peaceful...

My little world is peaceful right now.  The kids are still sleeping - even though it's after 9 am.  That's what happens when they all stay awake to welcome in the New Year.  I was in bed dozing last night, but I heard them squealing with delight as they sat in front of the television and watched the ball drop in New York.  I heard them rushing to the windows to see the fireworks some of the neighbors were setting off (we did ours earlier in the evening - Seth and Zach could barely handle waiting until it was dark...they definitely couldn't wait until midnight!).  Shortly after the squealing commenced, Seth ran into my bedside and whispered LOUDLY - "It's Two Thousand and TEN Mom!  We saw the crystal ball fall and now there are fireworks in our back yard!"  I heard Meagan tell the boys, "shhh...Mom and Dad are tired...shhhh."  And even though I was tired, it was fun to listen to the kids ring in the new year.  And now they are all sleeping. Soundly.  Peacefully.  Probably dreaming of the promises a new year will bring. 

Brad left early this morning to continue his tradition of ice-fishing on New Year's Day.  It's crazy cold.  He is sick.  He really shouldn't be spending the day on a frozen lake.  But it's tradition and who am I to mess with tradition??  I'm grateful he has a good friend to go out and freeze with - he's been freezing with Jacob for the last five New Year's Days now...and I'm sure they'll freeze together many more times.  Crazy guys.

So here I sit at my computer, enjoying the peace, the stillness, the quiet, sipping on my morning diet coke, and planning my day.  It's time for the Christmas tree and decorations to be removed and carefully placed in their packaging until the next holiday season.  The driveway and sidewalks need to be shoveled from yesterday's snow (hopefully before today's snow comes).  I really need to get busy with some birthday shopping - and I am still having a hard time grasping the fact that my baby will be four on Sunday.  I have a handful of work assignments to do before Monday.  I'm still wondering what possessed me to get my hair cut yesterday (way too short) and I'm wishing I had a magic potion to grow it back quickly.  I'm planning on writing some goals and resolutions for this year - and already have a few in mind.  I'm thinking of all the things that happened in 2009...and wondering how it's possible for a whole year to begin and end so quickly.  I am determined not to blink as much this year...because every time I blink another day has come and gone and it's over, never to be relived again.  I'm looking forward to eating leftover Chinese take-out from our New Year's Eve dinner last night.  I just saw Brad's phone sitting on the nightstand - I hate when he forgets his phone.  I worry about the cold and the ice and the roads and need I mention the frozen lake he's standing on top of?  There's a lot going through my head right now...but instead of doing anything about any of it, I'm going to sit here for a few more minutes and enjoy the peace. 

I am hoping 2010 will be a year of peace. 

inner peace. 

outer peace. 

peace.