Not only is it good for Brandon and I to get a break from Haiti, but even a break from each other is good! We obviously live together, now work together, and live in place where it’s very very difficult to do anything extra curricular! So, it worked out that my mom, my sister, and my brothers girlfriend were all able to take a few days to have a fun girls weekend. It was so delightful!!! We didn’t go far, right up the coast to Newport Beach, but it was far enough to feel away. A friend was able to give us a discount on a hotel, and we were able to stay in a great place with an ocean view! We spent our time relaxing, eating, walking, chatting, watching movies, and simply enjoying each others company. It was so good for the soul!!

 

I’ve been thinking about how long you have until after New Years Day to say to someone, ‘happy new year’. At first, I thought just a week. One week into the new year, you are still allowed to tell some to have a wonderful new year. Well, since you are wishing them a wonderful year, maybe you can push it until two weeks after the 1st. That deadline was up yesterday. So, I won’t wish you a happy new year, but rather hope that your new year has been all that you hope for and more. I am curious by nature, and I would love to sit down with each and every one of you and find out, 1. Do you sent New Years Resolutions? 2. If so, what are they? 3. If not, why not?

I used to set resolutions each year. They last few years I have shied away from it, and I can’t really pin point the reason. I think perhaps it stems from wanting to set these great, amazing, exciting goals, and I end up never achieving them cause they are so ridiculous.  I had one friend tell me she likes to set goals in different categories in her life. You know, like a financial goal, a mental goal, physical, perhaps even spiritual if you could somehow articulate your goal more than, ‘become closer to God’. I liked her idea, and so I have sat down to start thinking through what I would like to achieve, accomplish, or do this next year. And, honestly, I find that list to be a little short right now! I think that is kind of sad. Does that mean that I am not driven? It could mean I just need to spend more time thinking about next year… but I do find that difficult when Brandon and I have no clue what next year might hold!!

We did spend New Years like the real party animals we are. Out in party central Valley Center, with the local goats, horses, and rolling hills! It was just us and our good friends Luke and Kelly. It was very mellow, just what we needed.

I know it’s now officially 22 days past Christmas, but since I do love it so much, I just thought I would post some pictures from our time with family and friends over the holidays. It was such a joy to be home with family during the holidays. We loved the time we got to spend together, traditions we were able to continue to be a part of, and the deliberate time of celebrating our Lord’s birth!!