What happened to her? Did she fall of the face of the earth? Did she quit blogging? Is she okay? Love and Pancakes, who?
As I take a look at my blog for the first time in what seems to have been years, I realize that my last post was not as long ago as I thought. A couple of months? Maybe it's because so much has happened, that these past few months feel like years that have gone by. Yet, in the moment, time is running by so fast I feel like there is just not enough of it. Strange how that works. I have so much to do and feel like I have very little time to do it. I have to catch up on blogging. I have thousands of photos that need to be edited and backed-up. Though Hubby just got me Lightroom 4 and the MCP presets for Christmas so these should make that latter task a lot easier (and way more fun)! I just get so overwhelmed with everything and put certain things on the back-burner. Like I did with my blog. I don't want anything to interfere with my life of being a good mom and a good wife so sometimes I need to take a step back and re-prioritize. Especially when we have so much going on at one time. Last year was filled with so many big changes, events and commitments, that I had no choice but to put some things on hold. Truth be told, I was just so exhausted. I also had an unexpected health issue that required emergency surgery and that definitely took a toll on things as well. I am okay now and everything seems to be in a good place. And now that things have settled down a bit, I can get back to one of my great loves: blogging.
As I said, it has been a very busy time for us over here at 'Love and Pancakes', and 2012 was definitely a year filled with a lot of changes. Took us a while, but we finally got settled into our new home. Hubby is still working full-time as well as going to school. Since I had quite a bit of empty time while Punkin had her visits with her dad, I decided to do some part-time work and it's been great. I work 2-3 nights a week for about 3 hours and I love it. I do it at night so my days are not interrupted. It feels good to be connected to something again that is just for me. Even though Hubby works a lot of hours and has a very busy schedule, we still have so much time we are able to spend together as a family. Not sure how that works but somehow the Lord has made it so and I am grateful for that. In late 2012, we celebrated our one year wedding anniversary (though we have been together longer), we took the kids on their first trip to Disneyland and I became an Auntie again. We have overcome a lot of difficult obstacles (some of which I can't even get into right now - and probably won't be able to for a while) but have had twice as many blessings. As for Punkin...where would I even begin? The term "Young Adult" is not the first thing you think of regarding a 3-year-old but I'm not sure how else to describe her.
Then there are the personal changes. Both Hubby and I have experienced a lot of personal changes this last year. The things we have overcome has not only strengthened our marriage, but our faith as well. We have both grown emotionally, mentally and spiritually and it's a pretty great feeling to be on this same kind of level with your spouse.
I have made it a commitment to improve on all aspects of my life. I am that person who constantly worries so much about everyone and everything. To the point where it can be disruptive. I can lie awake all night thinking about everything...worrying about Punkin and her health and her safety, worrying about the health and well-being of friends and family...as if by somehow thinking about every negative outcome will make me better prepared for something when it happens. I can lie there desperately wishing I had a switch to turn all these thoughts off, continuously praying for God to not only watch over and be with all of my loved ones in their time of need, but to also take the worry away from me and allow me to give it to Him. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. Maybe because I don't see it all of the way through. How do you turn over all of your control and worries about the most important things in your life to someone who is not physically there? But He is there. I have especially noticed this in times when I need Him the most. Not physically. I can't see Him. But He is there and somehow He gets me through. He hasn't failed me yet. I have blogged about this before but it is something that is a constant struggle. Even though I have become better, it is something I will continue to work on through my daily devotion. To have faith and assurance through Christ that He has a plan for everything. And I have no control over that plan. Of course this won't make me 100% worry-free...but I figure 80% worry-free is a good goal! :)
That would be my spiritual commitment for the New Year. I have also made it a commitment to improve on all things that I take interest in. I want to immerse myself in knowledge. I spent 7 years of my life teaching young children and the last 3 1/2 years teaching my own. I want to be the student and a teacher. I want to learn about everything and anything. I want to read more books. I want to cook more foods. I want to learn about foods and techniques that are used from different areas all over the world. I want to travel more. I want to love and give more. I want to not hold hate against those people who have done me wrong. I want to buy as much stuff as I can from small businesses. I want to improve my blog and get it to that place I've been wanting it to be. I want to connect more with fellow readers and meet new bloggers. I want to become a better photographer and take lots more pictures. I have actually done really good with that last one. I have family and friends who ask me to do their family and baby portraits and that makes me feel really good. Because I love doing it. I guess those would be my New Year's "resolutions".
In the next few days, I will get pictures up of everything. There is a lot I am thankful for and want to share it with all of you. I also need to update my 101 in 1001. I have until the end of this year to finish it! Tic-tok! Thank you so much lovely readers for choosing to share another year with me and I hope you continue to stick around. This year is going to be a good one! Hope you all had a very merry Christmas and happy New Year. Any special resolutions on your list for 2013?
~xoxo~
