2018 EOY Wrap Up

At the end of every year and the beginning of the next, I go into contemplative mode. I think about the past year. What happened? What changed in my life? What were the big things that I accomplished? What did I spend my time doing or thinking about? And then I think about the upcoming one as well. What do I want to see happen? What do I want to change in my life? What big things do I want to accomplish? What do I want to spend my time doing and thinking about? What things about last year do I really want to see change in the upcoming one?

If 2017 was all about change, then 2018 was all about adaptation. 2018 started with me having a 3 month old and a 2 year old. The first portion of the year was a struggle to get consistent sleep. That's not unusual or unexpected given the age of my children. As Spring moved into Summer, we were settling into even more of a routine and new normal. My son was sleeping through the night. But he was still very needy and dependent. Again completely normal. Through the end of the summer through the beginning of fall, he started to crawl and then walk which helped him gain some independence. By the time we've reached December 2018, I feel quite free. He still wants to snuggle way more than my daughter ever did. But we've reached the point where we're passed breastfeeding. I'm thankful to have been able to nurse both of my children. Yet, I'm thankful we've weaned and we're done with nursing until our next (and prayerfully last) child. I struggle with the newborn phase, but I've found with both of my children that I enjoy each and every stage that comes next more and more enjoyable than the one before. (Please don't tell me to enjoy this time while they're young...I AM! I can enjoy the time and look forward to every new stage at the same time. I'm not wishing my time away. I'm snuggling all the snuggles. I'm loving how Husband and I are their heroes. But I can also appreciate being able to walk from one room to the other without having one of them meltdown.)

As for reading and blogging, I'm doing the best I can. I struggle knowing how much I was able to do before I had kids, but honestly, I wouldn't change any of it. I'm keeping up. I'm reading when I get a chance and blogging hasn't ended or tapered to the point of near non-existence. I'm still able to keep up. And that's with doing some side projects that I'm excited about at home. Going in 2019, I'm excited.

EOM Wrap Up Posts for 2018

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Blogging Highlights from 2018

Holly and I successfully hosted the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge. This was our fifth year. We are returning for 2019 also.

Celebrated my 7th Blogoversary.

October was my 6th annual All Things Halloween event of Halloween-ish book reviews and such.

I continued a feature created in previous years: Discussions Only We Know. Although, I didn't get any Series DNF, Cover Doubles, Upon Further Review, Problems Only We Know, or From the Ashes posts done.

I started a new featuring in 2018: Mountains Out of Molehills that zeroes in on political, religious, etc statements made by authors, publishers, etc that really don't have anything to do with the overall story, plot, or character growth of a book (or other medium).

I ran my first survey, and then I posted the results.

I didn't review any movies this year.

I listen to 4 audiobooks.

I didn't re-read any book this year.

I exceeded my Goodreads total books read challenge with 88 out of 52 books read (a portion of these were children's books).

I completed my Bible-in-a-year reading plan for the 7th year in a row.

But I did fall a little short on my Series Enders goal of 10-12 books with 7 series enders read.

Books Read in 2018

*These qualify for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge.

Lucky in Love by Kasie West
A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
*The Last Star (The 5th Wave, # 3) by Rick Yancey
The Heart's Appeal (London Beginnings, # 2) by Jennifer Delamere
In Another Time by Caroline Leech
Let Me List the Ways by Sarah White
How to Teach Your Baby to Swim by Douglas Doman
Wild Blue Wonder by Carlie Sorosiak
Crossing the Line by Simone Elkeles
The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah E Ladd
All the Little Lights by Jamie McGuire
A Defense of Honor (Haven Manor, # 1) by Kristi Ann Hunter
*Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, # 8) by JK Rowling, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany
If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L Armentrout
100 Days of Thanks by Thomas Nelson
Live Fearless: A Call to Power, Passion, and Purpose by Sadie Robertson
One Small Thing by Erin Watt
Sons of Blackbird Mountain (Blackbird Mountain, # 1) by Joanne Bischof
When We Were Young by Anna Benoit
The Simple Wild by KA Tucker
*Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands, # 3) by Alwyn Hamilton
*Ruins (Partials, # 3) by Dan Wells
That Night by Amy Giles
Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry
Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West
Meet the Sky by McCall Hoyle
All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
*The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles, # 3) by Mary E Pearson
*The Song of David (The Law of Moses, # 2) by Amy Harmon
The Complete Photo Guide to Hand Lettering and Calligraphy by Abbey Sy
Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, # 1) by Mary E Pearson
The Opposite of Innocent by Sonya Sones
Healing Hearts by Sarah M Eden (review coming soon)
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West (review coming soon)
The Roses of Feldstone by Esther Hatch
Anywhere, Anytime Art: Colored Pencil by Cara Hanley
Ten-Step Drawing: Flowers by Walter Foster Creative Team
The Curiosity Keeper (Treasures of Surrey, # 1) by Sarah E Ladd
Bible Journaling Made Simple by Sandy Allnock
When It's Real by Erin Watt
The Brave Art of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin
The One You Fight For (The Ones Who Got Away, # 3) by Roni Loren
A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews
You'd Be Mine by Erin Hahn (review coming soon)
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Tricky Twenty-Two (Stephanie Plum, # 22) by Janet Evanovich (review coming soon)
Bring Down the Stars (Beautiful Hearts, # 1) by Emma Scott
*Long Live the Beautiful Hearts (Beautiful Hearts, # 2) by Emma Scott (review coming soon)
Verity by Colleen Hoover (review coming soon)
The Sound of Drowning by Katherine Fleet (review coming soon)

Books DNF'D

Before I Let You Go by Kirsten Wreggitt (DNF @ 25%)
Heart of Thorns (Heart of Thorns, # 1) by Bree Barton (DNF @ 75%)
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily XR Pan (DNF @ pg 136)
The Resolutions by Mia Garcia (DNF @ 4%)

How was your 2018? Are you exciting about moving on to 2019? Let me know!