welcome new year 2012

It's New Year's Eve, baby!

And I'm on call.

Yeah, pretty lucky, huh?

Actually, I feel pretty lucky on many levels. I have a happy, healthy family. Great husband. Great kids. Great friends. And plenty to feel happy about. So, here's a tea-cup cheers to a wonderful new year.

I know it's pretty cliche to make resolutions. But how can you not? Looking back on the past year makes me feel good, but also gives me hope for something more.

Sure I want to eat better (drop some holiday pounds-obviously should have wrote more health tips!), I'd like to exercise more. Get outside. Write more (insert-blog more). Take more pictures. Read more (see Mark's latest post). Get more organized. Breathe. Take advantage of time "off".

Obviously, there's a lot that I'm wanting to accomplish. It may seem like a pretty big list. But I feel like I am always a "work in progress".

So, why not keep progressing? We may put a lot of stock in new year's resolutions. But we can keep working on them throughout the entire year. Not just the first few weeks (or months, if we're diligent).

Here's to 2012.

May you find me healthier, even happier, and a work in progress. I'm not perfect. None of us are.
May you find me forgiving. Sometimes forgetting the things I need not hold on to.
Find me to offer a helping hand. Scratch that. A non-judgmental helping hand.
Find me curious, always asking questions.
Find me a giver. Putting myself after others.
At the same time may you find me breathing.
Taking it all in, one breath at a time.
Not getting caught up in the day to day. But instead, the moment to moment.
May you find me rocking out. Listening to music, shaking my head, and tapping my feet. Anywhere. Anytime.
Find me soaking up the sun. Making any excuse to get outside, a reason to get into nature.
Because that is where we belong.
May I not be bound by excess. But live simply, within my means.
Find me putting pen to paper, click to shutter.
Documenting these precious and ordinary moments that make life what it is: grand.
Find me kinder, gentler. To myself. Appreciative of who I am, and what I offer.
Fast to compliment, slow to criticize.
Find me a learner. My mind a sponge. Whenever, wherever.
May you find me fearless. Embracing challenges, and not backing down.
Find me content.
I'm not asking to be happy-go-lucky, dripping with fulfillment all hours of the day.
Just content.

Resolve to be who you want to be, and continue to become.
Resolve to live. And most importantly, celebrate.
Here's to a wonderful 2012!

Christmas cheer

I want to just start off by saying....Merry Christmas to you and your family.

This post may be a long time comin', but I can honestly say everything about this year has been a little bit different. All in good ways, mind you, but I've definitely felt off my Christmas "game" this year. 

Well...life says, game on.

We traveled to the "home-land" last week. Kansas. I may prefer our beautiful tall pines, and gorgeous warm weather here in Georgia. But I definitely prefer being around our wonderful family and friends this time of year. It wouldn't be a Christmas without it.

The great part...a lot of celebration was in order. And did it ever deliver. 

a picture's worth a 1000 words :)

one of the best gifts I was fortunate to receive....a new lens for the ole camera.
this is my look that screams "how do ya work this..."

I started to figure it out...

After the Hain Christmas, we drove up to Newton for the morning. Katelynn and I helped Amy and Mama Church with some Christmas cookies. Well, I think we helped...

we enjoyed taste-testing!

Then down to Mom's to celebrate with the Kindt side. 

Which one's the angel?? (above or below)

The next day we celebrated with the Rowe side.

Over and over again, we were reminded of the love we have in all of those wonderful people we call our family and friends.

This morning, Santa finally came to our house. And we had a great day enjoying our time together. 

our new Christmas tradition...holiday-cakes

And tonight, as I reflect, sipping on my last cup of "holiday cheer", I can't help but feel entirely content. 

Joyful, for the year that we have had. The progress made, the ways in which we have learned more about ourselves.

Love, for those who we miss and think of often. Who are always in our hearts, no matter how many miles are between us.

And all the other mixed and meshed feelings that Christmas brings us all this time of year. 

The way we can be taken back to a Christmas past, with tokens in which we surround ourselves.

If I remember right, I believe I was in third grade when I heard about the the legend of the Christmas Spider.
My little hands made this trinket to hang on my tree then. And it still hangs now.

And in my personal belief, it doesn't matter who you are, and what you believe. Every day is an opportunity to come together and appreciate the joy life brings. 

In our household we love this tradition. Celebrating His birth, and our love for each other.

We hope each and every one of you have a wonderful Holiday Season!!