Hard to believe another
year has passed... It seems just yesterday I was sitting at this
same laptop, typing up a list of goals I had set out in January 2011!
I seem to have missed the list in 2012.... January is one of my
favorite times of the year when everything seems so fresh and new;
our slate is wiped clean and things seem so much more attainable.
The beginning of school has a similar feel but that often stresses me
out more with the pressure of new teachers and the school supply list
that grows every year.
This year has started like
most – I tackled closets: thinning and purging for all three of us
the things we've outgrown or just won't wear anymore. I (finally!)
cleaned off the laundry room counter and found a place to put all the
charging stations for the various cordless tools. And, what was the
biggest chore on my list became one of the best afternoons: cleaning
out the garage. I put both kiddos to work, initially to a litany of
complaints, sweeping and sorting all their outdoor toys. What was
initially the most daunting of the cleanup – taking apart our old
soccer goal – became the most eye opening. I pulled the goal out
and handed my boy a box of tools (the rotten net had gone several
months before but the rusted nuts were too time consuming on my first
attempt). He promptly set to work finding the right tool and
enlisting his sister to hold the pliers when things needed it. He
managed to safely dismantle the frame and then together they cleaned
everything up. I was so impressed by his maturity and diligence –
not quitting when the right tool was hard to find or yelling at his
sister when she tried to help. My lesson – he is growing up and
ready to handle more responsibility (and needs to be challenged like
this more often). I might have to invest in a safer/lighter
lawnmower soon and hand that job off to him, too!!
In addition to all the
purging and cleaning I've been pondering my goals for the next year
and am surprised at how similar the themes are to the ones I set two
years ago...
Spend more time with God –
reading and focusing on His plans for us
Focus on our health –
making time for the dentist, checkups and various things that get
pushed back between work and other demands
Encourage the kiddos to
see their strengths and make more time for fun
Continue to save in
preparation for 2014's big challenge of retirement
I'll try to keep you all
posted on our progress.... So far we are 12 days into the new year
and things seem to be shaping up pretty darn well!!
