This time last year I was about 36 weeks pregnant waiting on the arrival of our baby boy. I remember thinking he could really come anytime in January because he was already measuring so large, so at this point I was basically ready! Little did I know, Cade was just fine where he was and had no intention of arriving early. It was the start of a new year and we were anxious to begin the exciting journey ahead!
Flash forward twelve, too short months, and I just spent NYE with this almost-11-month bright eyed, vivacious baby boy and his wonderful daddy. It has been by far the fastest year of our entire lives, yet the most exciting...the most challenging...the most rewarding...and the most FUN!
I could post a million bazillion pictures of "our best memories" from 2012 because we have so many. It was a bittersweet year though. We welcomed new lives into our family as we watched babies being born, yet we also had to say goodbye to two dear loved ones as they left us for heaven. It hasn't been easy and this past Christmas was beyond bittersweet as I sat there with joyful tears watching my boy's first Christmas and my sister's wedding with my sad tears wishing my dad, my Papa Hall (who just passed away in March), Chad's Uncle Brian (passed away in Jan), and my other grandparents could be here to see it!
If I had to pick top 3...
Feb 3 2012 will, of course, be our BEST day EVER.
Our lives were turned upside down and back around as we became parents for the first time!
Professionally I had a huge surprise blessing this year. In May I was named SC's Young Entrepreneur of the Year, as well as the regional winner, by the Small Business Association. I am honored to have the opportunity to do what I love each and every day. A lot of blood, sweat and tears but it has been a blessing to me! Praying for all of our small businesses this year and I ask you pray too. Maybe even make it a goal or resolution to shop smaller and shop more local this year. I know I will.
Last but not least, my best friend...my one and only sister, got married. What a wonderful day!
Promise I'm going to get around to posting more pics soon. Such a fun weekend!
As we begin a fresh new year, a fresh new chapter in our book, it's like a crisp white clean sheet of paper and I've got my favorite pen ready to doodle all of my goals. Don't you just love that feeling?
While I'm not good with resolutions, I do have a few goals in mind.
First, I saw this on Pinterest and thought it summed up my thoughts entirely:
Amen.
While I may seem to have it all together, truth be told (mom...chad...you're both welcome to chime in here), I've been a hot mess lately. This year has been wonderful but whew, has it been eventful, challenging, a whirlwind of emotions and "busy-ness". Don't get me wrong, I am a girl who thrives on staying busy but as I look ahead to 2013 there's one word that pops into my mind:
Be. Just be.
There's Cade's first birthday next month and Sugar's 5th birthday in April. There will be fun events to plan but I hope that I can get my life organized and begin a "less is more" approach to life. Oh and you get to follow along to see how this pans out.
Goals for 2013: (listing for my own reference. You will get bored, I promise)
- Simplify. Work on a life of order, a life of organization, a life of simplicity (not chaos, clutter, or calamity) A clean house, office, mind and body. Everything from simplifying my closet...my office...my kitchen pantry...to my diet. Like that image I posted, I want to feel good.
- Celebrate. Plan a memorable, yet simple first birthday party for Cade (yep, in 4 weeks). Plan a fun 5 Year Celebration for Sugar and celebrate all of our amazing customers. Plan a fun trip to celebrate Chad's 30th and our 5 Year Anniversary. Plan a fun birthday event for friends. Most importantly, I hope we remember not to only celebrate the big things, but the little ones as well. After all, every day should be a celebration right?
- More passport stamps. We've got our annual Fripp trip booked and look forward to the amazing memories we always make that week. So relaxing and much needed time with family. We also plan to make new traditions/vacations with mom now that Courtney & Mack are married. Oh and since Chad and I will celebrate 5 years in August, we are very excited about a much needed vacation for just him and I! Also hope to plan a "girls trip" sometime too.
- Make more memories. Sure, we make memories every day but I can not wait to do things that will be "new" for Cade and experience them through his eyes! The zoo, museums, the beach, the mountains, whatever it may be. It's going to be fun! Make each day count.
- Shop smaller. Shop local. There's just something about taking the time to find the perfect, unique, special gift and having it gift wrapped in luscious paper with a fancy bow for that special person in your life. Or finding that one-of-a-kind silk blouse that you will wear for years and it will make you feel like a million bucks every. time. you. wear. it. Hearing someone say "Oh hey Sandi!" when you walk in and "Thanks for coming in today" when you walk out. Things you only find at small businesses. My goal is to shop smaller and shop even more locally. You won't believe the items you can find right down the road in your own hometown! Being a small business owner myself, you would think by now I would have this engraved on my forehead. But hey, I'll be the first to admit I occasionally like to shop online and when I travel, I shop. Nothing wrong with it. It's convenient. It's easy. It's fun. However, I certainly want to focus more on investing my dollars back into the town(s) that will in turn help me and my children. I love supporting local, small brick & mortar stores. It's their livelihood and it's your money, your tax dollars. Spend it where it can help you...and them!
- Let it be. The Beatles knew what they were talking about. Some days I just need to "let it be". I am a woman of control, I tell you. Things must go my way. In 2013 I need to remember that when things don't go my way, when I get frazzled and going 90 miles a minute, to just SLOW down and soak it all in. I don't want to miss a single thing this year because I'm having a mental breakdown, hissy fit, or chaotic day. My baby boy is growing way too fast and each day it's something new. I hope to take the time to just "be" and not always have plans.
- Listen. I hope to also make sure I listen. While all of these goals and plans sound good, I need to remember that instead of always talking and planning, I need to be quiet and listen to God's plans for us and His will! "If you wanna hear God laugh, tell Him your plans" That's why these are just "goals".
- Read. Not the hottest new top 10 best seller because let's face it, I don't read much anyways. Just magazines. Ask me the last book I read. 50 Shades of WHO? See, I don't have time! But I want to make time...to #1. read my bible. #2. read more devotional books. They keep me on track, keep me inspired, keep me grounded. Sure I can go to church every Sunday (and I need to!) or all day long for that matter, but constantly going to Him in prayer and reading His word and plan for me is truly what I feel will strengthen my faith and relationship with Him. Something I certainly want to continue to work on every day, every year - not just in 2013.
- Save. I DID read Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" back in August (*gasp* go me! Ok, I admit I did skip over a few pages at the end but whatever, it counts) and have somewhat dabbled into the process over the past few months but let's face it - with Christmas and the wedding chaos, it was hard! What better time to start than the start of a new year. I am so close to being credit-card-debt free and hope to accomplish that so I can begin paying off my car asap! We want to really save as much as we can as we begin to make big plans for our future.
- Dream bigger. Plan smarter. Which leads to my last goal...think smart, plan smart. We are a couple who firmly believes in God's timing. HIS timing is perfect. Always. I'm Mrs. Impatient but my husband is the most patient man I know. We have had THE best almost-five years of marriage together living in the same tiny little home, comfortably and happily. However, there is always seasons of change and it's time to begin developing a "three year plan" to decide where we may want to move and where we may want to buy a house or build one. We both desperately wish for a sparkling new, shiny clean and spotless house. A house we plan from the ground up. A house we make a home for us, Cade, and other future kiddos. Nothing big, nothing fancy, but with the right plans and again, smart saving and planning, we hope to begin working on a house that is a dream come true to us!
Having goals always make me work harder. I am looking forward to working hard in the year ahead. My motto has always been, "work hard, play hard" and "dream big". Work on being a better Christian, a better mom, a better wife, a better entrepreneur, a better boss, a better friend, a better servant, a better organizer, a better giver, a better meal planner... a better person.
Work towards our dreams and our FUTURE!
What goals do you have for 2013?
"For I know the plans I have for you..."
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