New Beginnings in 2014:

It is January 1, 2014.  A new year...a time of new promise...each year we start "again" but soon after, we fall into the same ole routine with the same ole thoughts facing the same ole problems..so "new" doesn't really seem "new" after a few weeks, or days or sometimes even hours...but "new" it truly is.

This year, I will turn 57.  This year I will celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary to Duane.  This year my granddaughter will turn 5 and my grandson will turn 4.  This year my daughter will turn 30 and my son will turn 27...GET OUT!  This year will be the third year anniversary of my mother's passing.  This year I will achieve my 80 points with the Arizona Retirement System meaning I can retire with full benefits.  This year I will face an amazing number of WOW's! and an equal number of sad or down times.  Some of them will lift me up and keep me flying for quite some time and some will have the ability to knock me into a valley of such deep chasms that it may take me some time to climb out.  This year my father will turn 85.  What an amazing life that man has lived!  This year is a year of endless possibilities.

I am blessed.  I know I am.  I have an amazing life, amazing family, amazing friends.  I have had such a feeling of deep contentment, peace and love for this past month and am astounded that it survives with all the stuff that goes on around me.  Yet, this feeling has been my rock during the drama of the season and at work and when things haven't gone "my way".  I sit in my chair and close my eyes...within minutes if floods my soul and soothes away the anxiety.  How I wish I could share this feeling with others but I don't know how.  I just hope that God uses me to teach others how to achieve what I feel here.

I don't know where 2014 will take me but I will try to take this blog along with me and it.  As Shannon said in her blog; I'd like to look back on it and remember where I've been and what I've done.  So here's to New Beginnings of 2014!