Happy New Year!!

I love New Years...and not for the partying (never do much of that)...I love having a fresh start and renewed motivation to better myself at the beginning of each year.

I know I could treat any day of the year like New Years--after all, it's just a made up holiday, an arbitrary date someone probably came up with as an excuse to drink champagne and kiss ladies--but, for whatever reason, I do feel differently as a new year begins.

When I was a teenager, my mom had us do a special New Years Family Home Evening at the beginning of each year; she gave us categories like "Favorite family memories from the past year" and "Things I worked hard on this year," etc, and we brainstormed individually and then shared as a family. I've always been quite a sentimental, melancholy sap, so I looked forward to this FHE, and I've kept copies of my brainstorms from year to year. For me, it's always very meaningful to look back over a year of my life and realize all that I overcame, how much I changed, and how Heavenly Father blessed me. Holidays give me an excuse to pause--reflect--evalute. I love that.

Ry and I continue to do this FHE Activity with each other, and I'm sure we will with our kids too!

But New Years isn't just a time to reflect on the past; it's also a time to hope for the future. I am one of those dorky people who has about ten New Years Resolutions. This year, I have a few specific goals that I hope help me grow stronger spiritually and physically. I even made myself a weekly check-off chart to track my progress. Can you tell I'm excited? :)

So, HAPPY NEW YEAR...