The tree is has been thrown out the door and chucked over the side of the deck, awaiting its demise when we officially welcome spring in a few months.
The last shards of pine needles now lingering around in my vacuum, giving us subtle hints of sweet memories.
The kids are officially back to school, accepting their fate and getting back into the swing of things like champs.
There are no "extra" holiday committments/tasks sneaking onto our calendar, comsuming
more mental space than should be allowed. Just the usual mental :).
It's January 11, and I'm finally ready to welcome 2013 properly.
And yes, I've accepted that my pace is ok.
In reflection, 2012 was a great year, chock full of blessings, and plenty to be thankful for.
We were priviledged to celebrate another birthday will all of our kids, and each other. Our family and extended family experienced good health, and my sister welcomed her twins into this world!
Tim and I celebrated 14 years of marriage, and worked at our committment in a whole new way, as he was out of town for work a good portion of the year. It turns out talking on the phone long distance just isn't as fun as it was back in our college days :)
Did I mention that Tim was blessed with steady work? I finished my first year long daily devotional book in it's entirety, without finding something wrong with it and tossing it. And I was truly blessed. I ran my first 5k with family, and then another with my best friends, we camped, hiked in the mountains, enjoyed alot of sports, and made many memories together as a family.
We are truly blessed with amazing friends, family, and church to say the least!
A pic from New Years Eve with dear friends...
Looking forward to 2013, a few goals to put on paper...again... :)
*Organization.
I really struggle with maintaining this.
I am easily distracted, and pulled in too many directions (who isn't?) I begin a project gusto, but get overwhelmed because one project usually leads into the next, into the next....and I try to tackle too many things at once, which leaves me feeling defeated... because I'm not really accomplishing anything completely. Or I will see something that needs to be done, but put it off because I rationalize that I will not be home long enough to take care of it properly.
SO...I made a list of very specific areas that need to be gone thru/purged/cleaned etc.. Small tasks to focus on, and check off one area at a time. I feel like the last several years I have been in a "I'm just trying to keep up, the kids all need me, survival mode"...and needless to say real organization has taken a backseat.
And so far so good!
I started with my desk. I emptied the whole thing out, purged, organized, filed, and fired up my label maker.
This was by far my favorite find...
I may just hold onto it, as I'm sure it will be valuable one of these years :)
I'm also working on updating the decor. I'll post a pic when finished!
* Read through the Bible
I've made several attempts at this. Can't quit trying tho, right?
I thought I'd try a new approach and use this Bible.
Eleven days in, I'm on track, and I really like the way it is layed out. So far, each day has a passage from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. And I am thoroughly blessed. So many of the little details from stories that I've either missed along the way or forgotten are amazing me all over again!
Ordered up this one to go through with the kids ...
=
And we're lovin' it. A good Bible that is a fit for all of their ages.
*Improve my prayer life.
I've been working at this...oh to start out EVERY day with prayer, and keep the dialogue going all day long would be such a blessing....and keep me focused on how blessed I am!
* Be more intentional with the kids.
I so badly want to be more purposeful in every word I speak to them, every moment I spend with them, in all the teachable moments. To watch my tone, to not react out of emotion. To take to heart all of their questions/stories and give them the undevided attention that they so deserve. Spend time alone wtih each of them. Close my computer and play Candy Land, and read the "Dorla" book again...even when I don't want to. Don't automatically say "no", just because the thought puts me out a little. Treat them like the valuable, precious, unique little people they are, even when it's 7:30 pm on a Thursday night, I'm at my witts end, the house is a mess, and all 5 are pulling me in different directions, and talking over each other. Especially then.
*Get back on the coupon wagon.
So far so good.
I've greatly simplified my clipping method, which has cut down on the prep time tremendously, and am only going to target specific deals that we will really use....like toiletries and what-not.
*Eat healthy/meal plan/ run
So far I'm 3 runs in and going strong.
As for health, we have finally finished the Christmas chocolate, and are working our way back to better choices again! I really need to sit down and actually write out a meal plan, and plan groceries accordingly, rather than pull out a bag of frozen chicken at 4:00pm and try to figure out what to do with it. Meal planning is a goal!
*Give
my best, but accept that I can't do it all.
Thanks to the online world we live in, I am constantly reading blogs on a variety of topics, by some pretty amazing people, who "appear" to be able to do it all, write amazingly, blog consistently, craft, sew, bake, organize, decorate, volunteer, have perfect happy kids, and a clean house ta boot....you name it. I get sucked in, and wonder what is wrong with me that I don't have it all together. There are so many ideas/interests/goals/passions that roll through my head of what I would love to write about, make, do, etc. that it can be overwhelming to sort it out, and not feel defeated when I don't do any of them. But I will eventually :)
Happy "New" Year all~
