The Erwin Journey: New Years

Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy 2012

Lance and I both had to work New Years Day, meaning that we had to keep NYE fairly low key.

[the above was written to make us look less lame... even if Lance and I didn't have to work, we still would have done the same thing! ...We're home-bodies.]

Anywho, we had a small get together at my mom's.
We made lots of yummy dips and snacks and finger foods.

My brother's family left early....
and a fire near my sister's boyfriend's house had them leave as well.

Lance forgot the games at home,
and the boys didn't track hogs.

So basically we did nothing...
but I still thought it was fun.

[right up until I realized that Lance was only going to get 3 hours of sleep before work, and me; less than 6. I love sleep. I need sleep. Starbucks helped me feel like I had more than I actually did.]

A few days before NYE, Lance and I had a conversation about our goals for 2012.

[I prefer 'goal' rather than resolution.... being the commitment phobe that I am, it makes things not so concrete.]

Last year I encouraged myself to 'let go'.

Of pains... of resentments... of hurt feelings... of harder times... of anxiety... of stress... of things I can not control... of my walls... of trying to please everyone.

I feel like I have come leaps and bounds in the past year-- and my husband agrees.

Like everything else in life, I still have a lot of work to go...

And I will continue working on this.

So it is time to reassess-- and talk about where we can improve.

Lance said his goal was "to be better".

That annoyed me.

So he clarified, "I just want to be an all around better person."

What?!

"Physically, mentally, spiritually, at work... at home..."

I still kept digging, because I hated that he threw out such a vague ~~resolution~~ goal-- there was no way to track your success, this way.

But then it made me realize one that I need to add to my list of goals...

Quit trying to control everything.

As well as...

Cook more.
Make healthier food.
become members of a church.
be on the computer less-- play outside more.
read to the boys more.
keep my car cleaner.
take time away from the boys to make my husband feel loved.
find an outlet to give myself to others.
Read more for myself.
tell Lance how special he is-- rather than just thinking it [or blogging it].
{finally} learn my camera, and take better pictures.
become a certified CPR instructor.
Praise more and discourage less.
Continue Yoga.
Take Salsa lessons with my SIL.
Get a daily devotional... and stick with it.

And my big one.

LIVE IN TODAY.

I am terrible about worrying about the future... or being so excited to "finally being back on our feet"... that I push through the days, trying to get ahead. Sometimes, I feel that I miss out on the precious life at my feet, because of this.

I will be better in 2012.

***

Yesterday, my mom made pork loin, black eyed peas, cabbage, macaroni and cheese, and corn bread... New Years day food competes with Thanksgiving in my book.

After a quick bath in the sink, we went home for the boys to nap.

For three hours.