1.1.2012 Happy New Year!!!!

Good Grief! It’s the first day of 2012!

Wow!

2011 was a heck of a year! I’m pretty impressed. We made it!

Now, what to do in 2012 that will make this year

20-times better than 2011?

I’ve got a few ideas.

But first an ode to ,

 2011

I learned who God is

I learned who I am

How much I can take

And

What love truly means

.

I’ve learned to be thankful for the small and the big stuff.

I said goodbye to my father.

I said goodbye to America in exchange for the foreign.

I’ve mastered driving in a place where every day it’s like drunken Nascar.

I’ve become a mom to many angels.

I lost a lot, I gained even more.

I learned what it is to be present. Happy in the moment you’re in

I’ve learned to enjoy life

And not

Sweat the small stuff.

I’ve learned that I’m worth it.

In 2012

I hope to learn

Even more

About God

About me

About life

And even you.  J

I'm going to let you in on a little secret of mine...

I’ve never really liked New Year’s resolutions.

Nope... not at all.

To me they have always seemed like

Promises to be broken by March… 

If you’re lucky.

January 2^nd or 3^rd if you’re not.

What’s interesting is that even though I didn’t like them I still made them.

And of course broke them as well.

So this year I’m going to do something a tad bit different.

I’m going to set some goals.

I’m going to finish what I start.

Mama didn’t raise a quitter.

No no no.

What I like about goals is this…

Goals are attainable.

Goals are made to be reached and surpassed.

Goals are the shit um… yeah.  Moving on.

As I sit here with a pretty crystal flute of some very chilled Moet

I ponder over what I want to accomplish in 2012…

I know one thing.

I want to lose weight. I know; trust me I know… 

That it’s such a cliché thing to say…

But the truth of the matter is I am not healthy.

I can’t let myself get worse. I’m morbidly obese. I’m 28.

Wife of an amazing man and mom of 2 of the most kick arse children on this planet.

I want to stick around for them; to be there during their childhood, adolescences, and adulthood.

I want to grow old with my husband, loving him for many, many, many, years to come…

I can’t do that if I’m not healthy;

 if I’m not in good shape both mentally and definitely physically.

So goal number 1 is this:

Lose 50lbs in the next 6 months. Keep it off for the rest of the year.

Goal number 2:

Travel to 5 foreign countries outside of the Middle East.

We’re in the perfect position to do just that and I am going to make it happen.

Goal number 3:

Volunteer more this year.

I want to get out and help make this place better than it was when we arrived.

I love helping others and I can’t wait to get started on this goal.

Goal number 4:

Is a secret and once it is attained I’ll tell you all about it. J

So… Those are my goals for 2012.

I’m looking forward to getting started.

I’m looking forward to you cheering me on

Well…

 that is if you want too.

Happy New Year my friends!