I’ve never been much of a New Year’s Resolution kind of gal. I’m not anti-change … I just never quite have grasped the idea of making all the change happen at the beginning of a year. In general, if I feel the urgent need for change, then I just try to make that change.

Years ago, a friend told me that she would give a word to each year. It was an awesome idea, but a little daunting to me for some reason. One of those, “Wow … that’s cool. Too bad I can’t do that” kind of ideas. Mostly because the idea of pinning down one word seemed a little overwhelming. What if my year took a different turn? What if I decided in June I hated the word? I don’t know who I thought was holding me to this ridiculous standard of a word, but I shied away nonetheless.

But this year, 2016, I’ve done it. It’s official. I came up with a word. Or, maybe, the word jumped out at me. Because I can’t stop thinking about it.

CREATE.

I love to create. I love to create all kinds of things.

It’s thrilling to take a blank expanse of fabric and make it into clothes … or sometimes even into fashion. (Yes, I have been watching Project Runway again. How could you tell?) This weekend I got to be a part of pattern testing for a talented pattern designer. I’ll blog more about this later, but it was exciting … to get to help someone else create something incredible while I created a few beautiful things myself.

It’s an adventure to step into the kitchen and turn a bunch of ingredients into a meal. Whether it’s fancy or just simple soup and sandwiches, it’s nourishing, and it’s a privilege.

It’s an honor that I get to be a small part of a life being created inside of me right now. I’m not arrogant enough to believe the I actually am the One who created this sweet life … but I do get to take part in it. That’s incredible.

It’s exciting … and sometimes taxing … to figure out new ways to create fun and excitement for my children. And then I remember that they need little more than some attention and a piece of cardboard, and they’re having fun.

My sister-in-law is a talented and passionate creator. She posted this lovely thought from Joss Whedon on her instagram last week:

And then, I knew I could deny it no longer.

In 2016, I will CREATE. I’m excited, guys.