HAPPY NEW YEAR

The holidays are EXHAUSTING.  They are my favorite time of the year but by the time they are done I am simply TIRED.

You would think that as I throw out the tree and sweep up the debris, it would signal my body to go into hiberation until Spring.
But Au Contraire my friends.... that does not seem to be my lot in life.

I enjoy the start of New Year and love the feeling of getting a "fresh start".  I feel that my optimism for the future is a sign both of my gratitude for the life I've lived so far as well as a deep-down belief that I can control my own destiny.

I don't really have any goals this year, just plans.
I want to:
1) Live a healthier physical life  - meaning less sugar, less caffeine, more exercise. I'll be honest, I want and need to lose weight. But more than that I just want to live more healthy... to take better care of myself so I'm ready for the long haul ahead of me.
2) Do better documenting our lives ( or as Becky Higgins says, "Cultivate a good life and record it") -My patriarchal blessing says I should record the history of my family.  I like scrapbooking. I like journaling.  I like blogging. I just haven't been DOING any of those things. Time to change.

Simple.  That's it.

Of course I would like to be better at keeping the laundry done and getting dinner on the table on time and living within my means.  I'll be working on those things as well as I try every day to be the best wife and mother I can be.  I also would like to teach my children to turn off the lights and change the roll of toilet paper when it's empty, too.  :)  But lets not get too crazy.

I honestly feel this is a regrouping year. Darren and I are transitioning. We are getting ready to send E1 off to school.  It has changed our perspective on things.   We are starting to realize we are getting older. We are creating new hopes and dreams for our future together and it's time to wrap some current things up so we can be ready for our new adventures.  This is the year to get those "ducks in a row" if you will.

Happy New Year to you all!