December 31, 2010

The End of Ten, 2010 that is…

alpine churchI hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season. I can’t believe it is the last day of 2010. When I was in the 2nd grade, my class was part of a big anti-smoking initiative and I can remember the teachers telling us we were the (Smoke Free!) Class of 2000 and it seemed like such a mysterious thing. Then the year 2000 finally came and went (without much ado) and here we are on the cusp of 2011. Time really does fly. Just a short year ago, this blog was still a secret pastime of mine and now there are actual real live people who read it. Oh how I love you real live people….even those who don’t comment.

Since they are on our minds, I figured I’d mention New Year’s Resolutions. I’ve only made a few successful resolutions in past years (one being that I didn’t drink any juice made from concentrate, another that I didn’t wear the color red) and none have had any real lasting effect on my life. My friend Rachel and I are toying with the idea of resolving to never leave the house without makeup on, but I’m not sure my skin can handle it.

Instead of making lots of resolutions that I will ultimately fail at and end up feeling all the worse, I have decided to compile a list of things that I already try to do in the hopes of doing them more often in the coming year.

In no particular order….

dominoes 1

Play more

Worry less 

Make better use of my imagination (an imagination is a glorious gift that for some, I fear, gets pushed to the back of the shelf when we reach a certain age…..let’s put an end to this, ok?)

ayla walk by faith

Walk by faith…not by sight

Ask questions and really listen to their answers

Be brave

Don’t be afraid to cry

frost on windows

Believe that since dreams spring up in us for a reason, surely they will come true

Look for new dreams that haven’t yet sprung up

ayla's cville depot in snow

Encourage the dreams of others, especially when they need encouragement the most

Eat more fresh fruits & veggies

Accessorize, for this ability is the only thing that separates us from the animals! (according to Coco Chanel)

aylas coffee cup

Wear more sunscreen

Contribute something to the world that is uniquely my own

Show appreciation to others for their contributions

Remember who I am & where I come from

Celebrate the lives of those I have loved by re-telling their stories, recreating their delicious recipes, reliving their traditions, and remembering them fondly on this blog

 

I’m so excited about what the new year has to offer us and I can’t wait to experience it with all of you! Thanks for being part of my world and allowing me to be part of yours…Hooray for 2011! See you next year!

{all photos courtesy my talented cousin Ayla W.}