Saturday, December 29, 2012

2013

The quiet of tonight seemed like a good time to sit down and do a post about the new year. For some reason, the year, 2013, seems unbelievable. Maybe it's the fact that when I was a teenager, in the 1960's, a year with 2000 in front of it seemed so very, very far away. Yet here we are 13 years after the millenium. Life is amazing to me now. I knew I wanted to get married and have children. I wanted them to grow up to be wonderful people (which they did) and to have great lives of their own. Nothing prepared me for the joys of grandmotherhood, though. My greatest blessings are those babies and the one soon to be here.

2013 holds many hopes, dreams and challenges for me, I'm sure. Right off the bat, my son has heart surgery scheduled for the 10th. He had mitral valve replacement and a pacemaker insertion when he was 14. Now there is leakage around the valve which needs to be taken care of. The leak is rated severe. Luckily, the surgeon who will be doing the surgery developed the repair process and that helps somewhat. The Hubs and I will be going down to GA on the 9th and staying at least until Sunday. This procedure is done as a catherization so it's not open-heart, but there are still risks as in all surgical procedures.

Also, Abby's baby is due on January 28th. I am so excited and eager to meet this new little one. It's hard to believe that it is so close. It seems like just yesterday that she called and gave me the good news. So the year starts with a challenge and a joyful time for me.

I'm not much on making resolutions simply because I'm not very good at keeping them. My practical side says why make them when I know I'm going to forget about them by the second week of January. But this year, I have decided to, if not actually make resolutions, to at least set myself some goals to try to achieve.

All the heartbreak and destruction of 2012 made me realize that kindess is something that we all can do and it doesn't cost a dime. So my first goal of 2013 is to try to do one random act of kindess each month. I hope I can do that more often but at least once a month, I want to help someone and make their day a little more cheerful. It's not something that I will blog about because I personally feel that acts of kindness are better if they are not broadcast about. It will be enough that I know what I did.

My second goal is to visit my children and grandchildren at least once a month. This shouldn't have to be in my goal list but given my health issues, I never know how I will feel. So my plans are to just go when I'm feeling relatively good.

Third on my list is to read at least one book a month in 2013. This will be a rather easy goal to accomplish since I have a Kindle. I have always loved holding a book in my hands and losing myself in the pages but over the past few months, it has become harder to do that. My hands and wrists become weary and achy while trying to keep the book open, especially the longer, thicker books that I so enjoy. Being able to read on my Kindle has made all the difference and I think, as long as I can enjoy reading, it is well worth it.

The fourth item should be easy to do, also. I want to be really crafty this year. I have so many projects swirling around in my head and on my Ravelry list, that I could work each and every day and still not get them done. I'm not putting a deadline on myself for this because, again, my hands, elbows and shoulders don't always cooperate and I have to lay anything I'm working on aside for a few days at a time. But I want to be productive and have more FO's this year. All the creativity in Blogland is so inspiring and just makes me itch to get in there and do stuff.

That's pretty much it for goals. Of course, there's always lose weight, walk more, be more organized, etc, etc, etc. but these are the "resolutions" I always fail at. So this year, one day at a time, I am going to try to assess where I am and to improve. Step by step, I hope to be an improvement over my 2012 self. But the goals I have put down in my blog will be the ones I concentrate on most.

Happy New Year to you, all my bloggy friends. I hope the new year brings you joy, love, laughter, and good health.

Hugs,
Sharon


11 comments:

  1. Dear Sharon,
    I wish you the very best in this New Year. I, too, feel a bit below par. But I do have to say, out loud in a big voice, that I think you have and always achieved the goal of kindness. I read it in your words, I feel it in your intentions and I believe it in my heart. You are a true and loving woman who's kindness and love reaches out to all of your readers, and I have not one single question that it embraces all around you.
    With much love and admiration, Ellen.

    ReplyDelete
  2. And a happy new year to you too - I love that you taken time to think about your goals and I wish you well in fulfilling them in the year ahead. How exciting to welcome a new grandbaby too!
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Sharon.. It was so good to read about your family n your plans for the year. Wishing lots of love n Luke for your on n many anticipations or your grand kid. Being a stay at home mom of 2 little ones was never anywhere on my agenda even in early 2000''s..but life is good n. m enjoying every moment of my motherhood now!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy New Year Sharon. Wishing you all the best for a safe, happy and healthy new year. Heather

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear Sharon, January holds lots in store for you and your family. I'm sure your son will make it through surgery just fine and then you can all breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate the arrival of the newest addition to the family later in the month. Wishing you safe travels wherever you go. And all the best as you work towards and carry out your goals for the new year. God bless, Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  6. Best of luck with the challenges of 2013.

    As well as best of luck, with your goals.

    Somehow the sound of "2013" is a bit weird to me... Suppose it's the silly old fear-of-13. I'd better get rid of this it-sounds-weird-ness soooooooon! 2013 is almost here!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dear Sharon, You are so right. When 1999 turned to 2000 it felt so weird and now here we are going towards 2013! All the best for your son's operation and daughter's delivery. They will be in my prayers.
    Wishing you and your loved ones a fantastic & Happy New Year 2013 with good health, peace of mind and of course lots of crafting. I enjoyed reading your goals, I hope I am not too late to make a few resolutions of my own :)
    Love and Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy New Year! We shall have a year of random creativity as well as kindness! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy New Year Sharon, I hope it's a wonderful year for you and your growing family :) Hope all goes smoothly for your son on the 10th xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. All the best to you and yours for the New Year.
    Love from Mum
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. I will say prayers for your son, daughter and your little "Jellybean" coming and of course for you, dear friend. You are amazing and are such a better blogger than I! You're my role model this year! What's your Ravelry id? You could join the group Come Blog Along for bloggers and Ravelry people. You can join anytime. Hugs!!!!

    ReplyDelete