Open

o·pen

/ˈōpən/
Adjective
Allowing access, passage, or a view through an empty space; not closed or blocked up: "the door was wide open".
Verb
Move or adjust (a door or window) so as to leave a space allowing access and view.
Noun
(Open) A championship or competition with no restrictions on who may qualify to compete.
Synonyms
adjective.
frank - overt - candid - free - public
verb.
unfold - begin - start - unlock
noun.
opening
What does open mean to you?  It is an adjective verb or noun?
For the past several years I have chosen one simple word that I use as sort of a theme for the year.  You can see it here and here.  {Might have forgotten to post about last year’s word-grace} So far I have used: thrive, choose, experience, grace and now open.
It may be a little funny, but it really helps me center myself and remember what I want to work towards.
This year I want to be open to ideas, people and changes.  I want to be open with my heart, mind and open to new challenges.  I want to be open to it all!
Do you choose a word for the year?  If you do, what is it?  If not, think about it.

Experience

Since we are nearly one week into 2011, it may be time to reveal my word for the year.

My word for this year is experience. 

I want to experience everything I can while we are living in an amazing locale.

I want to experience every minute of being a mom to 2 young boys.  They are growing too fast.

I want to rely on my experience as a wife of ten years to make the next ten even better.

I want to experience every bit of this year and leave no regrets.

Melissa was the first one to guess it.  Katie got it too, and being an English teacher, she even provided her interpretation of how it should be used.  Thanks for all the comments!

However, it looks like Michele will be getting the next free night's stay!

One simple word

It is amazing how one simple word can have such a big impact on your life.

For the last couple of years I have chosen a word for the year.  The idea is simple.  You choose one simple word and invite it into your world.  Then once you are open to that one simple word it can surprise you with all the ways it makes itself into different aspects of your life.  Ali Edwards is a big believer in the whole idea!

Last year my word was CHOOSE. 

In the beginning of the year I was really amazed how empowering that one word was.  It made me aware of my ability to choose.  Of course I already knew that I had the right to choose, but it almost gave me permission, if you will, to choose. 

Did I choose to spend my birthday waiting in line at the DMV with two young boys?  Yes and no.  I did choose to stick the auto renewal form into a drawer, even though there was a voice inside my head telling me not to do it.  So in a way I chose to be there.    What I really chose to do was to try and enjoy it as much as I could.  You know what?  By choosing to enjoy it, it wasn't THAT bad.

We had quite an exciting year in 2010.
First there was this

It lasted forever.  I chose to stay inside til it melted.  Well once I went out, and it ended badly.

Then we did this

  We celebrated a special anniversary with this

Then my wonderful sister took me here.  It took a lot of work, but I chose to enjoy it no matter how hard it was!

I'm totally being sarcastic.

Then I got to do this

At this point, maybe I should have just called it a wrap.  I had some fantastic experinces in the first half of 2010.

Then we found out we were moving.  To the Bahamas. 

So the summer was a bit hairy.  However through all the upheaval we still manged to sqeeze in some really wonderful memories.

Chasing fireflies

 Selling our house

Going to the beach

 Seeing the pig races at the Fair

Seeing a baby chick make its way into the world

Riding a Faris Wheel for the first time



The Pirate Party Blowout

Then it was time to move.  I CHOOSE to forget most of that.
Right before we left, the boys got to experience a little Autumn in NC and J learned this cool trick.

As soon as we got here we got busy doing this!

Then he wanted to do this.  My heart is still broken

From Nassa and Beaches

Then I decided that Butterbean and I would enjoy some alone time, and I taught him to do this!

From Miller

All of a sudden we were doing this

Oh my goodness, now we are already done with this-


So back to my word...
Did I choose to all of it?  No, not really, but I did get to choose whether I got to enjoy it or not.  Enjoy it I did!  What an incredible experience this year has been.

Which brings me to my word for 2011.  What do you think it is going to be?  It will be hard to top 2010.

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think my word will be.  It is in one of these sentences after the pictures.  First one to guess gets a free nights stay in the Bahamas the prize!