Wow! What a difference a year makes!
I can't even tell you what I was doing last year on New Year's Eve. I have been trying all morning, and even with the kids help, cannot for the life of me think of what we did. I know I was in TX. I was sad. I wanted to be in CO. My life was so focused on those three things for so long that I don't even have memories outside of my thoughts.
A year later...we celebrate New Year's Eve as a family in our beautiful home in Colorado! It feels like we have been here forever. The year in TX, that felt like it was an eternity, has somehow just become a blip on the radar. I am amazed and so very grateful in all the blessings that this past year brought us.
We don't do parties or go out to celebrate the end of our years and the beginnings of new ones. We stay home as a family. Just the hubster, the kids and me. Sometimes we have friends over. Tonight we aren't. We will make pico de gallo quesidillas, spanish rice, chips with nacho cheese and lots more fattening but oh so yummy food! We will do a puzzle, watch a movie, play some games. We will laugh, the kids will fight. It will be just the way I like it. My family. My blessings.
I am excited to see what the New Year brings. We have planned two trips: one to Chicago with Jimmy's family in July. And a surprise trip to Cozumel on Christmas Day (the surprise will be for the kids, they have no idea and won't until that morning!). I have some goals...I will run the Boulder Boulder 10K on Memorial weekend. We are back on a Dave Ramsey budget plan so we have some financial goals for ourselves this year. I want to finish reading The Message version of the bible that I've been reading for 2 years...this is the year I want it completed! We want to find a home church and will do more than talk about it. We would like to find some families to do life group with. I want to read, read, read and encourage my children to do the same. I want to be a better wife, mother, sister and friend. I want to blog more. I want to give more.
But God always has bigger plans than us and no matter what I hope for and reach for, I want Him to be in control and I want to follow His direction. And if that means that I have to derail my plans and go with His, then I pray that I have the strength and the wisdom to do so! There cannot be a richer life than the one that God has planned for us. We just need to listen close enough to know what that is.
A new year....a new beginning....the possibilities are endless! I can't wait!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Christmas Reads
Yes, I know it's been forever. Let's just scoot right past that and move on to the post though....
Two years ago I decided that I would try to read a classic book each year. Maybe not always a classic, maybe a series, maybe a book that everyone seems to have read and I've never wanted to. It has to be a book that is a bit daunting though. I know, weird right? I read so much during the year and I truly enjoy it. I like the idea of "forcing" myself outside of my box and into a book that many people think is a great and I have to finally read it and figure out what's so great about it.
So, speaking of daunting, I started out two years ago with my first tackle: Anna Kerinina. Oh my word that was a long book! 900 and something pages if I remember correctly. I actually enjoyed it though. And it is really a very cool feeling to be able to say that I've read it....albeit a bit hard to find a way to work that into many conversations!
Last year I bribed James, who was 8 at the time, to read The Chronicle of Narnia series. I wanted him to be able to ask questions and wanted to know what he was talking about when he told me about them...so I read them too! I LOVED THEM!! One of the best series I've ever read and I believe that every child should read them at some point. So, so, so good!
This year....The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series. I tried to watch The Lord of the Rings three times and all three times was done twenty minutes in. I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in this series. However, people love them! And truth be told, I usually much prefer the books over the movies. So, I'm giving it a go. I'm more than halfway through The Hobbit and while it is not my typical read I really am enjoying it. The story is good. The writing is better. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
Anyways, this year I have been talking to the boys about setting up their own reading goals for Christmas break. James, who is now nine, is going to tackle the first Harry Potter. I hope he loves it and wants to read the rest. I really enjoyed Harry Potter. He does not love to read though, so yes, there was a slight bribe involved. Read the whole book and I'll get the movie for us to watch together.
As for Jagger, I'm not sure. He is seven. Any suggestions? We just read Freckle Juice which is my absolute favorite from when I was a child. He has read the Winnie the Pooh novel which is a great classic. He loves to read and reads at a pretty high level; he's already read all of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. What would you suggest I should encourage him to put on his list??
And...what about you? What are you reading? I need to start making a list to tackle in 2013!
Two years ago I decided that I would try to read a classic book each year. Maybe not always a classic, maybe a series, maybe a book that everyone seems to have read and I've never wanted to. It has to be a book that is a bit daunting though. I know, weird right? I read so much during the year and I truly enjoy it. I like the idea of "forcing" myself outside of my box and into a book that many people think is a great and I have to finally read it and figure out what's so great about it.
So, speaking of daunting, I started out two years ago with my first tackle: Anna Kerinina. Oh my word that was a long book! 900 and something pages if I remember correctly. I actually enjoyed it though. And it is really a very cool feeling to be able to say that I've read it....albeit a bit hard to find a way to work that into many conversations!
Last year I bribed James, who was 8 at the time, to read The Chronicle of Narnia series. I wanted him to be able to ask questions and wanted to know what he was talking about when he told me about them...so I read them too! I LOVED THEM!! One of the best series I've ever read and I believe that every child should read them at some point. So, so, so good!
This year....The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series. I tried to watch The Lord of the Rings three times and all three times was done twenty minutes in. I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in this series. However, people love them! And truth be told, I usually much prefer the books over the movies. So, I'm giving it a go. I'm more than halfway through The Hobbit and while it is not my typical read I really am enjoying it. The story is good. The writing is better. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
Anyways, this year I have been talking to the boys about setting up their own reading goals for Christmas break. James, who is now nine, is going to tackle the first Harry Potter. I hope he loves it and wants to read the rest. I really enjoyed Harry Potter. He does not love to read though, so yes, there was a slight bribe involved. Read the whole book and I'll get the movie for us to watch together.
As for Jagger, I'm not sure. He is seven. Any suggestions? We just read Freckle Juice which is my absolute favorite from when I was a child. He has read the Winnie the Pooh novel which is a great classic. He loves to read and reads at a pretty high level; he's already read all of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. What would you suggest I should encourage him to put on his list??
And...what about you? What are you reading? I need to start making a list to tackle in 2013!
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