What 2009 will bring

Along with the new year comes one more year added to my age, yeah I know it happens for everyone however with my birthday just over a week past the new year they seem to go hand and hand for me. This year I will be intering the 30 somethings, 31 to be exact. Well this year with the new year and my new age I am setting 3 goals for myself. I am not calling them resolutions (I tend not to keep them) they are going to be life goals. With these main goals come many little goals that I have for myself as well. So here they are over this next year of 2009 and my 31st year of life.

1. I will finish my teaching cred. in Jan
a. complete my first aid course
b. pass my constitution test

2. I will get in shape and loose weight
a. train with Team in Training and complete the Rock and Roll Marathon 1/2 Marathon.
b. improve my eating habits for my self and my family

3. Spend more quality time with my family
a. enroll the girls in dance class
b. more family outings on the weekend.

Reflecting

As I sit here reflecting on the past year I feel I have made several steps toward find and rebalancing myself. My life has slowed down a bit and I am trying to make more time for just myself (like attending girls night out at my local Quilting shop). However, I have so many new goals I want to do over the next year I find it overwhelming, I'm not even really sure where to start my next years voyage. There are just so many things to do and finish, for myself as well as my family

Myself:
1. finish my cred.
2. train for the half marathon
3. which to do so I need to fix my foot issues that are continuing to be an issue
4. loose weight and get in shape

My family:
5. keep up with the laundry (which I have decided is my arch enemy).
6. spend more quality time with my girls.
7. enroll them in dance classes.
8. Manage money better

As I list them it all seems over whelming. Life seems like a day to day race that I never seems to have enough time to finish. I want to enjoy my life but I don;t ever seem to find the time to do that. This Christmas seems to be a prime example of this. We have so many people who wanted to spend time with us we ended up having 5 different gathering between christmas eve and day, I felt like I hardly saw my husband or girls. I really find it hard to say no to everyone. I feel like we have to see everyone and with a multibranched family tree and the only branch with kids there are so many people who want to see/ spend time with us during the holiday. Next year we are slimming down the gatherings (not sure how but I have promissed myself that).

I am off to fit as many errands as I can before picking the girls up from school. I will need to think more on the goals for next year and come up with a smaller and more focused list and plan but not today.

Holidays

So the holidays have gotten the better of me, I have not really found the time to train, however I have broken in some really good insoles and they seem to be working. Now that I can wear them for a decent time I need to do a test walk and make sure that they will work in a training situation. If not I guess it is back to the Drs. for custom insoles.

I love the Christmas season. I love the lights, shopping (as long as it it's the last week), the family all together (even knowing there drama that comes with it). I am excited for this year because the girls understand who Santa is and that he brings toys but they understnd more that christmas is Jesus's Birthday. They had their Christmas program this year and it was so cute, they did the manger scene, it was very cute. At the end they sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.

I have finished my christmas shopping and the decorating (even if Audrey doesn't think everything is where it should go and keeps rearaning the decerations). I am now eagerly awaiting this Christmas, my sisters and brother in law will be here and I miss having them around for the girls to grow up with, so I excited they will be here for the holiday. I am excited for Doug to have a few days off to spend with his family. I am also excited to watch everyone open their gifts, I do enjoy shopping and giving to others, to see the happiness on their face when they open their gifts, I would love to be able to give to all my friends and family (I wish money wasn't a issue).

I am counting down the days to my usual hectic b ut wonderful holiday season.

Madeliene

Though I usually wtite about myself today I am dedicating my post to Madeleine, a sweet little girl who has endured more in that last 11 months than most of us have in our lifetime. For those of you unfimilar with Madi's story she has been battleing Neuroblastoma for the past 11 months. She has had 2 major surgeries to remove the tumor as well as 8 rounds of chemo to kill the remaining portion. Her parents recieved the unwanted news Monday moring that the Chemo is not working and the tumor is still growing. The Dr. has refered Madi to a radition specialist at UCSD as well as to a doctor in LA that specializes in experimental neuroblastoma treatments. They are unsure of the next step for Madi, but I do know that no matter what the next step is she can use as many prayers and positive thoughts that we all can give her. So I am asking if you visit my site regularly or you just came across it please keep Madi in your thoughts and prayers.

If you would like to learn more about Madi, her mom has a blog dedicated to her story: http://madmadammadeleine.blogspot.com/

Thanks,
D