hello 2014...veggies, chickens, baking & letters

happy 2014 friends!
are you a new year's resolution person?  i'm usually not, but this year i'm totally swept up in it.  2013 was so big for us - stretched us - challenged us - changed us - grew us.   new baby, new home, new jobs, new routines, new adventures, new challenges, new fears, new strengths, new joys...a whole bunch of new new new.

as we bid farewell to 2013 my heart overflows with gratitude for the memories and all the life that was lived...but if i'm honest i don't want any of that for 2014. of course i hope for a year filled with joy, adventures, growth and wonderful memories but i also hope it's filled with a whole lot of simple and kinda boring things like veggies, chickens, baking and letters.

my kids think my resolutions are hilarious. in fact on new year's eve they made up a little song to poke fun of these particular bits and now sing it at the top of their lungs and most often while standing on top of a chair and giggling hysterically...

"our mooooooommmmmyyyyy wants to get eat more VEGGIES, 

get STRONGER,

raise chickensssssss, 

BAKE new things,

and write MOOOOOOOORRRRREEEE  lettterrrrrssssssss!" 

(can you hear it ... see them doing this...it's very catchy)

but yup.  that's what i want in 2014...and i guess i now have a catchy theme song to hold me to it.

so, i'm going to eat more vegetables and get stronger...something i lost with sleepless baby feeding nights, unpredictable new routines and an overall lack of focus on taking care of me.  i'm going to read more...even if it just on how to raise chickens and what recipes i can make with the bounty of eggs i'm looking forward to. i'm going to bake more...this is the year i find the next thing to add to my banana bread, shepherd's pie and corn chower standbys.  i'm going to write more...and not just here on this little blog but also on stationary and trips to the post office.  i'm going to have shorter to do lists.  i'm going to say no more. i'm going to be more present.  i'm going to love better. i'm going to be quiet with lord more. i'm going to just be.

so i raise my glass of veggie-packed green smoothie to 2014 and wish you a very happy new year friends!  what about you ... what are your hopes for the new year?  if you need a theme song i'm sure i could get e&b to compose something for you :)