Happy New Year!

This is it. This is the year.

This is the year I make every change I've ever wanted to make, so that I can be a perfect wife, a perfect mom, a perfect friend, a perfect sister, a perfect person.

NOT.

Now that the lofty goals have been shot down, anything else will seem reasonable, yes? Okay, maybe not. Here's what I'm starting with:

1. Take care of myself. First and foremost, get more sleep! I've been moderately successful during this first week of the new year.
2. Plan meals and use my crock pot more. I found a few blogs that should really help with this. Planning meals when you work a job outside the house is exhausting and stressful. It is for me, anyway.
3. Pause. Slow down. Stop. Pause. Inhale. Exhale. Pray. Observe. Listen.
4. Pray. Then pray more.
   

Must be my own personal mid-life "crisis", although I prefer "reassessment." When you hear these kinds of dicussions, doesn't it always come down to one word? Balance. It's true. Cliché, perhaps, but true.

I found the perfect vehicle to help me focus. It's the Totally Together Journal. I hope it doesn't turn out to be overwhelming as time goes on.

It was a rough Christmas for some. No electronics! Just clothes... money... gift cards... electric blankets... winter coats.. some dvds. Bummer. No xbox (apparently we're officially the "only ones" without one), no paintball guns, no ipods, no new computers. It's torture, really. We admit it. But... guess what. They're still alive. I saw them smile today. There may have even been laughter.

The oldest is shaving now. SHAVING. He's on a premier club soccer team, which typically means cha-ching and no-free-time. Currently, it's just "cha-ching". Doing pretty well in school - generally stays on top of homework. (We don't get involved in homework unless asked and it appears necessary.) The younger one is in Builder's Club (youth Kiwanis) and will start ski/snowboarding club this week. He's also still taking piano and has a gig tomorrow! Whines about it sometimes, but he has a gift there. And deep down, we think he actually likes it.

They are tall. Boy, are they tall. Quickly growing out of boys' sizes. Sometimes I can't Freecycle their clothes fast enough.

Hubby and I got a rare few days away over New Year's. Went to northern VA - sort of randomly - and had a nice few days. Went to the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport. HIGHLY recommend it. Had a wonderful dinner with some friends.

Take care, everyone. Will post pictures soon.