Welcome 2010!

I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who's happy to see 2009 go bye-bye in the rearview mirror. As my Aunt Lo said in a recent facebook posting, "Don't let the door hit you in the *butt* on your way out!" Truer words were never spoken...

Due to the economy, it seems like EVERYBODY I know, even those blessed to still have jobs, has been stressed out, myself included. Throw in a few teenage boys at the home-castle, a son off in Iraq, and a tween-age girl, not to mention a husband (wonderful though he may be!) and you can understand why I'm practically certifiable at this point. The thing is, I really shouldn't be so stressed and, frankly, the fact that I am also stresses and irritates me a little. The last few months I have been feeling down, something I don't normally do for more than a day or two at a time before I get myself under control.

In looking back over the last year, I know I have actually been blessed beyond measure. Tom and I both still have our jobs, our health is mostly good, the kids are growing up and doing all the things kids do as they speed toward adulthood (which I'm also finding difficult!), our dogs love us unconditionally, and I still find time for reading and scrapbooking! Additionally, a long-time thorn in the flesh that I've been praying about for the last decade was finally taken care of, so I know that God is with us as always, whatever the new year brings.

Anyway, in the spirit of new beginnings, I am putting down my official New Year's resolutions, something I normally haven't done. I figure by adding it here, it will be harder to ignore, and at least a few people will help keep me accountable.


1) As is typical for most people, I want to get into shape. I've had a never-ending sinus infection for the last 3 months, so whatever shape I had managed to get in last summer is LONG gone. I have never felt like such a slug before in my life. I feel like I am finally on the tail-end of that, so now it's time to get off my butt! Anyone want to run some 5k's with me? :)

2) Going hand-in-hand with getting into better shape, exercise-wise, I need to do better with my low-salt diet. My meniere's has really been pretty kind to me the last year, not attacking me with a full-blown assault even once. Because of this, I've been playing pretty loose with the low-salt thing, even though it makes me feel perpetually off-center. Time to get back in control!

3) I'm going to blog more. I love looking back over all the entries since I started this blog, but am sad to see that I have only averaged 1-2 posts the last couple of months. Even though it seems like each day blends in with the next, I know there have been many things I've missed and now forgotten. I started this blog to help my poor, pre-Alzheimer's memory in remembering all the little things, and in looking back it really has helped serve it's purpose. This year I vow to do better.

4) I'm going to "Facebook" less. Or at least I'm going to quit wasting so much time on the mindless games that have been my escape from life and more time on actually connecting with friends. That means that this summer I will do better in my actual garden and ignore my virtual one. Except for Yoville, at least until I have enough money to buy the house I've been saving for... ;-D.

5) Reading more probably isn't an option for me, much as I would love it to be! However, this year I vow to read more of the classics, more history, and more non-fiction - things that will help better me as a person. Tom spoiled me for Christmas this year and got me one of the new e-Book readers. Since I'm such a miser at heart, I've been scouring the internet for free downloadable books and have discovered quite the treasure trove of these. Now I have no excuse!

6) Going hand-in-hand with this, I vow to study my Bible more. Our church is starting a campaign this month to read the New Testament in the next 40 days, which is a good start.

7) I will work towards becoming debt-free. Tom and I had started taking Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" class, but about halfway through was when Savannah and I came down with the flu, then sinus infections 1, 2, and 3, then Christmas, then.... You get the idea. You can't "graduate" if you miss more than 2 classes, so it just became easier not to go. However, with the holidays behind us, it's time to buckle back down and finish listening to all the lessons on CD. It's a very motivating course, so I highly encourage anyone who has the chance to listen to it.


8) Be a better mom/wife/worker. I think I especially need to focus on being less irritated with my kids and enjoy the journey, regardless of how challenging they may be.

9) Start now on next year's Christmas cards! Because of my total apathy about life these last few months, I didn't get cards sent out at all this year (so don't feel left out if you never received one - nobody else did either!).

Whew... it's quite the list, but hopefully I'll make at least a little progress. I'm reminded of a poem I read back in high school (lo, those many years ago!):


It Couldn't Be Done
By: Edgar A. Guest

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't" but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so 'til he'd tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried, he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done and he did it.

Somebody scoffed, "Oh you'll never do that,"
"At least no one ever has done it;"
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one
The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing,
That "cannot be done" and go do it.


Happy New Year's Everyone!