Happy 2009!

I hope everyone's new year is off to a fabulous start! I am back from my lovely Christmas holiday in Louisiana...it is always so hard boarding the plane back to Florida and this time was no exception. January is such a depressing month for me. I'm always so sad when Christmas is over. I used to be able to look forward to Mardi Gras break, but unfortunately Florida does not let us out of school for such things. My next break from school won't be until April. That's right...there is no spring break in doctor school. Sigh.

But I am determined to start 2009 off on the right foot and make some positive changes in my life.

1. I want to be more organized. My life is so hectic during the semester that I never have time to clean and organize things. I'm trying to get all of that taken care of before spring semester starts so that I can just do small amounts of "maintenance" until my next break in April.

2. I want to be healthier. This includes not only my physical health but my emotional and spiritual health as well. Again, this is something I neglect due to my hectic schedule. But this year I am determined to make time to enjoy the small things in life so that I'm not overwhelmed by stress. I also want to make it a priority to attend church, study the Bible, and do devotionals more often.

3. I want to make a budget and stick to it. I feel like now is the time to become more responsible financially. I've always been a hardcore shopaholic, but my closet literally cannot hold another thing. Not one shirt, one shoe, nada. I could probably "shop" my closet and not wear the same thing twice for 2 years. Seriously. So what better time to try to implement this lifestyle change?

I have also decided that in 2009 I'm going to try to spend more time sewing, crafting, cooking, and I REALLY want to get back into my music. I was a classically trained musician for 16 years...I miss it immensely. I want to go on picnics with my husband, take Heaven to the beach, enjoy Saturday mornings at the farmers market, paint teacups at the pottery cafe, relax on my porch with a cup of coffee...

I will have upcoming photos and recipes from my trip home. I send you all best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2009!

P.S. Although I was certain I failed my Stats final because I stayed up all night finishing that monstrous Stats project, I ended up with an A in the class =) A true Christmas miracle!