a fresh start

I think what I love most about a new year is the fresh start. We start over with the budget, the diet, the schedule - all of it. love it, love it, love it. But, I do tend to have a bit of OCD so I have been organizing, purging and cleaning like, well, a mad woman. My closet is clean as is my pantry and the kids' stuff. Our inside is in desperate need of a new paint job so that has fueled the effort as well. I have not answered the phone or email for a week - due to strep throat - but also in an effort to do what we lovingly call - "fall back and re-group." It is a time to work through it all - and ask - what is working and what isn't.
What is working is that we have been good about keeping up with date night and spending time as a family, so we want to protect that in 2009.
What is not working is that I have not seen a treadmill or a run in months and months and feel like crap as a result. So, that needs tweaking.
The kids' school schedule is good. The homeschool gig needs some tweaking, but is over-all a success. The budget is always in need of work. :)
As the boys get older, we grow more focused on "heart" training - teaching them to love God and then love others so that is getting more focus in 2009 as well.
We are well aware that all of us are but a breath away from difficult circumstance, so we take a long breath, count our blessings and look with hope to 2009.
Blessings to you and your family in the New Year!