A New Year

Humm... resolutions? Well, I don't think I've ever entirely kept a new year's resolution. So, I'm not much for making them any more. But I might as well reflect over the past year and try to set some goals for the coming 2008. Why not?

First of all, 2007 brought the most amazing and wonderful blessing we could have ever imagined... our beautiful son, Elijah. Our lives have forever been changed. We are so incredibly blessed to have a healthy, happy, thriving, perfect little boy. He lights up our lives. I cannot describe what a gift he is to us- for so many reasons. Having him has changed my idea of love to the very core, my understanding of God's love for us, my priorities, my hopes for the future, my weaknesses, my fears, my joys, and my sorrows. We are in love now in ways I never thought possible for the human heart. I marvel at how such a small person could make such an immeasurable impact. Manny and I were happy before. We have had a great marriage. We had found our "rhythm" together as a couple. But nothing could have prepared us for how much more happy, fulfilled, and in love we could be - with Elijah and with each other.

2007 also brought its share of challenges - to say the least. For the entire year we continued to have 2 houses (one in Evansville, and the one where we live in Indy) and 2 mortgages. Manny was running his own business, Homecraft, LLC. And although he was doing his best to drum up work on a regular basis, things are so hard when you work for yourself. Owning a business is very expensive. There is hardly any profit in it at all. And all that compounded the financial difficulty of the house situation... and the stress level. But praise the Lord that I have a good steady job with good pay and benifits. Without my income and insurance we would have been doomed. So we must count our blessings.

Now, looking ahead... I almost feel foolish talking about what I would like to see happen this year. I have thought things through so often. I've made my plans and set my hopes. And each time I have been disappointed. It seems futile that I even try to consider the future and what we might be able to do this year. Nevertheless, a girl can hope, can't she. So anyway, here's the plan...

1) Spend more time reading the Bible
2) Make weekly "date" time with Manny
3) Spend more time with Elijah
4) Sell both houses
5) Move to Evansville
6) Work part time
7) Exersize more
8) Eat more healthy
9) Start putting money in savings

Here's hoping! Happy 2008.