Happy New Year!

It's the hap, happiest time - - - of the year!  New Year's Eve is my favorite night of the year!  Those of you who know me - well that would just be my sister/bff who reads my blog - know that I am a creature who is always wanting to "start over" and "get it right".  This year my sister/bff Tami asked me, "So Teri just what is it that you want to start over? what do you want to get right?"   Wow I had never been asked that question!  I just know that I always plan to lose weight - exercise - sleep - and read more - be calmer - pray more - seek wisdom - - - and each new month - I start over . . . and fail by the 2nd or 3rd of each month!!

We have never celebrated New Year's Eve in a traditional way - don't have a certain place we go, certain people we spend it with, or certain food we eat - although the last 2-3 years we have been home - kids were busy with other obligations - and so we have had a "fancy smancy" dinner party with our parents!  My mom and dad and Clay's dad and his girl friend live near by and so they join us for the eve! 

My tree is down - and yet still I have my favorite Christmas decorations still out - candles and my nativity scene - afterall - the Wisemen didn't actually make it to see the baby Jesus for two years - so can't stash the nativity scene away before they have time to arrive!!  But it's the table that I focus on for this New Year's Eve extravaganza . . . and I use the color gold - BECAUSE - as our daughter graduated from Emporia State University in 2007 - and colors were black and gold - I have lots of gold!  Leftover "chargers" that I did not realize were even chargers???  thought they were platters - - - but they are sparkling gold and look perfect under my white/gold china.  This year I threw in white and gold candle holders and candles.  So fun to try and recreate some of the Home and Garden ideas - or Martha Stewart moments - or Good Housekeeping Dec. issue beautiful table scapes!

Be back later . . . guests are arriving :)

Once again it's 10:30 p.m. and guests have gone home - don't usually see the New Year in with the parents - but it was still a fun evening - and now Clay and I are left alone to watch the latest football game or a couple of crazy guys jump a 300 foot river on snowmobile and motorcycles - simultaneously!  Can't wait to see!

So back to what it is that I really want to start over with? or do differently in 2012??  I have decided to set more realistic goals - yes lose a few pounds - and yes go to the gym each week - take care of myself - but this year - I'm going to focus on "focusing less"  - - - relax and enjoy life - stop thinking that I have failed - - - and starting over - - - just to fail again - - - and start over . . . I am going to read more books - I am going to ride my bicycle more (love it) just for fun - Going to listen more and talk less - And always - going to count my blessings! 

Happy New Year!