Year's End

The year's end is almost in sight and it is hard to imagine where the past 365 days have gone. I think it is a known fact that time passes way to fast for most of us. I have heard my parents state on more than one occasion, that as one ages time passes at an even faster rate. I don't think that it is an issue of time speeding up to some kind of a time warp. As much as we view the time we have before us as less, than the time that has already past. Making the years, months, days and hours before us even more precious. I am also beginning to see things in my life with a new relevance towards what is truly important. Choosing to spend my moments in time on worthwhile pursuits instead of the flighty things of youth. Reaching certain milestones in life will always prompt us to re-evaluate how we are living out our lives on a daily basis. Jump starting ideas towards goals, dreams and plans yet to have been realized. The last holiday of the year tends to prompt us in this same direction also. The next 24 - 72 hours will see many a soul making out new year resolutions for a varied number of weaknesses, disappointments, failures, hopes and unseen dreams from the year 2008. Only to be set aside or forgotten in the coming weeks of 2009.

For me the last day of the year started at an very early hour, not unlike several of the past couple of weeks. It appears at present that I am unable to sleep through a night without waking at a unhealthy hour. A situation that I am looking for a solution to in the new year. Today may be the longest day of the year for me and it won't be because I am out celebrating "New Year's Eve" either. As plenty of people are gearing up to party away the old year into the presence of the new one. I am planning to focus on some gratitude's of 2008 and drawing up some ideas for simpler living in 2009. I have made N.Y. resolutions in years past like so many others. And also like them most of mine have fallen by the wayside for lack of motivation. I believe this time around I have the needed "umph" to see a few of my thoughts through in the months to come. So many changes have already taken place around here that it is becoming the norm for me. Not to continue in making those needed to see our dreams become reality would be a step backwards. Once your foot steps out on a new path towards reaching a desired goal, it is hard not to see it to the end. Sure, there will be times when it seems like you will never reach your desired destiny, times when obstacles loom large before you, times that bring the fatigue from striving to be the only thing you can see, but to loose heart will be a sure step towards defeat.

Little steps are being taken, as parts of the whole are being considered. Like the few items I was able to get established yesterday. I have been wanting to make some soap for our personal use and to possibly sell at some future date. After using the natural soaps purchased from our trip to Perry. We have become new converts and enjoy using them over anything store bought. Finding the raw resources to use had been a hindrance to starting, till I took the time to do an in depth search on the web. Less than 30 minutes of time and I have my first package of supplies coming in the mail. Several websites are bookmarked for future research and to purchase from too. Increasing the sales of the girls eggs has been a topic of discussion for quite a while now. That too was handled in a short amount of time with an ad being placed on line with the Farmer's Market Bulletin to advertise them. Another web search led to an Ebay purchase of egg cartons needed for those future sells at a very good price. They too are in route to our home. Another decision was reached to increase the size of our flock for next year. With "Big Mama" brooding over her nest of future hopefuls, it made economical sense to raise our own instead of buying baby chicks to raise next Spring. All of which requires a Rooster in the hen house, that we at present do not have. A few calls placed and we found a couple of Dominique roosters for sale just below where we live at a good price. The individual really needed to find them new homes as she already has 11 crowing roosters at her house. WHEW, that's a few too many! Each of these steps fell into place with some focused attention and helps to bring the homesteading lifestyle closer to our door. So much uncharted territory lies before us. Clean as the pages of the new calendar sitting on my desk. A lot can happen on a year full of new pages. I am looking forward to making notations on them as we go along.

So as I sit and ponder over my options towards my needs and wants for the new year. I am reminded of the certainty of passing hours, days and months that will add up to make the new year that lies before me. How do I wish to spend them? What do I want to show for them at years end next December? In whom, what or where do I desire to invest them? I will be trading them for something, will it be something of value? The choice is mine to make. . . . what will 2009 bring into our lives? If it is anything like the usual normalcy of life, what types of struggle, heartache or loss will we face? The questions line up across a page easily, the answers remain unknown, waiting to be written on the pages of our lives by the One who put them into motion thousands of years ago.

Looks like a "wait and see" type of situation to me,

Deborah