I am sure I have said it before and I know I will say it again, I love a new year.  It is a fresh new beginning.  No mistakes in it yet and full of hope.   I also enjoy the time of reflection it allows for, as we sit on the edge of one year about to leap into the next.

I was talking to Taliah the other day and was lamenting that I had not accomplished as much as I had hoped to in 2015.  She pointed out that for the first 2/3 of the year I was growing a baby and for the last 1/3 of the year caring for a new-born.  In that light I think having Moriah here trumps last years goals.

Last night my oldest three children went off to a youth event and the four youngest were home with Dave and I.  We had special food for the evening, and Hannah was pumped to stay up to midnight.  I myself am not a big party animal, so I tidied my room, it had become a bit of a drop zone during the holidays.  I then sat down and wrote a ‘To Do List’ for today.  Unfortunately Moriah decided that last night would be a great night to pull an all-nighter.  As a result not much has been checked off my list.  All in good time they say, I do have a full year ahead of me.

Joel and Hannah successfully made it to midnight and Samuel gave it a valiant effort.  Dave and I had the children all tucked in and thought we had Moriah down for the night by 1 in the morning. (As I mentioned she had other plans.)  Dave (my hero) got up at about 5:30 to pick up our 3 oldest from the youth event they had attended ’12 Hours in His Glory.’  By 6:30 everyone was tucked away and Dave was curled up once again, the house remained quiet for some time.

As my feet hit the floor I took a page out of Samuel’s book and said, “This is going to be the best day ever.”  Samuel often comes into my room and says, “Good morning Momma, this is the best day ever!”  I have thought about his attitude compared to mine a lot in the last few weeks.  He almost always starts his day this way.  I on the other hand will think, I got 2 hours of sleep this is going to be a tough day.  Perspective counts for a lot, that and choice.  We can choose to see our day as an uphill battle or we can choose to count it all joy!

“Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.” ~Proverbs 4:23

Like any other year before it, I have no idea what the next 365 days will hold, challenges or smooth sailing.  What I can know is how I am going to choose to approach it.  I am not talking about plastering a fake smile on my face and living in denial, what I am talking about is that I am not going to dwell on the negatives.  I am not going to re-play the ‘what if’s’ or ‘if only’s.’ I am not going to fixate on my past failings… they are just that, past.  I am looking forward with anticipation and hope to all the incredible possibilities that lay ahead. I am going to embrace each day for the gift that it is!

Like Samuel I am choosing to see 2016 as the best year ever!