Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!

New Year's Eve is tomorrow and I've been thinking about the resolutions I made last year.  I think I did pretty well at keeping them.  In the past I have made some and then forgotten what they were! :/  Alot of good THAT did.  But I remembered this year! 

So as the New Year approaches I want to think about what I need to tweak or maybe even change completely.  Perhaps doing something that is new to me or letting go of some old ideas that don't fit my life.

Here are a few things that I came up with. 

• Live Simply.  I've been thinking about that a LOT lately.  I plan to incorporate that into every day, whatever comes along.  It could be saying no to something that is good but doesn't neccessarily need to be part of my life.  It could mean getting rid of clutter or items hanging around the house that we no longer need.  I don't like a lot of "stuff".  It clutters my mind.  It's just more to clean and move around and pick up.  Live Simply.
• I also plan to BE INTENTIONAL.  Sometimes this is a hard one.  And really some days you just feel like if the kids are fed and taken care of then it's all good.  I have days like that.  Days you just don't feel it.  But I want to be intentional about knowing my purpose and doing it. 
• I want to try out some great new recipes.  I like to cook.  I like to bake.  I've already been working on this one actually.  You can find some excellent recipes at comfyinthekitchen.com and I have tried a few of those and they were SO good.  I'm also planning to try a new recipe tomorrow night that I found on Pinterest.  I like to put on my apron and make a mess in the kitchen.  I just don't like to clean it up!  Cory is good about helping out with that.
• I want to read through the Bible again and see what God shows me.
• Women friends.  I want to cultivate real and true friendship.  New friends and old.  I've already started this one too and it's rewarding to have that camaraderie.
• I want to run a half-marathon.  I also have some other fitness goals in mind too but this is something I've never done.  Unless something out of my control happens, I am running this. 
• A new routine for school.  I'm not sure how this is going to look yet but I'm working on it. 
• I've started a new book called "Choosing Gratitude" by Nancy Demoss.  My mom loaned it to me.  She likes to do things like that.  I'm grateful.  See!  It's already working. ;)  But really Mom, thanks.  I'm a quarter of the way into it and it's eye-opening.  I have so much to be thankful for! 
• Cherish moments with my children and husband.  My kids are another year older.  Ok, I'm being Captain Obvious here but really though.  Stop and think about how your children have changed over the past year without you really giving it much thought.  Ask anyone who is done raising children and they will tell you it seems like just yesterday that their grown children were just wee littles.  Cherish the time because it's fleeting.  Next year at this time I know I will be thinking the same thing as, Lord Willing, my children will be yet another year older.  

Simple

Grateful

Intentional

Happy New Year!