Thank you 2019!

Good evening friends.

In just a couple of days we will be rolling in the year 2020. Folks are making their resolutions and predictions and ready to usher in the new year. While I am right there with them in my preparing for the new year and all the wonderful goals I plan to set, I must first stop and say THANK YOU to 2019.

This year has been full of firsts, rewards and blessings. My oldest started high school. My youngest finished his last year at city league sports.  I celebrated my 6th year with my employer and was blessed with another raise. 

2019 was also the year we celebrated my moms first birthday without her. The 1 year anniversary of her death came in September. I feel like I have never experienced a greater pain in my life then that of losing my mom. I pray that each passing year will offer my family and I more peace in knowing that she is with Jesus and that we will meet again with her one day.

Perhaps the biggest blessing this year was that I became a homeowner! As a single momma raising a teen and pre-teen, home-ownership seemed far away to me. So imagine my surprise when  the owners of this little home I had rented for 9 years offered to sell it to me. I feel completely blessed and overwhelmed with gladness.  I have some big plans for our home and goals to meet in 2020, but I will save that for another post.

Be thankful for what you have in this life. 

New Years Day 2012

Out with the old and in with the new! I was glad to see 2011 put to rest. A new year brings with it a certain freshness a starting over feeling. Some make resolutions while others choose to leave well enough alone. At any rate, we are in a new year and that is cause for celebration!

As I reflect on things of 2011, I find myself seeking out change. I am not making resolutions this year, rather I am  making changes in the way I handle my life. Food for example. I have realized that its really not about the food. I have realized why I eat the way I do and what emotions are behind it.  I am now able to stop that emotional eating by recognizing the behavior before it starts. It's truly almost as if I have had an "a-ha" moment.  And with that a-ha moment came a loss of 16 pounds and still going. :)

Saboteurs. They do in fact exist. There are people who honest to God do not want to see you succeed. They will do their best to tempt, discourage and try to bring you down. They make every effort to infect you with their misery. I see it..I get it..I'm over it. This is my life. I have a hold of the reigns. The negative people need take notice, I am stepping out.

Patience. Being a single parent is difficult. Being the sole parent even more so. I'm not looking nor do I need sympathy, it is what it is. I find myself yelling. A lot. I get frustrated having to "do it all" and I lose my patience. My kids didn't ask for a douche for a dad, but it's what was dealt them. So it's my place to step up and be both mom and dad. I struggle with patience, hard as I try I fail more often than not. But I vow to try even harder. My kids deserve it.

Exercise. I had signed up for and paid my dues for 2011. Without going into details it turned out to be something I chose not to do after seeing who I would have to deal with while there. I am not renewing my membership. However, I will be purchasing an elliptical next month. It will be parked in my living room, my very small living room, facing my television. I intend to spend many hours a week burning calories!

Those are the majority of changes I am making for myself this year. Some of which I already started working on in 2011. This is going to be a good year, I feel it.... Happy New Year friends...may you succeed in all you wish to achieve.