I'm In

First and foremost -- HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I hope everyone has started off 2010 in whatever way you most enjoy. My day has been quiet -- which is just what I needed after a very busy couple of weeks. I've been trying to get caught up with visiting everyone who stopped by on Monday -- and slowly but surely, I'm making my way through the comments. The problem is, it's New Year's Day -- and everyone has posted such great stories, so no visit is a short one. I'm pouring over dozens of "Reflections on 2009" and "Resolutions for 2010." It's been very inspirational.

I'm not typically one to write new year's resolutions -- at least not on new year's day. I usually spend the first few weeks of the year in reflection, and then by the middle of the month I come up with goals and a game plan for the year. But with all of the inspiration that has been coming at me today, I am ready to make at least one commitment for the new year.

Thanks to Dorothy at Fuzzykoala's Caketastic Adventures, I am jumping on board the Ten in 2010 Challenge (and don't tell her, but I'm even stealing borrowing most of her goals and making them my own!!).

According to the Challenge creator, Lori, (AKA: RecipeGirl), the Ten in 10: Ten Weeks to Healthy in 2010 Challenge is not so much about making resolutions as it is about challenging yourself to adopt a healthier lifestyle. That's not something I need to reflect on -- I just need to do it.

So here are my commitments for this challenge:
+ Drink more water
+ Eat more fruits and veggies
+ Eat fewer sweets (so long Christmas Cookies)
+ Get more sleep
+ Walk or hit the gym 3-4 times each week

Ten Weeks -- I can totally do this! And come spring I will feel so much better about myself! If you're interested in getting involved, just visit Recipe Girl's site (link is above) to sign up.

Thanks Lori & Dorothy for the inspiration! Here's to a healthy us in 2010!!

Happy New Year!

What a Difference A Day Makes

I woke yesterday morning to yet another glorious sunrise. The way the color swept across the sky and rose up over the trees was truly magnificent. Despite the chill in the air on the frosty winter morning, I couldn't help but feel the warmth from the heavens.



Then, just twenty-four hours later, a completely different view from the same vantage point -- equally glorious, but a different sort of warmth. Perhaps a heaven-sent message of purity, grace, hope -- and a gentle reminder to slow down and enjoy life in the coming year.



Best wishes for a healthy, happy and safe New Year.

Overwhelmed

In a million years I never anticipated the incredible outpouring of support through SITS! I am positively overwhelmed!

THANK YOU for swinging by my blog yesterday and for all of the kind comments that you left.

I am going to work my way to all of your blogs to say hello and thank you "in person" -- but I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate the time you spent visiting with me yesterday. I'm so grateful to everyone who commented -- especially on some of my older posts, like The Philosophy of Nicholas & Sarah. That was my very first post -- ever -- and one that gave you a peek into my heart. It had gone largely unnoticed until yesterday, and the outpouring of kind and supportive remarks really lifted my spirit.

The day is yours -- choose happy!

Unexpected Christmas Gifts!

Dear Santa,
I just wanted to write to say thank you, because once again, WE DID IT!
Another wonderful holiday has come and gone, and I owe it all to you. With your help we decorated, shopped, wrapped, baked (more than 450 cookies), cooked, and this year we even managed to get a holiday card out...EARLY!! I know it was only an e-greeting, but it beat the heck out of no greeting at all! (Thank you Smilebox.com!)



Beyond all of the usual holiday-related tasks, this year you even helped us move our daughter home from college and get her transfer applications out in time, so that she can start second semester at a school closer to home. Yes, we pulled it off...even while I was adjusting to the new job and new commute.

Like every year, I know I couldn't have done it without you!

The only thing I have been bummed about through the holidays, is that I rarely found time to keep up with my blogs. At this time of year there are so many great family traditions, funny stories and special recipes to share -- but with everything that was going on, the time to write escaped me. By the middle of last week I was getting kind of cranky, because I really NEED my writing time – in fact I was just whining to my hubby that after the holidays I was determined to get back into better routine that gave me my "escape" time to write.

Lo and behold, you must have been eavesdropping on our conversation, because the very next day I received a message from Heather at The Secret Is In The Sauce, saying that I was going to be today's featured blogger. That news was just the little shot in the arm that I needed to stay true to my commitment! So....THANK YOU Santa...and my SITS friends...for this wonderful, and very unexpected gift!



Whether today is your first or fiftieth visit to my blog, I just want to Welcome You and Thank You for stopping by today. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee and join me ‘Round the Kitchen Table. I'm not exactly sure how I’d describe this place – it’s kind of like everyday life – with a little bit of this, and little bit of that.

If you have time, I hope you’ll check out some of my favorite posts, including The Philosophy of Nicholas and Sarah, which I truly believe holds the secret to life! You can also find some quick and easy recipes -- but I apologize in advance if you stumble upon broken links in my recipes. For awhile there I was selling and blogging about Wildtree all-natural products, but I stopped that a few months ago. I'm trying to clean up all of the links, but if by chance you find one, I'm sorry.

Also, if you’re so inclined, I’d love for you to swing by my other blog – Today I Pray. As I try to figure out how I'm going to manage the two blogs in the new year, I’d really love your suggestions about how I could bring the two blogs together somehow.

Thanks again for coming by today. I look forward to getting to know you -- I've met so many great people through SITS, I know this is the beginning of some great new connections!

I know that 2010 is a joy-filled year for you if you remember the secret of life -- just be happy!!

Lauren