1.01.2011

2011: Hit Me With Your Best Shot

New Years.

I've rang in 33 of these bad boys in my lifetime, and although I get the stink eye from folks when I talk about how old I feel, I think being able to say that I really don't know where time has gone constitutes me as being old enough to call myself old.  (And before any of you nice people hurl whips and daggers in my direction, no, I'm not saying anything or implying anything about your own age and youth deprivation.  Y'all are very young.  It's me who's old.)

2010 was a wild ride of a year.  I traveled places that I'd never been before.  I almost died.  I was scared out of my mind, and more excited than I've ever been.  I gained 20 pounds, lost it, then gained it back again.  I hired a personal trainer, went to boot camp, and then resorted to just sticking out my tongue at the gym as I slurped ice cream cones at the coldstone place across the street...all within 3 months.  I watched lots of movies that haunted my thoughts for months on end, and watched lots that I will never remember again.  I watched one of my sons come within a baseball bat's length of being part of a State Championship Little League team.  And I spent more hours at football fields and baseball fields cheering on all three of my rascals than I did at home.  We finished up our first year of homeschooling and started our second, and I'm still floundering in a sea of What-Have-I-Done about it.  I witnessed Broadway magic with my bestie when we went and saw WICKED.  And I was exposed to true friendship by three of the most amazing women I've ever met in my life (wink.wink.and.another.wink...you know who you are).

And I could go on and on.

But 2010 is over.

Calendars have been flipped to 2011, and clean slates are laid before us.  But I don't know if I want a clean slate.  2010 was pretty great....and 2011 has huge shoes to fill.

But I suppose it's up the challenge.

I don't like resolutions for the New Year, because I have commitment issues, and I realize that I'm just setting myself up for failure...

BUT....

I do have a few goals.

  • I want to draw closer to my Jesus, so that if 2011 happens to thrill my socks off, I know exactly who to praise for it.  But even more than that, I want to draw closer to the One who made me, so that if 2011 holds tragedy and heartbreak or just days that stink like socks....I will recognize the One who will carry me through.
  • I want to spend time building relationships that matter.  That have faces.  That will go the distance.  I want to leave soured laundry in the washing machine and sit with a friend to drink coffee instead.  I want to put down my cell phone's texting plan and call someone.  I want to turn the tv off and listen to my children talk about nothing and everything all at the same time.
  • I want to dive into the Word.  Not to finish reading it, but to glean life's blood from it.
  • I want to journal more.  Because in my journaling, I find recollection and memories and therapy.
I also have a goal for this World O'Blog of which I breathe its air from time to time.  And it's going to help me meet my journaling goal, too.  A two birds with one stone kinda deal.... 

My goal is this:
  • Take a picture every day.  Maybe 2.  Or 6.  Or 348.  But at least one.  And cell phone cameras are totally legit.  I know this because I made the rules.
  • Then I'm going to post AT LEAST that picture everyday.  Hopefully, my writing mojo will flood back to me in this year of newness, but if not, at least there will be something for me to attach my thoughts and reactions and memories to.
  • Just one picture.
  • I can totally rock that.
And if I fall off the wagon....

Well, then my January 1st post of 2012 will tell you about how 2011 was the year that I could not even keep one measly goal of snapping one measly picture a day.

We shall see.
We shall see.

Happy New Year, friends.  May God rain down so much pureness in joy onto your 2011.

~~~~~~~~~~

It would only be fair to start this year off right.  And wouldn't you know it, I'm going to start it off as a big ole' cheater.  Because my picture for today wasn't even taken today.  It was actually taken about 4 days ago, but I'm so impressed that we could get all 5 of us gene-sharers to look at the camera at the same time, that it would be simply criminal to not post it....

PROJECT PHOTO #1:

December 29, 2010


16 comments:

Jessica said...

I rejoined bloggness today too! I started a 365 of Avery album on facebook, so I'll try to hold you to your picture a day project. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Tiffani said...

I love you to crazy pieces. When I read this blog it reminds of days long past when I would read yours and think "gosh, this girl is just like me"...Little did I know you would become my precious and dear bestie-Junie-B-Pie...and even though a few very wide states separate us..Praise Jesus, you aren't on the other side of the country or world and are actually within a decent driving distance...I agree with all of your "goals" (love that word instead of "resolutions") and I pretty much echo them all..especially calling, visiting and soaking people and our kids up...I am hoping for an exceptional time of all those things with my girl and her rascals very very soon...I can't go much longer!!

lisa@littlesliceoflife said...

That is a SUPER pic! Love ya friendy!

Gretchen said...

I am GIDDY that you are back in bloggyland. You have been missed!!!

I literally nodded my head in agreement with your goals. Amen and amen.

Well, except for the last one. That's true ambition. I joined the P52 photo group. Which is a flicker group that promises to take one good photo a week. One. per week. So while I won't be up to your par, I can't tell you how excited I am to see all of your snapshots of life.

Oh, and in case you are worried about the writing mojo, just remember: A picture is worth a thousand words. So you are totally covered!
Hugs!!!

Bridget said...

Love this picture of your family! Happy New Year

Charlotte said...

SOOOO happy you are back. I've missed you. Your words are good for my spirit.

Cathy said...

Girl,

It makes me giddy to see that you've blogged.:) So I guess that means MY 2011 will have 365 days of pure giddyness! ...potentially, that is.

And even though we've only seen eachother in the skin once and rarely "chat" online anymore :( and the chances of us visiting in the flesh are pretty low (you know, unless we win the lottery and I can galivant across the states) I love the fact that we're bonded in such a way that not only means ONE day we WILL meet again (you know, inside those pearly gates) but also means we have almost identical "goals" and we can be praying for each other to keep running this race strong.

And my warning for this chapter I'm writing: I MAY have to steal your idea of at least posting a photo every day just to document things because my bloggy mojo is long gone I'm afraid. But don't worry, I'll totally give you credit. You could even come up with a meme (sp? I'm lazy...) to use and I totally would.:)

Love ya, my sweet southern friend.

Jim said...

Am,
Great to have you back in blogland - and at our house, too! It's definitely a good new year beginning, and I just know that 2011 will be a great one for the family.
Jim-Dad

PS: I'm trying to finish my blog before the 1st day is over.

Nina Diane said...

great to see you back Amber! I look forward to your picture a day and your great writing!

Terry Lewallen said...

Amber-
Great pic of the fam! Made me smile, for sure. Also made me smile to see that you had a new post up. Miss you when you're gone....not that I've been all that great at keeping up the past few months. Usually a once a month, blog reading catch-up! But I always do love to catch up with you. Happy 2011 to you, friend!!!

Unknown said...

Love your family photo - precious. And like you said, you made the rules, so... not really broken. Looking forward to hearing more and seeing more from you in the new year!

theelizabethhighsmith said...

you're back!!!!! woo hoo loved the pun in your title! keep um coming! happy new years!

Marla Taviano said...

Love the post! Great pic! Sweet resolutions!! So glad you're back!!

Gretchen said...

Lurve, lurve, lurve the family photo! And so good to see you back. The newness of the year and its possibilities is starting to make me feel less melancholy about leaving the holidays behind. Blessings, friend.

Happiness On The Inside said...

I love your goals!! I love you blog. I really enjoyed reading it. I have nominated you for a Stylish Blogger Award. To find out more check out my blog at http://happinessontheinside.webs.com/apps/blog

Unknown said...

Glad to see you back...I was starting to think you'd been abducted :)

I'm also trying to blog more and I'm taking a picture a day ...woo hoo for New Years and new goals :)