A new year . . .

I am so far behind in my posting.  I will have to go back and catch up some from the end of the year . . .because those posts about our family and the mundane stuff are for me.  Someday my memory may be shot and I want to look back and "see" what we did and who was at our house and I want to remember how much fun we have had.

So the new year sneaked up on me (is that correct - "sneaked up on me"???).  For the last few years, I have experienced this strange phenomenon.  We have a day off for Labor Day and I blink and it is the new year.  Does that happen to anyone else?  It seems like the time from the first of September through the end of December FLIES by.  We went on our annual "friends" beach trip in September (much fun) and then this year I went to Austin in October for work.  Mark and I went to Nashville for a wedding in October.  Then we celebrated three birthdays - Glenn, Laura and Lauren - and we celebrated Thanksgiving.  The parties started in December and boom - the year is over.  Mix in some every day life - going to work, preparing a Sunday School lesson and a Tuesday night lesson and meal, spending time with friends, supper club once a month - and the time just flew by.

Now it is time for the new year.  Do you make resolutions?  I haven't even thought of them until this morning.  I got up at 4:45 to take my sister to the airport and didn't go back to bed when I got home so I was sitting here in the totally quiet house thinking . . .thinking about all sorts of things.

A friend of mine chooses a "word" for each year . . .like "joy" or "embrace."  This year she has chosen "order."  As I was reading her blog, I started to think about my own life.  What word would I choose?  Maybe "do."  Do more things . . .like a bucket list.  I want to see the Harlem Globetrotters.  They are coming to Birmingham soon.  Seeing the Harlem Globetrotters is on my bucket list.  Why?  I don't know except that I have always thought they are sooo cool!  Maybe I need to "do" it - order the tickets.  Do - Maybe I just need to "do it" and lose some weight.  Instead of talking about it, "do it."  There are all sorts of things that could be added to a "do" list - do something about my desire to learn more about photography, do something once a month with an individual friend . . .

Another good word would be (actually it is two words - a phrase!!) - "Be still."  You know the scripture - be still and know that I am God.  I'm always on the go (which I love) but maybe I need to take more time to "be still."  Be still and spend time in prayer and study each day.  Be still and really listen when others are talking to me.  Be still (and quiet) when others are talking and don't interrupt.

I also like Mo's word - order.  Order in my office, order in my scrapbook room, order in my Sunday School teaching - plan it out for the year (what a novel idea!!).  Order for Tuesday nights.  I already have a menu on a spreadsheet - in addition, I could plan out what we are going to study on Tuesday  night.  Order in my weight loss and exercise (that goes back to "do it" also).

"Joy" or "fun" would be good words.  I love to laugh and spend time with friends.  I could spend more time doing that!!  Joy is that deep feeling that goes so much deeper than happy.

So maybe I need to lump it all together.  Maybe for 2012, I need to "Be still" and spend more time with God.  Maybe I need to "do" more - especially in the area of taking care of myself -  and increase "order" in my life.  Woven through all of that would be a thread of joy and stitches of fun.

So . . .I know there are only a handful of folks that read my blog . ..but if you are reading, I would love to hear from you.  Does the last quarter of the year fly by for you?  What are your plans for the new year?  Do you make resolutions?  If you could choose a word (or two or three) for the new year, what would it be?  And why?

Happy new year to each of you!!!