2017 Personal Plans...

I can't believe it, but here we are in December already.  Part of me can't believe it and wonders where 2016 has gone.  The other part of me feels like 2016 has been one of the longest years ever.  How is that possible to be on both ends of the spectrum?  None the less, it's true.  Of course this leads me to start thinking about the New Year.... 2017.  What do I want it to entail?  What goals do I have for the new year?  What do I want to change, improve on, accomplish? 

For starters, I'd really like to see life more simplified.  Life has been crazy on every level; there are certain things that can't change, like dealing with chronic health conditions each day and all that throws at us.  But, there is much that can change, such as cutting out screen time, spending more time with family and friends "face to face,"  eating at home rather than on the run,  finding my daily groove again.  Basically, I want to spend less time on things that don't really matter and more time on what does.  Actively search out the good in each day and skip over the nonsense that does nothing but distract from what's important.  I'm an old school gal living in a new world and frankly, I don't like it much.  I'm choosing to stick to my old school ways and focus on the important things in life.

What exactly are the "important things" you may ask?  A personal and close relationship with God, my family and friends, treating everyone with respect and kindness, my home, just to name a few.  If you notice, there is nothing in that list about losing weight or working out;)  Not that those aren't concerns, but they just aren't anything I am going to choose to focus on this New Year.  I really can't eat any less than I already do, I'm miserable when I try to 100% give up Dr Pepper, my fibromyalgia and lung issues prevent me from more intense work out routines like I use to enjoy (or endure).... So this coming year is about BALANCE.

We are not a "scheduled" family... meaning we don't do well on a strict daily schedule.  We tend to be much more relaxed about things around here; of course it does help to find a loose routine that works and that is my goal.  I want to be able to get everything I NEED to get done each day, actually done.  And, I want to still have the time to do things I actually enjoy as well.  Things like quilting, sewing, embroidery, paper crafting, maybe even start the scrapbooks I've been planning since the girls were all infants.  And...... BAKING BREAD;  I use to actually make bread from scratch and loved it.  The smell alone is heavenly and the taste is amazing.  Finally, gardening....I am HORRIBLE at it, but I'm the most determined gardener you will ever run across, and I really want the girls to experience growing things themselves.

As we head into Christmas and the final few weeks of 2016, I want to take some time to dream and plan.  No, I'm not setting any New Year's Resolutions this time around; I am however, going to figure out how to get back to exactly what is important and let go of what's not.  Maybe it's letting go of unrealistic expectations or excess stuff cluttering up the closets.... and freeing up the time and space to be more available to God and what He wants to do through me this coming year.  What I do know is that I really want to get back to quilting in the New Year.  Not just once in a blue moon when the planets align just right and I have a free afternoon; no!  I want to make it a daily or at the very least, a weekly priority.  I want to actually finish up some of the projects I've started over the past 2 1/2 decades, I want to make a couple of new ones, and I really want to do a Block of the Month that I commit to finishing on time :)

So, my theme for 2017 is SIMPLY QUILTED :)  Yeah, that sounds perfect for the new year!