T-minus 1 hour and 47 minutes until we say goodbye to 2009 and ring in 2010. Thanks to a baby induced emotional breakdown, we threw in the towel on New Years and decided to spend it at home. So, I am taking this time, trying to stay awake until midnight, to reflect on the past year and contemplate 2010. Here is a 2009 recap:
A little family drama here and there, my beautiful Godson was born, and baptized, we vacationed on Sanibel Island, Surprise, we’re pregnant, Surprise, it’s gonna be a girl, my mom broke her leg, we traveled to Rolla Mo. to see the Brunner/Cavender/Foote clan for Thanksgiving, my grandpa was diagnosed with prostate cancer, the flu or some sort of ick came rolling through the family and struck us all, (luckily, I came out with only a crappy cold, Brian and the rest of the Stahl clan got it much worse,) and Christmas and New Year has sort of come and gone. It really has been a different sort of holiday season this year for us. Due to the ick that invaded we missed a lot of the early December Christmas activities, I missed Nate’s 5th birthday party, and we both missed the annual Turner party. Christmas was pretty low key with mom down and out in the leg, and for the first time in a while, we did not get to spend any time with Dave, Leslie, and Nate for the holiday. Among other things it just caused for an abnormal holiday. So- while 2009 hasn’t been a “bad” year, we are already welcoming 2010 with open arms. Mom will be on the rebound and hopefully back on two feet before the end of the first quarter of this year, my grandpa received a pretty positive prognosis for the cancer he has, and is currently in Jacksonville FL getting treatments that the Dr.’s are pretty optimistic will cure the disease, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our little miracle, (and I am anxiously awaiting feeling like a normal person again!!), and that is just the events happening before the tulips bloom, (or about the same time.)
So reflecting on the upcoming 2010 here are a few resolutions I myself would like to make: (obviously and number one always, though not a “resolution” is to welcome a healthy and happy baby girl this spring. I thank the Lord everyday for the opportunity for Brian and I to be her parents, and cannot wait to meet her.)
1.) Take more pictures. We got a brand new camera for Christmas this year so I hope to start out the new year taking and posting a lot more pictures. And of course, once our daughter arrives I am sure there will be PLENTY of pictures posted.
2.) Finally just let go. There are a few unhealthy things and or relationships I have been holding onto for a while now and it is time to let it be what it is and let it go. I have been working on this within myself but have found it to not be so easy. To use the past, present, and the future to learn and grow myself as an individual. Which leads me to my #3.
3.) To become a better wife. A better friend. A better daughter. Learn my role as a mother. I want to get to a place where I feel like I am stable, and not so scatter brained, and fly by the seat of my pants. To strengthen my relationships with the people I love and who love me. To spend more quality time with my husband and to further stregthen our bond as well as relationship. To be more supportive of my husband, my friends, and my family. To really jump in to making sure they know that I appreciate and love them.
4.) To relax a little. Not be so hard on myself and laugh a lot more. Now more than ever am I approaching a time in my life when a little dust on the furniture is totally worth the smiles, laughs, and memories I am out making with the people that matter.
5.) To set the example for my daughter that I would be proud of her to follow.
Finally, to continue to further myself to be the person I want to see myself be. All the previous resolutions are going to be key players in this quest, but also I would like to strengthen my patience, be less judgemental, not jump to conclusions, and have more and be more fun, finding the joy in the little things in life.
That sets the bar for me as a person. Some days I feel like these things are attainable and other days it feels as if these things are so far away I will never get there. But I think it is important for me, or human nature, to continue to push yourself further. If you stop trying to better yourself and learn more about yourself, you stop the journey. There is always something more. There is no personal fulfillment or sense of accomplishment if you stop.
So, now that the countdown is at 21 minutes, and I have shared my aspirations for 2010 with you, what are yours?
I hope that everyone has a very safe, happy, healthy, and properous New Year! Bring on 2010!!