On the final day of 2008, do you have any resolutions or goals for the new year?  As previously mentioned, I am a list maker.  An office supply store is my candy store.  I enjoy brand new notebooks and a new calendar is heaven.  I like new years for what they represent – a new beginning of sorts although I try not to hold  it to just the year.  Why not start with a month?  Or a week?  Or even more simple, a new day?  Do you have goals to get ahead in life?  Secure your financial situation in a weak economy?  To lost that dreaded extra weight?  To exercise more and eat right?  To live each day to its fullest potential?  To enjoy the life God has given you?  Before you delve into those, reflect on what you did accomplish in 2008.  There are a few things that I am proud to say that have been a good start in 2008 and I hope to continue it in the coming years.

1)  Volunteer as a family. Part of this can be attributed to Taylor being required to do community service for his Pre-IB program for school but if that’s what it took to get started, then so be it!  No one truly enjoys being out of their comfort zone but now we regularly serve the homeless pizzas during our church’s Compassion Sunday.  Ken and Taylor have also helped out with the Union Rescue Mission.  I’d like to do more but this is a start.

2)  Save for a rainy day. Very  hard to do in today’s economy and with a huge student loan hanging over our head but we’re finally getting some money put aside for emergencies/rainy days.  It was a huge relief to have Christmas 100% paid for before the holidays!  The trip that Ken and I took to New York was 100% paid for before we left as well, something that makes it much easier to enjoy the trip if you’re not worrying about the credit card balance!

3)  Enjoy our family and friends. Life is too short.  The house can stay dusty, the laundry can wait – enjoy your family! Spend time with your friends.  As I mentioned in my previous blog, our families are making more of an effort to get together and that is time well cherished.  Will they remember that we ran out of milk or that the kids had so much fun playing remote control cars?

So, do I have anything specific planned for 2009?  Well, definitely continue with #1-3 above!  If I ever want to fit back in my favorite jeans I’ll have to watch what I eat and probably exercise more consistently (always difficult with children when they’ve got homework, etc. at night!)  I think my biggest goal would have to go along with the flair that I found on Facebook “Let Jesus shine in 2009!”

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!