We meet again.

I'm back.

   Back with a fresh perspective, cleaner look on the blog, (thanks to this amazing woman who so graciously and astoundingly offered to help me redesign my blog!!! ) and a brand-spankin'-new year. I'll tell you what wasn't so fresh and clean and new this morning, and that was my teeth.  And the grocery sacks under my eyes.

   A rare sort of New Year's Eve fairy sprinkled party dust over us last night, and in spite of being calm, reasonable, responsible parents of a 2 yr old and a 6 month old, we stayed up until nearly 4 am, bringing in the new year.  If you're wondering what we were thinking, so are we.

   Truthfully, we were partying with the youth group from our church as we are youth sponsors.  It was a lot of fun, and the girls did remarkably well for staying up late and being put to bed in strange places, and waking up again at 3:00 to lots of strange people and strange noises.  And Jocelyn slept in past 10:30 am this morning, so there are Christmas miracles still happening, folks.

   There is something so refreshing, so invigorating about a new year.  I usually anticipate it much in the same way that one would anticipate a new baby.  No, we are NOT anticipating a new baby, I am simply making an analogy here people, sheesh.  The reason I compare it to birthing a child is because much like looking forward to a new baby, there are great anticipations and excitement, yet there is a fair amount of trepidation.  You have hopes and dreams, but you also have real fears and anxieties. 

And it's OK.

  It's OK to realize those things, embrace them, and stride forward into the new year with your head held high, come what may. I also face a certain amount of pressure, every time another January 1st rolls around.  It just always feels like there is a lot at stake to me...like that feeling when you were a kid, and your emotions vacillated between wanting to preserve your new coloring book, all fresh and clean and new, and color furiously on every page.  Each time a new year comes by, I find myself almost tip-toeing into it, not wanting to wreck anything, not wanting to mess anything up.

Well, too late for that one.

   Sparing you the details, this lovely year of 2013 started out a bit rough.  But after a time to think, and a long walk in the crisp, sunny wintry weather, I feel ready.  Not ready for the entire year, because I still know for a fact that there are a few things ahead I'm rather dreading.  But ready to at least move forward.  Just step into it, one foot at a time, one day at a time, and take it as it comes. 

   I first heard of the idea of asking God for a word for your year on Beka's blog, over here.  At first I didn't really know if God was "giving" me a word, or if it was just one I was thinking of myself, but then it persisted so long and so relentlessly, I finally realized that it must have been God after all. 

My word for this year is "Simplify."  

   Right now I feel like I need to simplify in every area of my life.  There are about 100 things I could think of to list, but I'll spare you that.  I think that for the sake of my sanity, and the sanity of those I love, I have to.  I need to.  And I'm not sure yet what exactly that all will entail, but it is going to happen.  Maybe just tiny bits at a time, but it will happen.

  I really need to get this posted and get some sleep, but I was determined not to let the first day of this new year slip by without at least blogging something.  I have missed it, I really have.  It felt some days as if a dear friend was just...missing.  I know that's cheesy, but it's true.  I would find myself lost in a day dream, just wading through my thoughts without some place to spill them all out across the page....and it was a sinking feeling.   It is through written words that often I find a peace of mind.  It is when they are all stumbling over themselves in my head that I sometimes can't seem to find a way to make any of them make sense.  So I guess that means I should keep writing.  Even if for no one else but me. 

   So thank-you, dear reader, for not forgetting me.  I'm so glad you're here.  I've missed you, I'm glad to be back, and I will hopefully be around even more often this time around.

Hope you have a very, merry New Year.