Resolutions

I don't make resolutions. Period. I used to, but then decided it was just too much pressure and I would become disappointed with myself when I broke them...because you know it happened. Every.single.year. I finally decided to take the pressure off and "make goals" each year. Some years I meet them and some years I don't. But I can continue to work on them, even if I haven't finished them.

Last year my goal was to organize my pictures, because I have A LOT of them. I haven't finished working on it, but I keep plugging away and I will eventually finish. With no pressure. So this year my goal is to continue to keep working away and maybe, just maybe, it'll happen.

I did make 1 resolution this year that I am going to work hard at keeping. And that is to get in more pictures. I'm not comfortable doing it. I like being the one in control. (Go figure :) But in organizing my pictures, I have noticed that my kids won't have many with me in them. Kinda like how I say I don't have many pictures of my parents. My youngest gave me a beautiful picture frame for Christmas and said he wanted a picture of the 2 of us in it. So he started bugging me for the picture. (Leave it to a 12 year old to make sure you keep your promises!) I still "set up" the shot...right lighting, right angle, etc...He didn't care. Turns out, these are some of my favorites!

Testing the light...lovely

Love!

Love more! :)

Get in pictures with your kids! They love you for who you are, not for what you think you look like! You won't regret it years from now when you're looking back.

Countryside

We took a drive one day to get a few snowy landscape pictures. Boy, I DO NOT miss all this snow! I'll take our 1 or 2 "days" of snow anyway!

Locke 4...great fishing spot and a nice walk along the canal (about 2 miles) to the town park.

I caught this as we drove by, so we had to turn around for a picture. (That happens a lot when we're driving around.) :)

Our typical drive down to Amish country for cheese and spices! Apparently it's a popular store with the "locals" too! :)

Memories

We visited my husbands hometown over the holidays. I spent 3 of my high school years there and it was nice to visit and get some winter pictures...and KNOW we were leaving the snow/cold a few days later.

Sleeping little town

Many nights spent hanging out at the library. I wonder if my kids will ever know what a "card catalog" is?! This building has probably tripled in size in the last 20+ years!

I will always be grateful for what I found in this church. It's not "us" anymore, but it started our journey and I will be grateful for where we have landed.

Sunshine

After 10+ days of rain, the sun finally came out! I made good use of a few minutes and bribed a punk to fulfill my need to snap a picture!

It was worth it! :)

Sweetness

I didn't take a lot of pictures over the holidays, but I did snap a sweet picture of my niece and my youngest looking at a book. Great-grandma always sent my boys books for Christmas. I really loved that she would do that, especially since the kids get so many toys. So in honor of grandma, I gave my niece books for Christmas. I hope she comes to love books as much as we all do.

Spring?

I was beginning to think winter had abruptly ended. It's been rainy, humid and 70+ degrees...IN JANUARY! The windows have been open and the house aired out...nighttime walks and peepers chirping in the darkness. I will miss it as the cold weather returns...but know spring is a few short weeks away. Thank you God for our little taste of spring.