The 2nd of January

The sun has set on 2013.  I'm never really sad to see the old year go.  I love to put away my Christmas decorations and turn my thoughts forward to all the things I hope for in the year to come.  I have a feeling that 2014 has a lot in store for us.

I just sent an email to my friend in Brazil who's pregnant, and wanted my thoughts on Hypnobabies.  I opened up one of the mp3's that I listened to so religiously when I was pregnant with the girls.  I couldn't believe how, in an instant, I was back in that time.  I remembered the uncertainty, fear, excitement and hope I felt.  It may sound crazy, but there is such power in someone telling you that everything is going to be okay.  Even now, years later, I hear those cues and my heart rate slows, my mind relaxes, and my chin lifts just a little.  It gave me the energy to do a little catching up here...

 In early December I finished the training to become a CASA volunteer.  I took a six-week, thirty hour course that (hopefully), has prepared me to be an advocate for a foster child.  I looked through several files, picked a 16 year-old girl, and am beyond excited to meet her.  It's hard for me to find the words to describe what this experience has meant to me so far.  It's amazing to learn about the struggles and trauma that foster children face, and yet to see the efforts of the community and the court system to try to strengthen families and help children.  The system is nowhere near perfect, but there are some pretty incredible people and organizations behind it, and I'm excited to play my small part.

We had a wonderful trip to Oregon to see Eric's parents for Christmas.  We ate fondue, listened to stories from Grammie's youth and just enjoyed being together.  We also ran around Portland and the surrounding area a little bit.  There's something so magic about the Pacific Northwest.  I hadn't been back since we left Seattle, almost nine years ago.  I love the green, and the being able to sit in your car while someone pumps your gas for you.

I even got to spend some time with Cindy, my dear, dear friend from our North Carolina days, and her family.  She fed us amazing mexican food, ice cream and the healing power of just sitting and talking with someone who knows you really well and loves you anyway.  There's nothing like that in the world.

Now we're home.  I'm losing my mind a little bit with everyone home from school all day.  It'll be nice to get back into a routine in a few days.  But I'll miss sleeping in.  Time to revisit my annual resolution of going to bed earlier.  I could even start right now...