A New Year Has Begun

I really should update on all things familial, professional, and social.  With the new month, comes a new blog design, and a few holiday pictures.  Here is what I scrapped when I wasn't writing!

We had a fabulous Christmas spent with family, taking time to remember the most important part of the Season.  We had our traditional Christmas brunch with Grandpa and Grandma Clawson, spent time playing on the new Wii, and took time to relax.  The chaos of the season was swept away and I loved it.

I spent a great deal of time writing.  Segullah's essay contest deadline was on Dec. 31, 200, and I wanted to be able to submit something.  I had an essay on my computer that I had played with for a couple of months, intending to do some revisions and submit that.  By the 30th, I was more than done with it, trying to resist the urge to delete every word.  I didn't, it is still sitting in the corner of my hard drive, but I won't look at it for quite a while.  Luckily, I did find something to submit, and even felt like it was something to be pleased with.  While I doubt it will even place an honorable mention, I'm so glad to have a submission under my belt.

In church related news, I am now working in the Young Women's organization, and am thrilled to work with the 12 and 13 year-old girls.  I spent the morning in presidency meeting, and have a lot of excitement for the upcoming activities.  It will be a new and interesting experience.

All in all, I believe my new year will have one word as my mantra--Balance.  You see, I have desires to write more, take more pictures, cook dinner more often, fulfill my calling in church, keep a clean house, all on top of the most important things, like being a wife and mother.  I refuse to be pulled into that deep, dark, well of unbalanced life, which then leads to depression, feelings of inadequacy, and fodder for the dark wily one to mess with me.

May you all have balance in your new year...it is a new beginning for all of us!