Tuesday, December 29, 2009

A year's end & hope for something new

As each year comes to and end, I always feel a little melancholy.  Christmas is over, and with it, the festivities and time off from work.  This year I had the pleasure of a visit with my sister and nieces, so it will be particularly hard to see this year come to an end.  Tomorrow they will head back to San Diego, and then on Sunday my college aged daughter will also head back to school for her next semester.

To keep me from wallowing in the doldroms of the foggy winter days ahead and the let down to the end of the holidays, I will try to remember that the new year brings with it  new promises and adventures.  It's a good time to re-focus and figure out what really matters and what we will make a priority in our lives.  Many of us will make resolutions and promises for change to the part of our lives we are not content with.  Some of those changes will actually be accomplished, others will wait for the next year or maybe not happen at all.  Whatever dreams you have for  the new year, remember they are yours, and no one can diminish their importance, not matter how grand or small.

Sometimes, we are afraid to verbalize our dreams, for fear of never accomplishing them, or because we may be ridiculed by others for their grandiosity.  This year, I would like to figure out a way to come at least one step closer to mine.

I might start by making a list, allowing myself some tasks towards my dream that are easily accomplished, and others that might be a little harder to accomplish.   Regardless, the attitude I choose now will help me start this next year with hope and determination to acheive the future life I really want.

My wish for all of you is the same, the desire for happiness, and the hope and determination to bring it to life.

Happy New Year & Happy thoughts,
Lisa

India & Sahara at the park - they don't usually look this serious!  They really were having fun :)

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Christmas Spirit

Even with the financial struggles many of us are going through these days, I am really trying to get into the Christmas spirit this year.  I finally finished my decorations tonight while listening to my old favorite Christmas classics, songs by Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, no one puts me in the mood more.


My daughter is home for three weeks from college, so I feel like my little family is complete again.  Tomorrow is my city's local Christmas House tour, that a couple of my friends and I have made a yearly tradition of going on together.  It's a day I really look forward to.  My shopping is not nearly done, there are candy bar orders to work on, one more week of work before our Winter break, crafting I hope to do, and a few days of intense cookie baking ahead, but I will not let any of this overwhelm me, I am determined to enjoy every bit of it, not to let it rush by without fully enjoying every moment.


Life is just to short to let the stress take away from one of the most beautiful times of the year.  I hope that everyone will enjoy these next few weeks, and not let the burden of shopping and tasks overwhelm you, or keep you from enjoying your friends and family at this special time of year. 
May the Christmas Spirit be with you this holiday season. 


Happy Thoughts,
Lisa


Here are some pictures of my house now that I finally(almost) finished the decorating. I'm using a borrowed camera, so the photos aren't that great.