Another Chosen Day

I've mentioned Chosen Day in the past, created by John's family to celebrate his arrival from Korea in February 1985. I look forward to it every year. It's a day to honor John and what a gift he's been to all of us.

We often marvel at the twists and turns that brought us together, and there were many. John went from Korea to Atlanta to Nashville to New Haven to Oklahoma, where I was waiting to meet him. Meanwhile, I started in Aiken and went to Spartanburg which took me to Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Oklahoma. And there he was.

Music was a key player. After John got to Atlanta, it dictated both of the paths described above. At any point, one of us could have made a tiny decision that would've prevented our lives from intersecting. John almost won two big gigs that at the time, seemed like his dream, but they would have kept him from Oklahoma and in the end, our marriage. His career would look different right now, but isn't that funny? The thing that looked devastating at the time now looks serendipitous.

We're so thankful for the moments - even the bad ones - that brought us this partnership.

Happy Chosen Day, John.

Greeting 2014 & Looking Ahead

I recently asked John what word best described our 2013. Unfortunately he didn't hear "our" and said "twerk" without hesitation.

At the New Year, I shy away from hard, fast resolutions and opt instead for adjectives. Words I hope will paint my decisions over the next year. Concepts that describe my intentions and might eventually bridge the gap between what I want to happen and what actually happens.

When I asked John again for 2013 words, he gave momentum, change, challenge. 

I agree. I was scrappy, working hard, searching for answers, and he was, too. But on the other side, we realize now that we did gain momentum. It feels good, like we got some answers and have a plan.

The words I've chosen for 2014 all invoke a sense of calm. I'm letting anxiety related to career and future go and trusting the path that's emerging.

On New Year's Day, we did 108 Sun Salutations to welcome the beautiful new year. 108 symbolizes many things, but for me, it meant 108 physical prayers, or meditations, for 2014. The words became my mantra.

John described our hopes for this year nicely: in 2013, we worked hard to build our ship and cast our sails. Now, we just have to let the wind carry us.

Maxwell-Concklin Christmas IV

Hello and Happy New Year! I can't believe it's come and gone. I hope you had a beautiful holiday season.

Flee to the Cleve has been quieter than ever these past few months, thanks to my two jobs. I've been burning the midnight oil in many ways, but things are shifting. More on that soon.

In the name of tradition, I have to pay homage to one of our favorite days, Private Christmas. We did it again this year and loved every second. True to form, we took a night before family holiday travels to shut everything else out, cook a great meal together, and exchange gifts.

We had less time to prepare this year, having both been stretched pretty thin recently, but that made it all the more lovely to take a night out to celebrate together.

After that, we made whirlwind trips to Atlanta and Aiken before returning to Greenville to see some of our closest friends. And now, suddenly, it's a brand new year.

Here's to success, happiness, and growth in 2014.