Out With the Old, In With the New

It really has been a year of ups and downs. Lots of changes this year--especially the last part of the year.

The new: new job for Richard, new driver's license for Chris, new freedoms for James and John, completely new family dynamic because of Richard's new job, new calling for me

The old: I'm still at Camey, same house, same ward, many of the same problems and issues, same medical problems for Richard.

For the first time in a long time, I've really thought about a resolution this year. A friend of mine was telling me about a book she gave her mother for Christmas.
My friend said that, from the part she read, she realized that she needed to quit worrying so much about her weaknesses and focus more on her strengths. That really spoke to me. With all the changes we've had this year--and with Richard being gone so much--I've had more of a chance to step up and I've often felt as though I've let everyone down. Like I haven't stepped up the way I could or should.

But by golly, there are a lot of things I *have* done right. We've held Family Home Evening more often this year than in years past. We've had morning and evening family prayers on a much more consistent basis. I may not cook "complete" meals, but I'm cooking more often than I used to. And...I've lost about 15 pounds.

So...my resolution this year is to focus on my strengths. I am a daughter of God. I'm strong. I'm a good teacher and a good mother. (And I'm a really, really good musician--if I do say so myself.) I don't say any of this with "pride." But I know myself well enough to know that it's very easy for me to get down on myself - to feel as if I'm not doing enough, not being enough, not...enough.

We're going to ring in 2010 (has it *really* been 10 years since Y2K?) with a movie and some Martinelli's while Chris rings it in with a dance and an after-midnight breakfast. And tomorrow we're going to get Christmas put away and enjoy the feel of an "empty" house. And I'm going to be positive about it all.

Watch this. School starts back on Monday. Yay! (How was that?)