Happy New Years.....any resolutions for you???

I can't believe it will be 2012 in just a few hours!  I love the start a new year.

I am not great at New Years' Resolutions though....I mean, I could say I am going to:

1. diet...but I won't.

2. keep a cleaner house....but that would only last until I go back to school and things get crazy busy.

3. be a better person, wife, mom, friend, etc.......but, this is a daily goal and feel weird about deciding 2012 is the year of being all of this...when I hope to accomplish this EVERY day of EVERY year!

       

So.....I have picked a few other resolutions....

1. I am planning to run/walk 500 miles over the course of 2012 and to bike at least 250 more.  Now, here is the truth...I would really like to walk/run 1,000 miles over 2012 and then bike about 500 miles.  I had a friend, Russanne, who did the 1,000 miles of walking/running over 2011 and I just thought that was an AWESOME goal.  So proud/excited that she accomplished that....and well, I am going to try it too!!  :)

Mark and I after our 5k...He has some running goals for 2012 too!  

2. I would like to do a better job of "de-cluttering."  Now, if this leads to a cleaner house...YAY!!!  But, I found a site I like on Pinterest that gives you a day by day thing to do to have a more de-cluttered home!  I am excited about that!  Here is the website:

De-cluttering Calendar!!!

3. I am going to start keeping a prayer journal.  I am wonderful at telling people I will pray for them (and I do) but I don't necessarily think I do as good of a job as I should.  So, If I write down the requests and then read over them in the morning and evening.....hopefully I will do the job that I should when it comes to prayers.

This is it for me....3 goals...hopes....plans....and I hope to be successful!  What kind of resolutions do you make?

I hope everyone has an AWESOME New Year and that you accomplish all you hope/want in 2012!!!!

Out with the old....

I can't believe 2011 is almost over.  The older I get the faster life seems to go.  This year has been an interesting year.  It has been full of ups and downs, excitement and sorrow, and saying goodbyes and hellos.

Being on Christmas break has been wonderful...I have thoroughly enjoyed being home with Mark and the girls.  However, I am realizing how much my girls are growing up....especially Autumn.  Her Christmas gifts did not consist of lots of toys...instead clothes, a mini fridge for her room, and a whiteboard so she can play school.  She has such adult conversations with us, is a major helper when it is time to clean and is wanting to do more and more "big girl" things.  Now, as much as I LOVE this, it makes me sad.  She is growing up...not quite my little girl anymore.  Now, surely I'm not aging...right.  :(

I have lost several people this past year.  My sweet student girl, Miryah passed away from cancer and my grandfather as well...as well as several other people I knew.  It was a difficult year, which I assume is because the older we get the more relationships that will come and go.

I can't lie, I am okay with the year of 2011 ending, basically because I am anxious to see what the new year holds.    I have a few goals/plans for the next year....but I will save that for a different blog.  I hope you have had a GREAT year!!!

Friendship.......

Have you ever moved somewhere new?  I grew up in a small town where I knew everybody and then moved off to college where I knew a few people.  After college I got married and moved to where I am today...the place where my husband grew up.

I am at a very happy stage in my life.  I love my husband and my girls more than I ever knew I could love. I love my job and though it provides me with challenging things....I know it is what I was supposed to do.  (I also love the fact I am on Christmas Break until January 6th!!!)

I think one of the hardest things about moving to a new place is friends.  I know when some kids move into  our school, that is what they struggle with the most...making friends.  I am typically the kind of person who has very few problems making friends...however there is a difference between making friends who you talk to when you see and having friends who are with you know matter what.  I feel like I am there now.  That group of friends who is there no matter what.

The funny thing about friendship is that some don't work out like you would like.  Some people who I really wanted to be my friend weren't what I were hoping and some that I never expected to be my friend are the greatest friends you could want!

I love having some friends from my past that I still feel like know me inside and out.  The kind who you can pick up the phone and know you will pick up where you left off.  I love having friendships that have emerged out of Facebook or Twitter.  I love having friends that are the people in my every day life. Whether it be trips to Chick Fil A, random texts, or fun things written on my wall......these things make me smile.

I love that I now have friends to do things with, friends to call and talk with, friends to inbox with, friends who care and are genuinely interested/concerned about me.

I received a card yesterday that had the following quotes about friendship on it....

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.


A friend is someone who is there for you when she'd rather be anywhere else.


A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself.

I am lucky to have great friends and am thankful for each and everyone of them!!