2011

Happy New Year!

I'm not one of those who consistently makes New Years resolutions, but there is something about the first day of the new year that puts me in a place of reflection and make me feel a need to make small changes in my life that will bless me and my family in the upcoming year.

Rather than making resolutions that cause me to stray from who I am as a person, and try and make me completely overhaul my life with these monumental "resolutions" I try and make simple, concrete and conscious decisions for the upcoming year.

Last year I tried to get back into reading, an activity that has always brought me enjoyment as well as knowledge. Having quiet time to relax and restore makes me a better mom, wife and all around person. However, quiet time is in hard supply with a toddler around, and I didn't prioritize it like I needed to. Last years resolution to read 50 books brought me much joy and I found myself carving out time again for reading, and it was wonderful! I did fall short by about 10 books, but I count the resolution as a success. I read many more books than I would have had I not made the resolution and it created a new habit in my life, so see...resolution = success.

This year my resolutions are, again, fairly minor, but will hopefully make me a better mom, wife and overall person :)

1.) throw away less food: I consider myself pretty effective at meal planning, so we're not throwing out unused ingredients, but we throw out a ton of leftovers. Each week this drives me nuts.

2.) Get laundry washed, dried and folded quickly! I am known to leave clean dry laundry in the drier for days. We all know what happens when you do t hat......wrinkles! John even one day asked me if we needed a new drier because the one that we have seems to be a "wrinkly drier." Like as a drier ages it somehow gives your clothes laugh lines...

3.) I'm going to give the 50 books a year another try, wish me luck (especially with a new baby on the way, which, oh ya, I haven't mentioned on this blog, but I'm pregnant.....a post will follow shortly).

Here are a couple of my favorite pics from the past year! Nothing brings home the saying "the days are long but the years are short" like looking through pictures!

I hope that 2011 is all you hope for and more.

* maybe I should also include "get in a couple pictures" as a resolution....