We tried to sleep on our fold-out couch last night, the three of us. Little Man had coordinated a “party” for the us (board games, Wii games, root beer floats), and we crashed together in a “slumber party” to end the year. I made it until 4:27 am, when repeated kicks in the back and being cold propelled me back into the comfort of my own bed and heated blanket. The boys both slept until 9:30, which is pretty  miraculous in and of itself.

I don’t think I have ever been so glad to see the clock turn over to midnight, January 1, and a whole new year. I’d like to wish 2015 a fond farewell, but, really, I’d prefer to light it on fire and never see it again, if I could.

Good things DID happen: my Mom healed from her stroke and is still alive (there was much praising God on my behalf last night for that, alone), we started Classical Conversations and are thriving in our little community, homeschooling is going…not terribly, we got to go camping at Lake Erie for a week, and I ran not a little. We have settled into our “new” church, which we joined two years ago this month, and are finally serving on a regular basis in areas where we fit and are gifted. We are making new friends and the loneliness of life is easing, just a bit. Oh, and I have a new nephew!

There are things on the horizon that don’t necessarily bode well for this year, but all we can do at this point is take a deep breath, batten down the hatches, and pray. God is in control, anyway, and there’s not much we can do about many of those things.

But there are some things over which I do have some modicum of control – some ways in which I hope to improve  my life, and, by extension, I hope, the lives of my family.

First, I’ve made a reading goal. I have found myself, lately, reading blogs and internet junk instead of books. So I’m taking Tim Challies’s 2016 Reading Challenge. I’m not sure if I’m aiming for level 3 or 4, but I’ve started reading again and have already spent way less time online today. I imagine that’s good for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is my comparison issues problem.

Second, I’m also taking Tim Challies’s 10 Day Productivity Challenge. I love his description of what it means to be productive, and I needed to have that change of perspective.

Third, I was notified late yesterday that I’ve been accepted as a volunteer at The Gospel Coalition’s Women’s Conference in June. I am SO excited! I am local to the conference, so it will only cost me parking (and I know all the cheap parking spots!) and food (yay for coolers!). Are you coming? I would love to see/meet you. If not, you should! It will be an excellent, Word – filled conference!! And they still need volunteers, which makes your attendance free!

Finally, and this is by far not my final “resolution” or “goal,” I started reading through the Bible again this morning. I finished yesterday for 2015 – I made it all the way through, and I have to say I am pretty proud of myself. This year I’m using a plan called the “M’Cheyne” plan. I am super excited to see what I learn about how God’s Word interacts with itself this year! And this morning, my little guy wanted me to read it out loud (who knew Genesis 1 could inspire SO! MANY! QUESTIONS!).