A NEW YEAR, A CLEAN SLATE

For the life of me, I never imagined that I would live so long as to be living in the 21st Century, let alone to see the year 2012 arrive.  I guess I thought I would be ancient at the age of 72!

With the dawning of each new year, comes a time to clear off the old slate and start with a clean, new one.  For this year's contribution to my New Year's writing, I will concentrate on REFLECTION, INSPECTION, AND RESOLUTION.

REFLECTION

The year of 2011 was our year of amazing vacations, wonderful concerts a wedding, a Mission call, and a new baby.  All of these events give me pause and a store of memories.

Two Thousand Eleven also brought some troubling changes in our country, as our economy reached an all-time low with unemployment and housing markets the hardest hit.  Faith and prayer have kept our family going.  We have focused on the possibilities of hard times to come and did some preparedness planning with food storage, debt lowering and preparing for uneventful intrusions into our lives.

The past year also brought health issues for me, although not the life-threatening kind.  I was plagued with skin cancers which required three surgeries, two of which had to have skin grafts applied.  I have come out of this ordeal in a positive way and hope for no more in the future.  I also experienced an increase in my Macular Degeneration in my right eye (the already nearly blind one) and opted to try a couple of shots directly into the eye to try and stop the area from growing.  I do believe they did some good, but will find out more at my next visit in February.

INSPECTION

As I contemplate my strengths and weaknesses throughout 2011, I am amazed that yes, I have moved forward Spiritually this year.  I have increased my activity in my home Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I have shared my testimony in many ways with my grandchildren and friends.  I have felt the Scriptures talking "only to me" as I re-read passages that I have read many times before.

I have cultivated within me a love for my country, as I watch much of what  have loved all of my life disintegrate before my eyes.  Our Constitution is truly being threatened from all sides and it troubles my soul deeply.  I find myself wondering, "What would my father or my mother or my grandparents or my late husband, Gerry, think of what is happening?"  I love my country and it hurts me to see those within tear it apart.

My body is telling me to slow down.  I have more aches and pains than I used to have.  It takes me longer and longer to get going in the mornings.  Though my weight is where my doctor says it probably should be for a woman my age, I feel "lumpy!" 

RESOLUTIONS

I prefer to set GOALS, rather than make resolutions.  It seems to me that resolutions end up getting forgotten, whereas goals give us challenges to work toward.

I have set as my goal for the coming year is to get closer and closer to getting completely out of debt, AND STAYING THERE!  I need to change many of my spending habits.  I have to re-teach myself about what is a "need" VS what is a "want." 

I have vowed to include daily prayer (on my knees) to my list of goals.  Though I pray always in my heart, I very seldom get down on my knees and pray.  I need to include the Lord in all of my decision making, taking it to Him in prayer, and then following up with the question, "How am I doing?"

I have a new calling in the Church that is going to stretch me.  I have been called t teach the 2nd Sunday lesson in Relief Society.  Teaching (no greater calling) is my first love and I will need to rely heavily on the Lord to get me back into the groove.

We have set a goal in Relief Society to complete the Young Women's Values program over the next two years, and I have committed to earnestly work toward that accomplishment.  I am looking forward to this new challenge.

The New Year promises only one thing...it IS a New Year!  Twenty-eleven is behind us and our eyes look forward to beginning new challenges.  There is nothing wondrous on the horizon.  Babies will be born, loved ones will pass away, and couples will commit their lives to each other, much like they have in years past.  In November, we will elect a new President...or keep the old one!  More changes will come upon the face of the land and perhaps through trials, we will come closer together.  It all remains to be seen.

I will grow yet another year older, meaner, or not.  My children will grow stronger through their trials, and more loving with each accomplishment. My grandchildren will face challenges which no generation before them has ever faced, but because they have been "taught in the ways of the Lord," they will come through those challenges stronger for the struggle.  My little great-grandchildren will grow a little and still amaze and bring joy to us all.  They are wondrous creatures and the hope for our future.