, what we CHOOSE, makes a huge difference.

I have taken my health even more seriously. I workout every day. We do yoga every day.  We have started a HART fitness challenge for 2021.  I am careful what I eat and making sure I take care of me and sleep. I also get massage therapy every month.  I feel selfish somedays, but I see me becoming a better and stronger person.

While I despise my mask, and we are back full time with students, I know the Lord is watching over me.  It's hard to breathe and my glasses fog every minute of the day. 

 

While crazy things have happened in the 1st 10 days of the new year (storming of the capitol and a new virus strain), I am going into this year with hope and happiness. We have a cruise planned to the Mexican Riviera and I turn 50 years old this year.  Bring it 2021- i am ready :)

2020- The beauty and blessings

 While this year was tough, the beauty and blessings far outweighed the hard and tough.  

2020 Blessings and Beauty

Cancun 

I was able to take the most amazing trip to Cancun with one of my very best friends. Because of COVID no one was there.  We had the beaches and hotel to ourselves.  When would that ever happen??

Bucket List- Amtrak Train

We got to travel by train through the Rocky Mountains.  There were only 6 passengers on the whole train. When would that ever happen?

New Grandbaby

Rylan was born safely during COVID!  And because of COVID, both Bob and I were able to be there for 3 weeks and work from home.  That time was more precious to me than they will ever know.

Birthdays

Rylan was born on MY birthday AND Anthony's AND we were there to all celebrate together! 

Wedding and new son-in-law!

With the temples being closed and the number of people that can gather together limited, Marisa and Anthony decided to go ahead and do their civil ceremony while we were there.  Also, I know I don't tell them enough but Brandon and Anthony you are the most amazing son-in-laws.  More amazing than I ever imagined. You have no idea how grateful I am that you are in our family, part of our craziness, and that my girls have you for eternal companions. YOU are huge blessings to all of us!

Also immensely grateful they had the civil wedding at that time- there was no way we could know Hal and Ann wouldn't be able to come to the sealing. 

New School

AND because of COVID I was able to take the time to choose every single book. This new position has been an answer to so many deep prayers.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job!  I love the students, the staff, and most especially my principal.  There is no way I could make it to retirement if I hadn't gotten this job.

Alayna graduated high school

This beautiful girl graduated early and got accepted into both BYUs!  COVID cancelled prom, sports, and school anyway ao we were glad she had the foresight to graduate early!  She went to Utah and got to spend time with the girls before she headed up to Idaho for fall semester!

Soooo many more connections with family through ZOOM

Cox Family Visit

We were so thrilled to have Kayla and family come visit after the Derecho to help us with the clean up. More precious time with family and only made possible because COVID let Brandon and Bob work from home.

The Derecho

Yes, this was on the hard list too.  But, boy did we learn a TON.  We met and helped our neighbors and they helped us.  We didn't have any working flashlights and had to get some battery powered lamps.  Battery powered is the way to go for sure!We learned how to do laundry in the bathtub and cook food on the grill.  We learned we really needed more food storage and our 72 hour kits definitely weren't up to date.  Things really don't matter, but people do. We learned...and that will make all the difference in the future.

Trip for Sealing and Thanksgiving

We were able to get to the temple for Marisa and Anthony to be sealed.  What a beautiful incredible experience to not only be there for that beautiful event- but to be IN the temple again.

Quiet and Relaxing Christmas

Because of COVID, we didn't go anywhere or do anything except be home and relax.  We are grateful that Alayna is here for a month!  We have missed her!

 

Engagement and meeting Anthony

Right before COVID spread- we got to see Anthony propose to Marisa at the temple and they got to visit before the world went crazy.

2020- The Hard

This has been the craziest, most nutty, most unexpected year of my entire life! So my end of the year report looks very different this year!

The hard parts of 2020:

Loss of Grandpa Hart

 Loss of Grandma Cunningham

 

Grandma Ribera diagnosed with Cancer:

Mom you are one of the strongest women I know- you got this!!!!

Global Pandemic 

Still going strong, but a vaccine has been released. New strain hitting Europe hard.

Derecho

Devastating storm that hit Iowa and we are still cleaning up from.  The loss of our apple trees, evergreen trees, garden, fence, etc.  Many others lost much more. 

Fur Babies

I almost forgot!  We lost both Lily and Rosie this year.  It was heart-wrenching losing our last guinea pig.

Christmas and the end of a very rough year

We love having Alayna home for an entire month!  She heads back to Idaho this week and we will miss her tons!

Christmas was quiet and relaxing, which was desperately needed!  I slept A TON!  It has been an exhausting year. Bob did a super awesome Marvel-themed scavenger hunt which had a new PS-4 and virtual realitygames at the end.  Plus, a new computer for me and Alayna got a new computer and Tyler got a new blender, TV, vacuum, and microwave.

Got to do my Mandelorian Puzzle while watching Wonder Woman 1984!

December

We went completely virtual the 1st 2 weeks we came back from Thanksgiving.  Then we went back hybrid.  Honestly- all of it is exhausting.

Also, I took a college credit renewal course (I got 100%) and I received a huge grant I wrote for Makerspace materials including more breakout EDU kits!

 Rylan had his baby blessing.  So glad we were able to be there virtually!

It snowed a ton here and has been very cold.  Some of us like snow more than others.