Rather than focusing on the future, how about a little walk down 2012 memory lane?  After all, it seems to me ‘resolution’ has become synonymous with ‘inadequacy’.  I heard once about a “to done list” instead of a “to do list”, that way you can focus on your successes because let’s face it..we are ALWAYS getting things done, right?

1. Sending a missionary (once your baby always your baby) out into the world to a place of someone else’s choosing with no control of any aspect – is HARD!  The upside is that time moves slower – Let me clarify this point: only an upside in the sense that time seems to increase in speed every year and my kids are almost all grown in a blink.

this was a rare moment since he was always moving!

2. Sending Master D on a mission has enacted a very large appreciation in him for me and B.

3. I like Italian food – A LOT! Not Olive Garden, Noodles or Macaroni Grill Americanized Italian.

4. In my version of heaven – panacotta (real italian) will be served every day, and crusty fresh bread dipped in balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

the only photo of the best dessert I’ve ever eaten in the forefront

5. There are a whole lot of underground cultures and lifestyles that I had no idea existed – and am not sure I am glad I learned about.

6. We’ve reached the age that our parents are not immortal, health is truly important, and we aren’t going to babyshowers anymore instead we are going to those babies weddings.

seriously seems wrong, huh?

7. If I have a strong core of true beliefs and convictions, based on years of learning, praying and reasoning, making mistakes and recognizing them….. everything else works outward from there – not the other way around.

8. Life is too short to waste on talking about problems you can’t solve or relationships that are toxic.  (I don’t totally have this down in practice – but I totally believe in the truth of it!)

9. If I can just “be in the mud”, everything is less scary or painful and my decisions are much clearer.

Be there, feel it, get out of it, clean yourself off, go on…

10. As long as there is air in your lungs, it’s not too late to sincerely apologize. And don’t include a “but…….”

I will do better because I know better.

Here’s to learning countless more in 2013!