New Year's Thoughts

2012 has flown by. There have been many ups and very few downs. I have taken on more responsibility at work and in other areas. I have gotten the amazing opportunity to teach at the same school in the same grade level for the second year in a row. I have been able to spend more time with Jake in the evenings as his job had some changes. I have been able to take a class which brought me up to my +18 in graduate credits. I have enjoyed many nights and weekends with the MilShelb. I spend my days with 19 amazing children and was reminded this year through a horrible tragedy to never take even a moment for granted with them.
Jake and I have achieved a few of our goals this year which makes me really happy. We were able to get the pine trees in the front yard removed (thank goodness!! (And Reynold's Tree Service!)) We have painted our living room (which was a major undertaking), hallway, and laundry room. We have planned our first vacation together in over 6 years and are excited for that!
I have learned many lessons this year. I'll name a few:
~ People really do appreciate what I do every day and that is an awesome feeling.
~ Jake and I really can do anything we set our minds to.
~ Some Pinterest ideas may work for other people but not for me! (LOL!)
~ It is important to have friends who truly care and those are the friends you focus on.
~ You cannot change things for other people when they aren't willing to see that a change is needed.
~ Family is family. Like it or not.
(Some of the things I have learned are very well-worded by others...)
~"Your beliefs don't make you a better person; your behavior does." (author unknown)
~"Forgive others as quickly as you expect God to forgive you."

Of course, there are other lessons learned- but you don't put everything on the internet for the whole world to see!

2013 will be another whirlwind year if it's anything like the last couple of years. We have many great things planned and new goals set. I hope to still be at the same school in the same grade level next year. I am still contemplating going back to school for my master's. I have done a lot of thinking about goals and what I hope to accomplish this year. I am a very busy person. It's by choice. I take on a lot at once and really enjoy it most days. I do plan to take the summer off from working and work on my house! In terms of the big picture, I keep seeing all sorts of posts and websites about simplifying your life. It sounds like a great idea. It also sounds like a very difficult idea. I think I'll start with simplifying my house by getting rid of junk and move on from there. What I need to do (and am horrible at) is take things one step at a time and one project at a time. So, I'll clean out my junk and then work on my time management and focusing on people that are important to me. I think it's true that you make time for what is important to you. I guess I just have to prioritize first.

Happy New Year! 2013! Here's to a good one and many more to come!