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Marybeth Hancher

Marybeth Hancher

What’s In Store For 2016?

January 5, 2016

Happy New Year!!!  Exciting time, right?  There’s something about the new year that makes me want to start fresh- and I have a clean slate ready to be filled with scribbles of fun, work, and plenty of memories.  😉

I have some thoughts on my own personal 2016 that I wanted to share, so here goes!

1. Maybe you’ve heard people talking about their word of the year lately.  I personally never knew it was a “thing” until last year.  This is just something I’ve always liked to do- I haven’t picked a word every year, but I’ve at least known of some things I wanted to work on or embrace more of throughout the course of 365 days.  It wasn’t until I discovered Ali Edwards and her bits of inspiration to us in the paper crafting/album making community that I realized she created a movement of sorts based around this same concept…  And she simply calls it One Little Word®.

This year, mine is mercy.  I didn’t pick the word.  I suppose you can say it was handpicked for me.  There’s a story behind it- isn’t there always? 

I was traveling for Thanksgiving, and after 5 hours in the car, I started to get tired and headachy and just totally grumpy…. Nadia was being an angel.  I, on the other hand, wasn’t.  So I started praying- out loud- and said, “What should I work on this upcoming year?  Like, what’s my “word” & where should my focus be?”  A few minutes later, I was listening to music, and one of the songs said something about “mercy”…. and the singer (Chris August) kept singing the word “mercy” every time I passed a sign that said something about mercy!!!  I’m used to stuff like this happening to me by now, but it still makes me laugh every time.  One sign in particular was a church sign that said “God is merciful.”  And it hit me- one of my spiritual gifts is mercy, and as much as that simply comes naturally to me these days, it’s something I’ve never truly explored more.  SO, this is the year.
No idea what it will look like.
No idea what I’m signing up for.
But I’m more than willing to see what’s in store for my year of mercy.

And yes, I may have just added this to my January Project Life album to document my One Little Word.  😉

2.  That brings me to my next point- Project Life ®… What am I doing, you ask?  Well if you follow my YouTube channel of ramblings, you might have watched a video about it already, but for those that haven’t-

This year I’m creating one album every single month.  I usually do one giant yearly book in a 12×12 album that gets heavier than my dumbbells, but I decided to switch things up this year and really dig into my stash of craft supplies.  Part of the reason why I’m doing this is to use up the stuff I’ve obviously been hoarding hanging on to for no reason.  But the other part is so I can try out different sizes and see which ones suit me best for documenting.  Then again, I do get bored easily, so switching it up every 30 days might keep me inspired anyways!  So for January, I’m working in a very small 4×4 album- so far so good. I’ll share that one later!!

3.  I’m *actually* using a planner.  It’s a Heidi Swapp Memory Planner that I’m using not only to plan my day to day agenda, but also to use as another creative space.  I’ve never been one to stick to using a planner.  Either I start out the year in super-crazy-plan-everything-we-do-in-a-day-including-bowel-movements mode (eww… not really!), but then the organization flame burns out around March and I give up… or I just don’t even try at all.  I also never understood the need to overly decorate planners like I see some people doing in the “planner community.”  But hey, what the heck, right?  I like pretty things- maybe if I make my planner a happy place with pretty decorations on the pages, I’ll actually use it, right? 😀

4.  I set some goals for myself- and one of them is to give more generously.  That includes time, money, possessions… whatever!  My poor Journal Shoppe is looking mighty empty as of right now, but I’ll be filling it back up with some brand spankin’ new journals soon- and the more I create, the more I have to give.  So to go back on the planner talk- I’ll be setting very specific work hours for myself on the days my husband has off work so I can really get my ideas for journals out of my head and into the shop.  I’m excited about it!  🙂

So that’s about all for now- what are your goals for the year?   Do you a have One Little Word?  Leave me a comment and let me know!  I love hearing what everyone else is doing.  Let’s make this the best year yet!

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Comments

  1. carolyn wall says

    January 5, 2016 at 3:50 pm

    Hey Marybeth! I just found your channel back in December and you are such an inspiration to get up and get things accomplished!! I love seeing all your books, journals, etc and reading about your goals as we start off the new year. Absolutely loved your December Daily and look forward to your videos this year!! Thanks for sharing your life with us!!

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Marybeth

INFJ + Type 4, Joy-Seeker, Jesus-Follower, & Advocate for Autism. Read more in my bio! Thanks so much for joining me here!
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Why hello there! I realize I went missing for a we Why hello there! I realize I went missing for a week, but here I am sneaking in with a couple photos and thoughts before I tiptoe back out again for a while. 😉So, I'm still doing my 365 Photo Project and loving it so so much! But I'll be honest, what I'm loving the most right now is that I spent this time having the BEST time with my family without feeling the urge to post every one of our photos on social networks to tell all about it. I love living quietly here behind the scenes, reading all the books to my kiddos, making all the snow people and snow angels, playing games and the piano, organizing my home, and writing words that are just for me. I have been wanting to part ways with social media for a long time now, because it just is feeling so unhealthy to me (not to mention the terms of service are just creepy AF) but I keep sticking around because I do really love sharing life with so many of you. But it's time I do what feels right and true... for myself and for my family. I'll poke my head in every so often because I do know I'll want to check and see how you are all doing! And I'll share a picture or two while I'm here. But the bulk of my posting will be on my blog and my "socializing" will be more personal than what I've resorted to for years now-- I don't like that we all have gotten used to combining acquaintances (or strangers even!) with family and best friends, sharing the same things with everyone as if there isn't a hierarchy or inner circle that deserves to be granted the privilege of those beautiful little moments that keep us feeling special and important and close to their hearts. I don't like that I've been a lazy sister and let mine *find* pictures of their nieces online instead of reaching out to say, "You have to see this!" I don't like being on my phone or iPad scrolling for what feels like days while my kids probably stare at me wondering where their mom went. Which is why this week without IG or FB was awesome. I got SO much done. I was way happier, much more present and creative.So while this isn't a goodbye, it is a catch ya on the flippity flip. (Michael Scott 🤣) I'll be back, but check in on my blog, ok? ❤ marybethhancher.com
027/365 I feel like I'm years behind on reading Th 027/365I feel like I'm years behind on reading The Books. Slowly but surely, I'm catching up. ❤
026/365 Snow day. Thank God. Tasha had me awake th 026/365Snow day. Thank God. Tasha had me awake that entire night for reasons I still don't understand. All I know is when the school alarm went off after my 2 hour nighttime nap, I was thankful to see a cancellation alert. 😅
025/365 I've learned with my daughters, this has g 025/365I've learned with my daughters, this has gotta be THEIR idea.... and there's gotta be chocolate involved. 🤣Tasha has been using the potty this past week, and she's as proud of herself as I am of her. She skipped out of the bathroom the other day and met up with Dana in the kitchen. "Dada! Dada! I poop in potty!" Nadia and I gave her our biggest round of applause, Dana gave his most enthusiastic "Good job, Tashie!!!" and chocolates were passed all around.At the risk of sharing too much about my own poop-in-potty experience as a child (lol)- When I was a toddler, my bathroom had wallpaper with blue flowers on it. As I was learning (and feeling discouraged) my mom did what she always did... made up voices and characters that would entertain and encourage me.The little blue flowers would say, in their quiet airy voices, "You can do it! You can do it, Marybeth!" They'd sometimes talk amongst themselves and make me laugh, and when I did finally "do it," they'd cheer. That's how I learned to use the potty. I'd give so much just to have a square of that old blue wallpaper blooming with my friendly flowers.And as I do with nearly every other part of my own motherhood journey, I took that page from mama's book. And I admit that I got a little teary eyed as the little tangerines on my wall said their own, You can do it! You can do its to a daughter of my own. Life is funny like that.❤
024/365 On Sunday's, we bake muffins. 😋 024/365On Sunday's, we bake muffins. 😋
023/365 The girls love playing a game called Hello 023/365The girls love playing a game called Hello Kitty Nail Salon, and I love them playing it because it ain't real polish so there ain't no mess. 🤣 While they have fun designing manicures, I have fun watching them sit side by side encouraging and complimenting each others work."That looks cool, Tasha!""Nice nails, sissa."Be still my mama heart. ❤(Also, spotted a moment this weekend where they were laughing together, and Nadia stopped to kiss Natasha on the head and said, "I love you Tash. You're a great sister." 😭 Yeah.)
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