Wednesday, January 03, 2007

New Year, New Post, Same Old Me..

Again, not feeling much like blogging these days. But I am disappointed with myself for not busting out a nice Christmas blog with news of our festivities and pictures from all the nice family get togethers. It was all very warm and every year reminds me how grateful I should be for family and the generations my son is getting to grow up amidst. And the important thing is, CHRIST IS BORN! The services were beautiful and plentiful. We haven't been to church since Christmas due to a nasty cold and I can tell Johnny misses it. He keeps saying, "I won Awl" which means he wants Father Al, our priest. Hopefully, we will all be recovered and make it to vespers this Saturday.
New Years haven't been a big thing for me since becoming a Mama. Although, I was never much of a partier before that, either. I didn't anticipate even staying up past 10 o'clock, but we actually had a very fun night. Johnny had a bad cough which kept waking him, so I finally brought the poor kid downstairs where we all watched the Garrison Keeler New Years Special on KPBS. It was done very much like the Prairie Home Companion Shows and had some beautiful music. Johnny cracked us up as he danced and strummed on his tummy like he was playing guitar at 11 o'clock at night. At midnight, we gave each other new year/good night kisses and fell asleep to the sound of illegal fireworks. The best part was sleeping in the next morning!
2007 will mark ten years since I graduated high school. Ten years since I moved on my own to California from the Philippines, where I had lived for ten years as the daughter of missionaries.Ten years since I first shook hands and was introduced to my husband. Although, it wasn't until January of the following year that we spoke again. These are the sort of things a fresh year make me think about.
And of course, I am one of those suckers who makes some resolutions. Some are stupid, others more serious.
Here are a few.. Maybe publicizing them will help me keep them.
1. Write a letter to our Grandparents at least twice a month. I am shooting for once a week. Part of why I started this blog was because I am terrible about sending letters and e-mails, so I thought I could post my news and pictures here. Unfortunately, our Grandparents don't have access to the internet all the time and I need let them know I think about them and keep them informed on our lives.
2. Cook and bake more. I want to really dive into new recipes and bake and cook food that intimidates me. My goal is to only bake my bread instead of buy it. I've been baking bread for some time and actually worked in a bakery, so that doesn't intimidate me, it just requires more out of me.
3. Sew something, anything. I have a machine on loan for a few months and I need to put that baby to work.
4. Pray more. Memorize prayers.
5. Read more.
What are yours?
Well, I am enjoying getting caught on all my blogging friends holidays and celebrations. May this be a blessed new year for all!

And now for something completely different...Who knew a one year old could look THIS bad?!

12 comments:

Munkee said...

Glorify Him!

Good to hear from you.

Your New Year's Eve sounds identical to our's...which was super mellow. Pizza, a little Chilean Cabernet, and Taladega Nights (Will Farrell)...which Sara will never admit, but she laughed audibly on several occasions.

Anyway, Happy New Year sister.

Lauren S. said...

Annie, I love this post! And hooray for boring New Years Eve's! We had an uneventful one too. We didn't stay up, but I allowed myself a small glass of red wine which I savored for over an hour, and fell alseep on the couch waaaay before midnight. I'm glad you had a nice holiday season all together. Good for you on the resolutions too.

Can you explain the picture? Was he sick? :)

Mimi said...

Glorify Him!

Great resolutions, and poor baby. I hope he feels better soon.

Bluecanopy said...

Man that kid needs a tissue fast...but the hair is what kills me!! :)

Hope you're all feeling better...thanks for posting your resolutions. You should sew a skirt...they're really easy. If you have a drawstring one that you like, copy it. Or make some pillows, those are easy.

I wish I could share mine. I usually get as far as thinking, "gee I hould make some resolutions" and then it's February already. I do want to be more patient with Basil but that's not really a new thing.

Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

New Year's Eve sounds like a treat! Greg and I were in bed by 10, only to be woken by the sick babes at 11:30 (who looked pretty much like Johnny's picture at the time). At least we got a smooch in at midnight, then collapsed back into our stupor. I took some time the next day to sit down and write letters to the girls about how the past year has been. I'm even thinking that I might try to record Greg and I reading the letters to them so they can see how we change throughout the years too.

Also, a side note, it's ten years since I graduated from college this year! And, as you know, 10 years since Greg and I were married. Some of my resolutions are:

1. Cook more. I love to do it when I can muster up the strength. It's also so much more satisfying than eating out...which used to be so fun.
2. Venture out on my own with the girls more. We've been to the park on many occasions, but I'm ready to take on the world - perhaps walks (not the stroller) on the beach or even a trip to the Wild Animal Park Lorikeet exhibit, since they love birds.
3. Pray more and not be so proud of myself when I do...if that makes sense.

Just a few. I found a great prayer that I've added to my morning prayers. I'll share it here:

By Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, d.1867
O LORD, grant me to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely upon thy holy will. In every hour of the day reveal thy will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul, and with firm conviction that they will governs all. In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events let me not forget that all are sent by thee. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to pray, pray upon thou thyself in me. Amen

Have a blessed New Year!

Unknown said...

OK, nice blog post, but that picture is great. I laughed for a little while. Thank you. I had some time alone today and was supposed to do some planning and reflecting, but instead a found a really cute skirt for really cheap at Anthropologie... Sigh. I think one of my resolutions will be to not buy any clothes I can't find for under $25. I'm doing great so far.

Evan said...

Cut my boy some slack! He was sick, had just woke up from a nap, was crying, and was eating a cookie. Under the circumstances, I think he looks adorable.

RainaRo said...

I love the picture!!! He looks like I feel in the morning.
I think it is brave of you to publish your resolutions...I have thought about resolutions for myself...I think mine will be just to keep my house cleaner on a day-to-day basis. :-) That is going to be hard for me. Every day is a new day, right...
Hope to talk to you soon. Love you.

Anonymous said...

New Year's with the Punches was the same, except I actually went to sleep before midnight! But my excuse is that it was already 2007 in England, so I had already, kind-of, seen the new year in.

Johnny looks cute, I love it when they just wake up from a nap, all groggy and cuddly.

It's been so nice staying with Jason and Nicole, this side of the country is nice, especially the coast, beautiful!

Lots of love!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year, Annie! I must be a mom, because I think Johnny looks really cute in that picture--tired, but cute! I like your new years resolutions. Maybe THIS year I will be able to make it out to CA, and actually SEE YOU this time! I won't be pathetically sick from pregnancy this year (like last), so maybe it's a go! That would be really neat to see you AND Raina sometime this year.

Anonymous said...

woops, anonymous is me, Lisa Kelly. I'm so computer illiterate.

Paul and Kameron Morton said...

Ooh, Annie, I LOVED your resolutions!! I want to bake more bread too- isn't it gross what is in the supermarket stuff? I mean, a decent loaf of bread only needs yeast, sugar, flour, and water- not corn syrup!! :) If you have any good recipes, do let me know. Thanks for sharing- it is so good to hear from you.