even though i try and avoid the resolutions-bandwagon, i can't help but feel that december 31st is a day of reflections and january 1st provides a clear new beginning, fresh start, and the promise of do-overs.
do you ever have the realization that you are trying too hard? it hit me one day recently. i am trying too hard at the wrong things, but i am not exactly sure how to stop. i suppose the why? is simply the desire to be successful at living the kind of life i dream of for us. or perhaps it's insecurity.
regardless, i am trying too hard and my single goal for this next year is to slow and balance, in whatever way feels right for our family as i/we go.
i want 2010 to be one of love, simplicity, peace, appreciation, fulfillment, health, happiness, comfort, and joy.
aren't those wonderful words that can be applied to so many facets of one's life? in my life, i want to apply them to my children and parenting, my husband and marriage, myself, relationships, fitness, crafting, blogging, homemaking, eco-friendly living, gardening, and so on...
what are you striving for in 2010? (2010. can you believe that?!)
i want to wish you a joyous farewell to 2009. thank you so very much for spending some of your precious blog time here with me this year! this space and your presence has meant a lot to me. 2009 has been one of quite a few bumps, lots of change, but a gentle climb uphill, which is very welcome. i'll leave you and 2009 with a photo from each month this year, each of which is meaningful to me in some way.
january: finnian and i weaned at the end of the month.
march: lala's handprint in the snow in yosemite
april: a favorite photo of the year for me. my cuties tossing rocks at china camp
may: lala helping make skirts and pillows from the vintage sheet that keeps on giving. this was truly the start of a lot of creating for me.
june: my little guy eating a plum. plum season involves the whole family!
july: my mom took this photo of lala photographing a cactus on the trip we took to arizona for my grandma's 90th birthday.
august: our annual trip to the lake. i loved that my two little ones enjoyed exploring, but were also happy on the deck. finnian with puzzles, isabella with drawing.
september: while i technically took this "first day of school" photo at the very end of august, school really began on a monday in early september. what a milestone for all of us. and in the background, our porch, being prepped for painting, another big hurdle accomplished in september.
october: finnian loves boats. and we love the farmer's market where this was taken.
november: dada and finnian on the beach at sunset, on our weekend away at the monterey coast.
december: each year, we add a family photo ornament to our tree, so we can see each christmas how much our family has grown and changed. this year's photo was taken by my dad.
Happy New Year!
(our goals for 2009 can be found here. on monday, i plan to post about our year of trying not to buy anything new.)
