Well, the Holiday is officially over. The kids and I all made it to midnight this year. My kids are growing up quickly. They were able to stay up last night and enjoy the ball drop and count down. We spent the evening with Lee's family including the cousins and one of Hazel's school friends. It was a good group. The kids performed a show they had been working on for a couple weeks and the adults played a few rounds of pool after a good meal of curry. I tried my best to make my own little crazy party by taking what seemed like hours to apply false eyelashes. I think I ended up using too much glue because my lids kept sticking. They were great though....very cool...even in the comfort of a simple house party. I can only imagine how cool they would be if I was at Obama's Inaugural Ball!
The kids and I have been invited to our friends at the beach for Ribs and Black Eyed Peas (southern tradition) and are looking forward to a nice afternoon. My mind is racing a it with optimism and planning for change in 2009.
I like it how a New Year forces a bit of reflection and commitment to doing things you have wanted to do but have put off. This year, as I placed my lashes, I decided that I needed a little more Rock and Roll. Not sure what that means but it felt good to think about it. I am also looking forward to the planning involved with Hazel and her transition to Middle School. We have tours this month of the Magnet Schools on out list and will submit her applications. She and I are talking a lot about the process and transition involved with Middle School.
Liam has enjoyed his time away from school. I am looking forward to getting him in a good mix of experiences this spring. He is going to start Piano lessons, will continue his Chess club and is looking into spring lacrosse or martial arts. I have been looking for some Civil War sites that we could visit as we are finishing The Red Badge of Courage. Like his dad, Liam loves history and I need to work a bit to encourage that (this area does not come naturally to me....).
That takes care of the kids...for me, well I am once again considering getting my GRE out of the way and looking at various Master's programs. I continue to be drawn to Palliative care and Hospice and will work on opportunities to integrate these skills. It is a little difficult because, with Lee gone, I don't feel comfortable making and big changes. The deployment forces life to be put on hold in a way because one never knows what will happen during the rest of the deployment and how he will be at adjusting when he gets back. I am going to work on taking advantage of this time to take care of what I need and want and hope that things will fall into place when he returns.
It was a tough year last year. I lost my Grandmother Irene, my rock. I have mourned her every day and still can not believe she is gone. I nearly lost my husband, a few times, but ultimately just lost him to the deployment. It was an important year.
I wish everyone the best for 2009. Don't tread lightly. Tread with intention and purpose. Make a commitment to change. Live with respect and challenge the status-quo. Don't allow yourself to settle for less that your are worthy. Create a life with generous love and affection. Create and maintain boundaries that allow you to live with grace. This is for all the people I love (including myself). Be grateful for freedom and the ability to make choices for how you live your life. Freedom is an awesome responsibility.
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