Welcome 2009

OK, so I’ve never actually made New Year’s Resolutions before. I’m usually a person who decides I want something and goes after it. There’s no waiting until a particular time of year to make a commitment. “Get it done” is more my style, but this year I’ve been thinking (dangerous, I know).

There are things that I keep hoping to do, but for some reason or another I don’t necessarily follow through. Call it procrastination. Call it exhaustion. Frankly, I call it laziness. So, this year I figured that I would put these things out there for all the world. It’s a bit harder to back out of a personal commitment when the world knows what you are supposed to be doing. We can count this as public and personal accountability, but here goes… My goals for 2009.

1. Say NO more often. This year, I would like to commit to less so that I can commit more of myself to the things about which I am most passionate. While I love learning and doing in all areas, I want to start to narrow my focus more.

2. Build my PLN. In the past few months, I have become an active part of an amazing PLN on Twitter. (Feel free to join in @kellyhines) Every day I get access to some of the best minds in education who have common interests, goals and aspirations for the development of global education. My goal is to continue to seek out the network of people that will enhance my abilities to serve my students, my own children and my school. I only pray that I can help others as much as I have been helped.

3. Build in one-on-one time with each of my kids each day. I don’t have grand thoughts as to an hour a piece because we all have busy schedules. My boys are growing up, and they are growing up fast. While we used to do so much together, they are developing even more distinct interests and personalities these days. I want David and Tyler to each be proud of who they are individually, and I want them to know that they are each special in their own way. As twins, they get “lumped together” enough. 15 minutes. That’s my goal.

4. Read more. I love to read, but it usually becomes a race for completion on vacations (last summer I read over 2o books). I want to focus on reading more “for fun” throughout the year. One per month is my goal. I’ll definitely keep track so you can keep me accountable. Do you have any suggestions for me?

So… here it is. My list for 2009. Think I can do it? I’m going to post this on my professional blog as well, hoping to capture the nagging of all my PLN and readers.

Help me out. Leave a message of encouragement or a book suggestion or an idea of who to stalk (oops, I mean follow) on Twitter or elsewhere to enhance my learning!

Awwww

Yesterday in the car, David calls from the backseat. "Mommy, Christmas is not even about giving. It's about loving."

I am thankful for those moments when I feel like I'm doing something right as a parent.

On Christmas

Another year has passed so quickly. It's hard to believe. David & Tyler are 5. They were reading stories to us this year. Where has the time gone? It's especially hard to believe since Wes is celebrating his first Christmas with us this year, already at 4 months old. It reminds of the fact that my boys were that small. While it seems like only yesterday, it also seems like so long ago. Watching the boys open their presents and light up at watching Santa on Norad has been a treat this year. The wonder and excitement with which they live leaves me filled with awe and inspiration, and even a bit of remorse. I'm adding some pics of our family time together, if nothing else as a reminder of what Christmas really means to me. Happy birthday Jesus. Thank you for my beautiful family.

Christmas Time Is Here

Tonight our church held an impromptu Christmas Pageant. No rehearsal. No assigned parts. It was perfect. With a narrator telling the story of the first Christmas, little kids and grown ups joined the story as it unfolded before us. It captured the heart-felt confusion of the time and the joy and wonder, as you watched children staring into the manger at the baby in complete awe. Songs were a capella and rang through the church like the voices of the angels themselves. We wrapped it up with a birthday party for Jesus. I couldn't ask for anything better!