Here is my obligatory end-of-year post.

2014 was what it was.  7th grade brought new issues for The Boy, and by extension, for us at home.  We never stop learning. And we never stop being amazed at how much we have to learn.

This time of year is a natural time to reflect and plan, and I have much to be thankful for from 2014, and much to look forward to in 2015.

I’m thankful for my good-paying job that does much to support our family in a fairly comfortable fashion, even though it makes me absolutely crazy in the summer.  I actually really enjoy it in the winter, so we shall see what the new year brings.

I am so extremely thankful to have The Man in my life.  He is my rock, my partner in crime, the one who holds me at night, and cracks me up during the day.  There is no one on Earth I would rather have by my side than him.

I’m thankful to have my parents so close after being so far for so long.  It’s a joy to see the relationship between The Boy and his grandparents so strong.  We are lucky to have that, I think.

In the coming year, my first priority is to find more balance.  I’ve been struggling with this.  I work more hours now, for less money, and much of my off-time is wasted in front of the TV.  I plan to use more time in the evenings to work on the necessary things that fall by the wayside too often, as well as the things I’d like to do, which also get pushed to the back burner. This may not be a welcome change at first for The Man, who sees our TV-watching time as time spent together, but in the end, I hope he’ll see it as necessary to my sanity, and therefore a good thing for our relationship. 🙂

I also need to spend more time with my parents, and I already have some plans  in the works on how to accomplish this.  Time is so dear, but it marches on, as well.  And I don’t want to wake up ten years from now and wish I had done more and taken more time.

Thank you, dear readers, for hanging in with me this year.  I know I haven’t been posting as regularly as I have in the past, and that is another priority for me in the coming year.

Have a wonderful and safe New Year’s Eve, and enjoy your loved ones.