One Blog, One Resolution, & Cheers to 2011!

Hello Blog World! I hope you all are enjoying the holiday season. I love this time of year, despite the stresses, there is something magical about how much nicer everyone seems to be and the first snowfalls seem to christian the air and lay silence over the land. How the falling snow seems to sparkle and at night when all is quiet and it feels so peaceful and pretty. I am the type who continues to light the tree after Christmas because it still makes me smile. And when my girls are cheerful and enjoying the holiday company, everything is perfect!

I know I ramble, but life has been great and I have been crazy busy so this is my only December post. And though my original goal was four times a month, I'm ok with this. I am not going to ever beat myself up for the things I don't accomplish when I know I am doing my best to make my way through this journey and more importantly, I am willing to make compromises even if it means slowing down and enjoying good company, nature, and anything new that comes my way.

So here we wrap up 2010 and put it in a pretty little package called a memory. Some of it has been captured in photos and writing, but mostly it sits within us. It hasn't been an easy year by any means and there was tragedy. The violent death of a dear friend and watching her sons grow up without their parents has been something I wasn't quite prepared for and even in just thinking about it now, it is overwhelming and sad and scary - but I'm not going down that road right night.

I also made a major decision and left my job at an agency I was with for 14 years. It was one of my original resolutions and though I continue to deal with the implications (huge pay cut and not so generous with the benefits) I in no way regret that decision. I am happy once again at work, there are quarterly bonuses to strive for (I love challenges), and my supervisor really likes me. Less than three months there and I was already offered a new position which would have been a promotion that offered more money, but it was second shift and being able to pick up my youngest daughter from school so she can do drama, art club, etc., is important to me so I turned it down. I was assured there would be lots of other opportunities and I already knew that. I didn't just leave one company to accept the first job offer that came my way - opportunity to advance and earning potentials were at the top of the list!

So my resolutions from 2010 went something like this: professional - get a new job (check), Writing: blog four times a month and write weekly on stories (check). Okay, I didn't blog four times a month and had weeks without writing, but I only answer to myself. Besides, I created this blog like three years ago and my very first post wasn't until January 1, 2010 and consistently since then - make that a check PLUS! Personal: was something about ten new things - again Check Plus! The list includes(but I may be forgetting a few things): kayaking, played tennis (a lot), tried scallops (new food, tried twice and prefer with just ketchup over bacon-wrapped), a new mountain hiked (Big Moose in Moosehead, Maine), this blog, new job (yeah, they can be part of both goals, my resolutions so my rules!), conquered fear of deep water and improved on swimming and can now float on my back (I don't think I have had any other fears other than water so that is more major than it sounds, especially from someone who embraces nature!). I also joined a gym -okay very recently but I'm going! Also, a helicopter ride... amazing!!! Still have opportunities to go again but I have been so busy! Last but not least, actually most importantly and without any intentions the most important new thing happened to me. I became a grandmother which of course was not in the plans, but I was a very young mother so I was apt to become a young grandmother, and Baby Trenton has become my first true male love! He is beautiful in every way and I love him through and through!

So here I wrap up 2010 and look ahead to 2011. I've decided that it makes sense to only have one new year's resolution. Seriously, and no I don't mean "no resolutions" you cynics! The one resolution will be 11 new things for 2011! That way anything I accomplish can be included and I will continue to do what I always do - move forward and enjoy life with open arms!

Cheers to 2011!