2014

Good morning dear readers, it's good to be back.  I got up this morning and took a long walk.  The first song on my iPod was Miranda Lambert's "The house that built me".  I was immediately taken back to this memory with Sadie. Bittersweet.  As I walked along, I felt happy listening to the crunch of the late fallen leaves under my feet.  Arizona winters are always beautiful.  And while the  rest of the country is trying to stay warm, we are celebrating temperatures in the seventies and finally escaping the smothering heat of summer.  It's a trade off.  I always miss having a white christmas, but after December is over, all the perks of a desert winter win out.
     2014.  A new start, a new year.  I spent December taking a good, and very hard look at who I am, and who I want to become.  The process of striving for self refinement is something I do innately.  It's who I am, and it's something I can't put aside for too long, or I become really unhappy. I've loved having this time with my family.  When we return to our routine this coming Monday, I will find a few, quiet moments with my journal to write down what I want accomplish and improve on in 2014. As I neared the end of my walk and took inventory of all my thoughts, I was reminded of one of my very favorite quotes.  It's from this scene in the Lord of the Rings movie, The Fellowship of the Ring.
                       All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

I believe that, in the eternal scheme of things, our time on this earth is relatively short.  And really, the only thing that we get to take with us is the knowledge and experience we've gained and the relationships we've formed.  Gratefully, I believe that the love we give and receive transcends this life.   But what do I want to do with this time I'm given right now, today?   More than anything, I'm trying to learn to make it more about others, and less about me. Sadie is spending eighteen months of her life loving and serving other people.  She's never been happier.  And once again, I find that my children are teaching me more than I will ever teach them. Looking forward to 2014...

Happy New Year.