I was wrong...she's up to my mid-forehead. Or, am I just shrinking? Do you realize she just has two or three more inches to catch up with me?

Kids are Growing Up

Elizabeth has grown this week before my very eyes. She is up to my eyeballs now. Can you believe it? The days are slipping away so fast! Heeeeeellllllpppp!!!

Yesterday I asked Blaine who his friends were. Thoughtfully he answered, "Maria, Sarah, Cassum, Tyler, Mason, Grant, Granny, Popo, Ge-ma, Papa Don, Uncle Johnny, Evan, Judah."

"What about Rebecca and Elizabeth?" I ask.

"No, mommy, they're my sisters!"

Resolutions

Yes, we should all keep each other accountable. Everyone had such good ideas that I, too, want to amend my list. But alas, I should keep it the same so that I actually accomplish something! I'm just excited for everyone and the wonderful year we are all slotted to have.

I am currently working on withdrawing cash and eating my fruity snacks. :)

This year I will...

• Teach my children
• Teach art at a co-op
• Do art for ME
• Spend time with friends
• Run
• Clean my house
• Read a book
• Knit a scarf
• Play with my children
• Read to my children
• Finish the curriculum we started
• Start new curriculum
• Go swimming
• Go on a summer vacation
• Spend time with family
• Watch Blaine play flag football
• Make sure my children can read fluently
• Watch Rebecca do gymnastics
• Watch Elizabeth's hip-hop performance
• Teach my children to spell
• Read lots of email
• Write letters and thank you notes
• Tell people when I can't do something
• Help others
• Connect with my neighbors
• Lose weight
• Replace the bathroom faucets
• Fix our van window so that it no longer whistles
• Buy different living room furniture
• Decorate our bedroom
• Replace the linoleum in the powder bath
• Paint my living room
• Play games with my husband
• Date my husband
• Appreciate my family
• Love my mom and dad
• Spend time with God
• Teach my children to love the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength

Just needed a few happy thoughts!

Reflectively Draggin'

I have woken up two mornings in a row at 6:30 to see micah off to work. I have been so tired afterwards that I eat and go back to sleep for a few hours. Must be nice, eh? What's wrong with me? This weather just makes me want to curl up and sleep and sleep and sleep. Yesterday I literally accomplished nothing, and I think it was wonderful but I'm not sure exactly. I just missed micah so much after him being off for over 2 weeks, and I feel overwhelmed at the thought of starting school. I'm just tired. I miss running in the morning, but I'm really enjoying running with him. I just need a shift in my thinking or my psyche or something. I think this AM I will go for a short walk/jog and do some weight training. I need something to get the blood pumping and get me going today.

As I am writing the kids come upstairs and talk to me. Though I get irritated I am constantly reminding myself that this will not last for very long. That in itself sends me into a tailspin. What if they are not smart enough to function in this world? Will I accomplish everything scholastically for them? Lord, help me.

I read back over all my journal entries for 2008. There weren't very many, so it didn't take long. Apparently I only journal when I am in desperation. It reflected so much of how I feel today. Money problems, school doubts, co-op frustrations, overwhelming house chores, running ambitions, weight loss goals. I thought I could have written those entries this very morning! Though overall I do see the Lord's hand in all of those areas. We have paid off a good chunk of debt and Micah got a raise, even though I fretted for weeks about school the kids learned a lot, last night we completely restructured co-op so that I only have 5 lessons left to teach (and hopefully one class instead of 3), and the downstairs is as clean as it can possibly be. But I ask myself why is it that after 13 years of marriage we still do not have a headboard or a nice comforter or sheets without holes in them? It is difficult sometimes for me to prioritize where the money will be spent or how it will be saved.

And then I think of the children in other countries who barely have any rice to eat or a warm blanket. Then I just get quiet and thankful.

Maybe this will be the year that I am inspired to decorate our room on a small budget but make it look like I spent $10k. Maybe this will be the year that we somehow find an awesome deal on great living room furniture at some garage sale or resale shop. Maybe. I often wonder if it is so wrong to want to make my house look nice, not to spend a lot of money, but just to make it pretty. It takes so much to set up a house and keep it going. We spent 1 1/2 hours talking to our couple we mentor about finances. I hope that some inkling of what we said got through to them. I hope.

Well, for now I will go and stop depressing everyone. I need to go get some endorphins running.

Draggin'

I'm with tammie. My feet are just draggin'. The only thing hustling is my exercise routine, but it is still in need of a little raz-a-ma-taz. I'm excited to say that Micah and I have been running/walking together. That has been so fun for me! I just pray that with him going back to work we can continue the magic.

I really don't want to start school tomorrow. I am truly draggin' about that. I'm in total denial. I really want to move to Tahiti.

The only thing encouraging is that we did manage to remove all signs of Christmas from our house this weekend. I was so depressed thinking of taking it all down that I forced myself to do it. I vacuumed everything in sight except the top of the fire place that will require an extremely tall ladder. :) I polished every piece of furniture until they literally squeaked. All signs of Christmas and December Dust have left the premises. And, now, we start another year. This Christmas I somehow want to have all my Christmas money saved and ready for December so that I don't have to wait to December 20th to finish all my purchases. That was nail biting.

As Tammie said, I do have a goal of losing weight, but I didn't post that. Last year I managed to lose 8 pounds and kept it off. This year I would like to lose 20 pounds, but do you know how discouraging that sounds to me? I don't even want to talk about it. And that's bad because that scares me into thinking it won't happen.

Our pastor spoke today on how 80% of Americans will give up on all their resolutions by Valentine's Day. So, he said, you should choose ones that are possible to accomplish. "So, I've decided to quit smoking," he said. The whole place roared with laughter b/c of course he doesn't smoke! Lastly he said you should have someone help keep you accountable to make sure you accomplish your goals, "So," he said, "this year I'm going to have the police keep me from speeding." I so understand his sentiments. So many years I just don't WANT to make a resolution.

2009

We had a wonderful time seeing everyone, and the kids had a great time playing games and playing at Ge-ma's. They also had a great time playing at Granny's. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as good there, so they stayed inside more. But they did have a great time playing games with Granny. Thanks to everyone for making the holidays as memorable as they were!

I thoroughly enjoyed spending a little time with Hayden and Grant. Those boys are so cute. My favorite expression is Grant giving Hayden the evil eye. It's like he's saying, "Back off, Buddy, I was here first!" I think he'll change his tune once they get to race through Ge-ma's on the peanut scooters. Mom, are you sure you really want one more of those?

My all-time favorite memory was the lovely time Micah and I had in Austin. Staying at the Hyatt was quite a treat that he has always wanted to enjoy. We enjoyed two gourmet meals at the SWB restaurant. With a lit up view of downtown Austin and Town Lake and waiters with French accents, we had quite a grand time! We also enjoyed a jog around Town Lake, a show with the famous Rockettes, and the movie "Marley and Me". Whew. I'm in shock coming back home to all the chores and laundry.

So, here's to another wonderful year!