2007 Resolve

Already it is time to ring in the new year! Welcome, 2007! As you might read from my previous post, 2006 was one of the best years of my life and I am confident that 2007 can also be a great year!

I recently read a great article in one of my favorite magazines, Real Simple, called "No More Self-Improvement." I was intrigued by this woman's story:

"I was a harsh judge of my own life, and each year I vowed to make radical changes in order to become a better person . . . my list of resolutions was so long, there was no way I could accomplish it all. Each year I felt like a failure."

Her story is all about how when she became ill, she found a new perspective on resolutions. She would simply resolve to survive. Now, I'm not trying to be morbid here and I know that I am lucky enough not to have to consider that type of resolution. For that I am grateful!! But her story was inspiring:

"So when it comes to the New Year, I resolve only one thing: to do my best and see the next year through. I keep it simple, because I know how hard a single resolution can be."

That says it all for me! That's the secret! So this has helped me to come to my 2007 resolve . . .

• In 2007, I will not hold myself to an impossible standard. I will accept myself, no matter what size I am, what my hair looks like (I love India Arie's "I am not my hair" - great song!!), how my features appear, or how much I feel like a failure. My resolve is to change my internal opinions of myself from negative to accepting.

The rest are just some other random resolutions that I will not end up feeling like a failure for if I do not achieve them . . .

• I want to be able to control my spending habits so that I can help Tim continue to pay off our debt (way to go with handling the finances, honey!!).
• I want to finish, COMPLETE our entire wedding album (so that I can move on to more events!!).
• I want to organize all of our photos chronologically and by event!
• I'd really like to see my business succeed . . . meaning, I'd like to pay off the incurred debt and finally see a profit this year! A good customer base is what I've got to find!! If I can't do this through Creative Memories, I'd like to look into using my creativity in other ways to possibly make some money!
• It would be great if Tim and I could finally start putting money aside to save for a baby! I hope to look more into this in 2007.
• I want to take a trip with my husband to a new place that we've never been before (doesn't have to be a long trip or very far away . . . just a little vacation!).

I'm sure that I could think of more, but those are good for now. What I hope to do is come back to this post throughout the year and highlight these as I complete them. That'd be encouraging! Anyway, Happy New Year and Welcome 2007!!

Reminiscence: Looking Back on a Year in Love

"I look into your eyes and I see

The greatest miracle given to me.

You are the joy of everyday.

Your smile guides my way."

-Shelley Howington

The first year was difficult, not because our love was weak, but because of outside circumstances that affected and changed our lives. Still, I believe those things have made us stronger, as we've seen in 2006. So much can happen in a year . . . let me recount some great things that we've seen and done and experienced over this past year:

• I survived (and so did you!) another one of my "winter storms" and was able to go back to work in February.





• I started my business with Creative Memories in March as my passion for scrapbooking truly began to develop this year.





• You found your first "real job" after having graduated from college. You were able to work so close to home!





• You found another great job just a week after getting laid-off due to cut-backs. In this arena of sales you have found yourself to be very successful!





• We graduated from our tiny studio apartment to a spacious two-bedroom apartment (in this same complex that we love!) in April.





• I was promoted to a position that I love at work.




• We got to take a fun trip to Texas in May to celebrate your cousin's wedding - that was our first plane-trip together since being married!





• We went down to Santa Cruz for my grandmother's family reunion in July.





• I was able to take a trip to Minnesota in August for a conference with Creative Memories.





• We've met some of the best friends we've had together since being married in August - another young, married couple with similar life circumstances (we love you, Simon & Andrea!).





• We went with our friends to our first Corn Maze together (my first ever!) in October.





• We were provided the "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity (that we gratefully took advantage of!!) to go sailing with your Aunt and Uncle in the Caribbean for ten days in November!





• I've made it through the season thus far without my usual "blue-period."





• We hosted our first Christmas with your family here in our apartment on Christmas Day!





• We've hosted more dinners, poker-nights, scrapbooking crops, and other fun gatherings this year!





• We definately had fewer fights this year!





• We definately had a lot more FUN this year!!





• We've definately fallen deeper in LOVE this year!!!

And now we're going to start another new year; the path ahead of us is uncharted and unknown. But I am confident that this can be another great year of laughter and love because we've seen how it is possible. I understand that the ups and downs are inevitable, but together we can make it through!! Timothy, I am more in love you today than I have ever been and my love for you continues to grow stronger everyday! You are my best friend, my true love, and my soul mate!! I love you!!