New Year, New Adventures

Remember how last year was kind of a whiny pants year?  Yeah well, it's a new year!

This year, all of my little resolutions fall under one big resolution: strengthen my faith.

It's sort of been weakened lately, not because of any crazy things I've been through; ironically those are the things that seem to strengthen it most. (Uh, just a disclaimer to Heavenly Father that that was not an open invitation to put me through blegh stuff this year for the sake of fulfilling my 2014 resolution.  Haha I'm so moldable...)  Nah, it's because I've chosen to let the little things slip, and over time, it's really taken its toll on me.

So... while I know I'm not going to be perfect any time soon, not even this year, I am taking this chance to renew my effort to try a little harder to be a little better.  I want to be kinder and more patient.  I want to care more for others and show that care in ways that means something to them.  I want to be consistent in obeying the commandments of God, big and small.  And most of all, I want to seek to recognize God's hand in my life daily, in the big things and the little things.... I know He cares, but I've had a really hard time seeing and feeling that lately.  It's hard to be grateful when you're too busy feeling sorry for yourself.  So, no more of that!  I still want to be real and genuine, and sometimes that includes hurty things which I will inevitably express on this blog, but there will always be something to be grateful for.

Like last night... my future roommate and I went to a fabulous New Years party at a cabin in Midway.  Not everything went quite as planned - maybe there was some whining and tindering involved (I don't recommend tindering at 2 am, it's just not smart), and maybe my Mormon hangover was kicking my trash today (I should never stay up past 11... never), BUT... it came with much giggling over our first adventure of the year.

This girl is the biggest answer to prayer!

The night Whitney learned not to trust Katie with important decisions.

#iamnotabarbiegirl
"You seem like the kind of person I'd trust to give the news."

We met completely randomly during a year that was super confusing, and then we discovered we were basically the same person.  It started with bonding over Diet Coke and developed to things like being kitchen clean freaks and not being chatty in the mornings.  She has been the friend I so desperately needed at a time when unexpected changes seemed to take over my life.  We just get each other.  I am looking forward to many more adventures with her this year!

PS.   Check out the bookcase at this cabin... I LOVE IT.

In other news, I hope that when I'm 72 years old, I'll have children to take ugly pictures of me sleeping, because they're hilarious.  I also hope there will be a wiener dog on my lap in these pictures, because duh.

Mom is one of those every day blessings, especially today, when she took a couple of hours from her best laid plans to save my bacon!  I take her for granted a lot, but secretly I don't know what I'd do without her.

See?  Blessings.  Tender mercies.  Every day.  I've just got to have the eyes and heart to see and feel them. 

Happy 2014!