Happy New Year - 2009

With every New Year, comes another list of resolutions we all hope to make, keep and prove to ourselves we can accomplish. Such stress! Each year I promise myself all the routine things...give up cigarettes, lose weight, cut back on the vino...and those are all very good healthy choices. But this year, I've promised myself some different resolutions. Ones that will touch the lives of others as well as my own.

I am hoping that this year, I will make better decisions and do the things I know are right for me and my family. Most important, my promises are to -

Spend more time with girlfriends - they are the jewels in the crown of life!

Write more letters to Jackson - he is starting to read more and more now and I want him to have something in the mailbox waiting for him more often from his Noni.

Begin a journal for Dane. Having grandchildren so far away, you miss alot. But I think I can make more out of it...one day Dane will have the journal as a keepsake to know how often he was thought about by his Noni.

Be more patient...the traffic is always going to be there in my commuter world...I am going to deal with it...maybe get some books on CD....

Guide Lauren and help her through these next couple of months. Her life is beginning to transition and I want to be able to help her get to the next phase of her life. My little girl is a woman now...I need to work harder to treat her like one.

Mentor Taylor as he leaves behind high school and starts the new journey in his life. Things are so different when you leave high school...remember? I want to be a little more patient and get him over the bumps in the road. My youngest, I love you so.

Spend more time with my brothers and sister and their families. I try so hard ... but I need to try harder to find the time.

Do more little things for Bob...he does so many of those things for me...I need to give back more. Love and support him as he strives to make changes in his life.

Volunteer for a cause...do something to make a difference.

Obviously, we all want to be the best we can be. Its in all of us. Sometimes, it just hides away in the corner of our hearts when we get busy. I am hoping this year, the goodness shows more.