Tuesday, January 01, 2008

A New Year

Happy New Year!

For most of my life, in my perception, the new year starts in September when a new school year starts. I have either been going to school or teaching school, at home or in a classroom, or have sent husband and children off to college/grad school my whole life. Consequently, I am often caught off guard with the concept of reflecting on the old year on 31 December and making resolutions for the new year on January 1st.

But in the spirit of it all, I shall give reflection of 2007 a try and then come up with a 'hopes and goals' list for 2008, a phrase I am shamelessly stealing from another blog.

The word that comes to my mind when I reflect on 2007 here at Willow's Cottage is CHANGE. The Professor and I changed so many parts of our lives, as did our children. Every one of us moved in 2007. Again. We changed jobs. We exchanged the noise, lights, smog, violence of inner city Los Angeles for the quiet, safe, clean, friendly atmosphere of Camarillo.

We changed churches, jobs, grocery stores, doctors, dentists, walking and biking routes, yarn shops, favorite local coffee shops, beaches. Not being much of a shopper, I am still learning where stores are, what streets are named what. I can get to church, to Palermo Coffee, to school and to Trader Joe's. When we moved, we didn't really change friends. We did change our interactions with them. Some friends we saw only occasionally are now our coffee buddies, and vice versa. It takes some adjustment.

Did I do everything on my 2007 goals list? Certainly not. I didn't lose weight, I didn't organize the photos. But I did submit the work for the Knitting Guild certification.

So that brings me to 2008.
My hopes and goals:
1. Lose a bit of weight. Always have to put that in here, it's the American way.
2. Exercise more. Walk more consistently. Get the bike serviced and ready to ride again.
3. Resubmit the Knitting Guild work for review. All that is left for me to do is rewrite the aran sweater pattern and double check one of the swatches.
4. Use my yarn stash instead of buying new yarn. Please don't tell my lys owner.
5. Read or reread the books that are on our bookshelves.
6. Be more intentional about my spiritual life. Pray. Memorize Scripture. I want to learn about the Church Year, the daily and weekly prayers and readings.
7. And organize the photos. Declutter. Simplify. Live Green. Hope for world peace.

I don't expect 2008 to be an easy year with Chaplain Dan in the Middle East. But it can be a hopeful, trusting-in-God year. We will become grandparents; we will accomplish one of our life goals, seeing all of our children graduate from college, when MamaMia receives her degree in Anthropology from San Diego State University in May. We will travel internationally again, with a trip to England. We will put down roots in our new home, new community.

Happy New Year!

12 comments:

Bethany said...

I can relate to your feelings about change, as we moved 3 times in the last two years!!! But this past year we put down our roots and are making this a permanent home for hopefully at least the next ten years as the children grow up!
I added more pictures to my post, right after you commented! You'll have to go look (you can see a recent one of me!) I share a lot of your 2008 resolutions for my physical and spiritual life this year! I'm so glad you are a blogging friend :) xoxo~Bethany

Anonymous said...

We had quite a few similar parallels with changes in 2007. :)
I wish you well in all you do in 2008. Happy New Year!

kari and kijsa said...

We just wanted to stop by and give you the warmest wishes of the season! Hope you have a wonderful and prosperous 2008!

(sounds like you are well on your way!)

smiles, kari and kijsa

Barbara Jacksier said...

Hope 2008 is a great one for you and your family. Sounds like change is 'your middle name'... so to speak. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Have a Happy New Year 2008!

Kiti said...

Selamat Tahun Baru!

I love how every single one of us in the family moved at least once this year. It's your fault and Dad's, for raising us to be gypsies, you know. We'll never stay in one place because we don't know how... Instead of fighting my destiny, I'm going to go declutter, so that moving will become an easy routine.

Anonymous said...

What a great list, Willow. I think there will be a great number of changes in 2008 - many pleasant ones and a few not so pleasant. But what's "not good" in my mind is tempered by the assurance of God's overall plans. Happy new year!

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Hi Willow - this is a wonderful, thoughtful post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and goals. Learning about the church year and daily prayers was an important part of my 2007, and I found it very enriching and look forward to continuing that this year. I think you will find it an enriching experience.

Barbara said...

An interesting post putting a house move in so many words. If I was making a list then I guess it would be similar to yours but I don't do that. I do better living spontaneously from day to day.

Reading this I am reminded that youare coming to England. Have you got anything firmed up yet. Are you likely to b e in London. I would love to meet up and if it is possible you are welcome at my home.

kate said...

It sounds as if 2007 was a year filled with changes. 2008 promises to be another one. Becoming grandparents for the first time will be wonderful. How proud you must be of your children for all attending college and graduating.

September has always felt like the beginning of the year - probably because of all the years I spent in school. LOL!!

Happy New Year and the best of luck with the Knitting Guild certification. You are amazing!!

Barbara said...

I forgot to say from your recent comments to me.That must have been weird getting to Pheonix one hour earlier and knowing it was not yet new year at home.
I was interested to note that you watch 'To the Manor Born'. Was that the latest one hour current update or part of the old series? I always watched it when it used to run (Ithink about 25 years ago) and also wsatched the one off update over Christmas.
If it is not any trouble would you mind E-mailing me sometime as I would like to ask you a question.

Reflection Through The Seasons said...

Hello Willow..... Interesting! I’ve enjoyed reading this post.... I like too the expression Hopes & Goals it seems a little less rigid than ‘resolutions’. Thank you for visiting my corner of the world, I’ve enjoyed your comments. Happy New year to you too. Marion