HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My phone died sometime before the ball dropped, so I wasn't able to send or respond to anyone's thoughtful texts or phone calls.  Thank you for thinking of me though!

We had a long week at the cabin, followed by a quiet, pleasant New Year's Eve with my mom.  She had never seen the Princess Bride before (gasp, shock and amazement!) so I corrected that.  The thing about my mom, is that she doesn't often make sarcastic/dry jokes like that, so I usually forget that even though she doesn't joke around like that personally, she still gets the joke and it cracks her up -- so we spent the evening laughing along with Robin Wright and Cary Elwes.  Dad got home about a quarter til midnight, Cassy woke up, and we all rang in the new year.

So, out with the old, in with the new. 

I don't tend to make New Years resolutions.  If I do, I tend to forget them by this time next year so I never remember if I succeeded with them or not.  Even so, I'm going to attempt the following:

1.  Somewhat better diet, less soda, more fruits and veggies
2.  Better organization in both my work and personal life
3.  Less TV.  Specifically, I am going to choose a night where there is *no* electronic media used in the house.  Time to get back to basics -- board games, puzzles, books.
4.  Better sleep schedule -- trying to get to bed by 10, settle for 11, during the week.
5.  (long shot) - Less activity.  I think there were only 3 weekends in all of 2010 where we didn't already have something scheduled months in advance.  I'd like to be able to see what comes up 'unplanned' -- like, hikes, picnics, trips to the zoo.

I'll use that last one as my lead in for . . .

Already in 2011, we've planned dinner with Mike and Katherine, Laser Tag/Settlers night with the Bradney's, Cassy's birthday, a trip to PA for Lucas' birthday, men and women's retreats with SG, Beach Trip!, yard crawl, LBD evening out . . . and are working on on the following home improvement projects:

1.  New Wash Basin installed -- *completed!*
2.  New Attic Ladder installed -- scheduled for THIS saturday!
3.  Beer cellar and/or cabinets buildout
4.  Recessed Lighting in Living Room
5.  New deck furniture
6.  Play space for Cassy on main level and in the back yard

I think I secretly really like having a busy schedule.  It makes me feel a part of things, and full of life.  Even still, I'd really like to start making time for things that we never get to do but always wish we could do.  I miss the days where we could lounge around and ask "so what do you want to do today" and have to think of a creative response.  Pretty soon Cassy will be telling us what SHE wants to do!  She's getting close to talking.  Here's a video of her "reading":

I did manage to save the book from becoming her afternoon snack, in case you were wondering.  Oh, and her incredibly cute outfit is courtesy of Grandma Bonbon  . . . or Santa Nusbaum, I forget which :-)

Now that it's January, the next part of what I'm calling Operation Facelift will begin.  I am part of a team of people helping to implement new, modern changes into the look and feel of SG, something that I am very honored to be included in.  I love this church, and really want to see it progress with the world around it.  In December, O.F. included a reworking of the usual Christmas decorations, and a flush out of old, broken, unused ornaments and packaging.  We also painted the 'blue room' (our multipurpose room), and added carpeting to give the room a more finished look.   January has already started nicely, with our new information kiosk being completed and delivered.  I haven't seen it yet in person, but the pictures look stunning and I'm sure this will help guide new members and visitors around SG!  We're going to redesign the missionary boards, ministry boards, and home group boards as well to give them all a streamlined, complementary appearance.  Eric has been working on revamping SG's handouts, brochures, website, etc.  It's amazing how so many small changes can lead to something so big! 

So, 2011 has started off rather nicely.  I love new beginnings.  Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end -- and so it goes.  And she was.  :-)