New year, new start....

Hope you've all had a lovely Christmas!

Christmas here was full of everything I love during the festive season - family time, friend time, good food, nostalgic films, theatre, apple and cinnamon scented candles, cosy jumpers and festive church services. I was well and truly spoilt and got some much needed time to relax with the people I love.

Without the business of 'normal life', it's been a time to reflect on the past year too. I think that 2014 has been one of the hardest and most emotional years of my life. Lots of great stuff has happened (I got to know my daughter more, watch her grow, laugh with her, cuddle her, listen to her snoring, spent time with my brilliant husband, enjoyed time with family and friends, had a few lovely breaks away amongst other things) but I have spent much of the year feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Health issues, a change in job and a unsuccessful house move have taken up a lot of time this year physically and emotionally and going into 2015, I know that I don't want to carry all of that with me. Fortunately my health is improving, work is going pretty well, the house move is on hold for the foreseeable future and the stress is lessening. As we near the end of 2014, I feel like I am coming out of the fog and starting to journey into a much better place. With that in mind I have decided not to make any new years resolutions (does anyone actually keep them?!) and am opting to have a year of less of some things and more of others.

So here's what I want more and less of in 2015....

• More faith
• More peace
• More laughter
• More time with those I love
• More fun
• More relaxing
• More reading
• More experience
• More good health
• More time making a positive difference to others
• More courage
• More music
• More learning
• More time outside

• Less stress
• Less worry
• Less clutter in my house
• Less fear of 'what ifs'
• Less junk food (that's going to be really tough)
• Less moaning  
• Less selfishness
• Less comparison
• Less materialism
• Less envy

It's a pretty long list and it won't be easy. I am already incredibly blessed and in so many ways love the life I have but I want to live life abundantly and fully and with a bit more of some things and a bit less of others I think life can get even better.

Anyone else fancy joining me in the challenge?

It's been a while...

It's been long time since I last posted anything on this blog. Life gets pretty busy and I also haven't quite known what to write. A lot has happened but it doesn't feel appropriate to bare all on here so I've stayed silent. I thought I'd just give you a bit of an update.

Today marks the end of a lovely week of annual leave. Work has been busy and tiring and it definitely felt like time to have a break. Luckily J was due some annual leave too so this week we have been able to recharge the batteries. We've had some great family time with O, eaten some yummy food, spent time with loved ones, read books and watched lots of films. I also made sure that everything is ready for Christmas as we are not going to have much time to prepare this week as we will be back at work. I am ending the week by going to the carol service at church and eating a home made slow cooked beef bourginon.

On the eve of returning to work, I have the same feeling I used to get as a student the night before term started, although with Christmas in the next few days it'll be a couple of weeks before 'normality' resumes.

O is continuing to flourish. She has a wonderful sense of humour and fun and for the most part is an absolute joy to be around. Despite a temper that appears whenever she can't get what she wants, I love being around her and it has been great to spend more time with her this week. I feel the guilt of being a working mum returning as I think about all I need to do for work tomorrow but I am hoping that in the long run working will be the right choice.

But for now I am going to enjoy the last few hours of my annual leave.