Happy New Year!
Everyone in my house is asleep (yes, even Jaden at 9:20 pm!) except for me. We’ve had some late nights during the last few weeks with the holidays and family and fun . . . and while it was a wonderful time I am looking forward to getting back in the routine. 
I probably should be asleep too, but night-time is when I have a little bit of free time.
A new year always feels like a clean slate to me. It feels good. 2008 was a great year for our family, and I had hopes to do a big “highlight” reel here on the blog but I am so far behind on things I want to post about . . . so that most likely won’t happen. I am just grateful for the experiences we had and the things we learned, and I am optimistic that 2009 will be another great year. A bit of a fresh start.
I have a lot of things I want to do this year, things I want to learn about, things I need to improve. I want my focus to be on what matters most. I want to use my time better. I want to be more loving and patient. I want to teach my children and provide for them a happy, stable childhood full of warm memories. I want to be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. I want to not set unrealistic self-imposed deadlines on myself. I want to “cultivate the art of the soft answer” as Pres. Hinckley taught. I want to simplify yet enrich our family life. I want to remember that there is a time and a season for everything, and I don’t have to do everything NOW. Even if I want to. I want to organize. I want to be a better disciple of Christ and be more like Him.
Many people like to choose a word to define their theme for the new year. I’ve been thinking about it the last few days and have decided that my word for this year is BALANCE. That is something I am going to strive for in my life this year. Finding better balance in all aspects of my life. I’m excited about it. What will your “word” or theme be for 2009? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
If you know me, you know that I’ve taken a gazillion photos of Christmas festivities and such. I’m really hoping to be able to post the fun stuff and actually post more regularly because for some reason it gives me a bit of a peace of mind to have the pictures all organized and things jotted down here on the blog. I’ve been just enjoying the holidays and not wanting to spend too much time on the computer. But this blogging thing really is my mode of keeping my family history right now, so I like to try to keep up. With the added bonus of getting to know my friends even better as well as making new ones!
So, hope your holidays were magical and that this new year will give you hope as well. I’ll be back with pictures soon.
PS: I forgot to mention THANK YOU! I ended up winning that Christmas card contest on Tip Junkie! Woo hoo! Thank you for your votes and support. What a fun thing.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Girl we are thinking more alike EVERY day- even though we live so far away. Your paragraph of ‘goals’ is a list of the EXACT things that I’ve been thinking about the last few days. I’ll keep you posted on my word for the year… stay tuned.
Amen to everything you said! To me you already are all those things you want to be! You are a fabulous mom/wife/friend and your kids couldn’t ask for more. I think all of us could use a little more balance in our lives though – that’s a toughie!
My word for this year is just SURVIVE. Seriously. Hopefully in a couple months I can change that to something a little more positive – but for right now that’s all I’m hoping for! Love ya and happy 2009 to you!!!
Loved reading about your goals for 2009. I definitely NEED more balance in my life as well and hope with my clean slate that I’ll figure it out. I am excited to see all your fun christmas pictures. Lets get together soon!
My word is SIMPLIFY! I posted it on my blog! Thanks for the thought provoking post!
Loved your insights for 2009! thanks for the inspiration. You are awesome!
(do you mind changing your link to my blog to http://www.zacharyandamy.blogspot.com ? – we aren’t using our mac blog anymore) Thanks!
Brooke, you’re a wonderful woman! Here’s to another great year of becoming even better people!
I love the post. I like balance and simplify but right now I am going with organize! Happy 2009!
Sorry to hear that you’re stuck in the eternal rounds of choir accompanist as well. I was only relieved of that duty (after 15 years, I’m not kidding) because I threw a huge tantrum two weeks after we moved into this ward and they called me in to extend the accompanist calling to me. I accepted it at the time, but then they released me after two years. I still have a reputation over that one
Not sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing, but I haven’t had to attend choir practice for about three years, and I’ve actually had the chance to have some other callings (in addition to being glued to the organist bench, of course). Good luck with that one!