A New Year--something to dread or eagerly anticipate????

I used to always hate January 1. There was something about a new year that terrified me. If I made it through the previous year primarily unscathed, I felt there just had to be something ominous lurking in the year to come, and I was not eager to meet it.

And to be truthful, we have had some difficult years.

We have also had some very good ones.

But either way, I am beginning to learn to view the start of a new year as an opportunity for growth, expansion, and adventure, rather than a potential carrier of bad news.

This coming year already holds promise of good things. We are expecting a new grandbaby in a couple weeks and another in late summer. Those events are certainly happy ones to look forward to. Also, Kristen graduates from college in April, and if all goes according to schedule, Ryan should graduate in December. Now, that is exciting!

And so after reading many blogs about goals/plans/resolutions and words for the year, I have decided to select my own word for 2011.

It is LIVE.

One of my favorite movies is Ever After, (I have always been a sucker for Cinderella), and one of my favorite lines from the movie is when the queen says, “The important thing, is that she lived”. I love that! When I die and return to Heaven, I want to feel that my time on earth was not wasted, that while I was here I truly lived.

So I am going to "live" this year. Which to me means . . .

L. I am going to learn new things, go new places, meet new people, develop new skills, and hopefully learn how to use my new computer and get better use out of the camera I got last year.

I . I am going to incorporate a healthy and active lifestyle.

V. I am going to value the important relationships in my life—beginning with my husband, my children, friends, those I serve in church callings and people in need.

E. I will exercise faith. I will read, pray, study, and face whatever challenges this new year may bring, with courage and trust in my Heavenly Father.

And so when this year dwindles to an end, I want to be able to say that I truly, deeply, and courageously . . . lived.

Best wishes to you all on a very happy new year!!