My Resolutions.

As a child, I remember that a year seemed to last a lifetime. Christmas couldn't arrive fast enough, and the four months in between Christmas and summer vacation seemed an eternity. Now that I am a bit older, years seem to fly by.

2010 was memorable: babies, colic, first smiles, pneumonia, a little princess and a tiny super hero, road trips, picnics, swimming lessons, designing, gardening, kitchen experiments, concerts, anniversaries, job loss, kindergarten, new callings, back to college, weddings, new siblings, baby kisses. 2010 was good to us. Challenging, but good. It's nice being so in love with J. Having him at my side makes even the hardest of times hopeful and the simplest of moments joyful.

I have high hopes for 2011. Hoping for a bit of calm. For some stability and simplicity. More sleep. Hoping my kiddos don't become too old for my hugs or kisses. That I'll still be my the favorite girl of my three boys. That my daughter will still be my shadow. Hoping that my garden grows a little taller. That I get more use out of my over abundance of tomatoes. That my butternut squash plant will produce more than one squash.  Hoping for lots of family time. That we create some lasting memories.

My intention was to have only 11 goals for 2011. It turned into 18. I'm not very good at being concise. (My mother, an editor by profession, slices away at my papers when I ask her to edit. Apparently I'm too wordy.) But, alas, I couldn't decide which resolutions to nix. So they all stayed put.

My word of the year? Grow.

I want to grow. Spiritually, socially, mentally, physically. I want to be stronger. A reliable employee. A trusted friend. A good wife and mother. I want to be better.

Wishing you the best in the year to come.