New Year, Old Me.

2014 is drawing to an end.  Less than 12 hours to go and a new year, 2015 will be welcomed in.  New year...resolutions will be made and and few will be kept.

Like all things new it comes in a shiny package and when it is opened we see possibilities.  We forget the old things and latch on to the new.

I for one am a little sad to see this year end.  It was the most wonderful year I have spent in quite a long time.  In April we celebrated the upcoming arrival of a new baby with friends and family at a most Southern baby shower brunch and in just a few weeks she made her appearance.  My new granddaughter was born and brought joy unfathomable to me.  From the instant she appeared I was totally and hopelessly in love.  How you wonder can one little life change so many?  But she did.  In June my husband and I celebrated forty years of marriage.  I love him more now than I did the day we said I do.  We also turned sixty this year - enough said. In the middle of all this we remodeled our kitchen.  It was crazy - took way too long but so worth the insanity and months of inconvenience.  Funny how when it is done you forget how much trouble it was!

I have watched my granddaughter change from a newborn to an infant and marveled at her funny and sweet little personality.  I can see my son in her and it warms my heart.  I have the privilege of keeping her a couple of days each week.  When I first began with that I am not afraid to say I was terrified of doing something wrong.  After thirty years of not being around a baby you second guess yourself.  But we survived those first timid weeks and I would not take anything for the precious days we spend together.  We sat on the porch during the summer and I would rock her to sleep and then just watch her.  We strolled up and down my quiet street and visited some of the neighbors who wanted to see our new addition.  We have gone to the grocery store, shopped during Christmas, made a salt dough ornament with her hand print for her mama and daddy, we talk to the baby in the mirror.  I sing silly songs to her - some I sang to her daddy when he was a baby and some I make up just for her.  We takes rides in the car because she likes to ride and nap.  We play and I read to her.  Just to see her smile makes me happy.  I thank her mama and daddy for sharing her.

I have been there to celebrate her Dedication Day, witnessed her first trip to beach, been there when she visited Santa, got to enjoy her first Christmas, seen that first little tooth peek through, had sleepovers at my house.  Whether little or big events they are all a treasure.  She is sitting up now and it won't be long until she walks - better take more vitamins.

I know as 2015 comes in she will do more every day and we will celebrate her first birthday - which is coming too quickly.  But in my heart those months in 2014 will always be special to me.

So here are my 2015 "Resolutions" if you will...
1.  I will continue to live my life in a manner pleasing to my Savior.
2.  I will fall in love over and over with the same man.
3.  I will always be there for my family and friends.
4.  I will stand up for abused animals and will continue to shop cruelty free.
5.  I will support worthy causes.
6.  I will take care of my health so I can see more new years
7.  I will be one of those grandmothers people hate to see coming!  Because she is the light of my life!