So long 2012 (and 2011)! I'm glad to see you go. Don't let the door hit you on your way out.

I see that a bunch of you are doing "A year in review" type posts.  And, while I'm happy to read (and possibly comment on - sorry, I've been really lax in that department lately) them - I am not doing one, per se.

Mainly because 2012 (and 2011) were extremely tough for us.  In those years, Hubby lost his job.  Man-Child got his license and begin to terrify us over and over again with his predilection for wrecking his car.  He was also injured, more than once, I might add, whilst on the field.  Man-Child graduated high school and moved off to college.  And as we struggled with that adjustment we continued to struggle with the unemployment issue.

Basically, they sucked.

Oh sure, there were some good moments thrown in the mix - there always is - and I do try to remember those moments.  But, unfortunately, I have a feeling that, in the future, when I look back on these particular years, those will be the moments I remember the most.

So here we are - with 2013 just hours away.  And boy, oh boy, am I ready for it.

I'm almost ready to get back to work on the 2nd.  Hubby starts as a full-time employee at his new job on the 2nd.  Man-Child will head back to college soon (along with his laundry) - secure in the knowledge that he has gotten the hang of the whole "college thing" - as reflected by his grades from the previous semester (can you say, Dean's List?  Yes, just a bit of mom-bragging; I think it's warranted here).

Picking up on the organizing/cleaning frenzy that occurred around Thanksgiving, I decided that I wanted to kick this new year off with a clean slate - literally.  Of course, I decided that yesterday - instead of say, oh....a week ago?  Needless to say, I'm a bit behind.  But over the past two days, I have cleaned most of the bottom half of the house - top to bottom.  After the Thanksgiving frenzy, the majority of the top half is mostly spotless.  I figure that I can knock out the rest of it tomorrow and the 2nd will dawn, not only with hope on the horizon, but also with that clean slate I have been looking for; with a bit of exhaustion thrown in for good measure.

Upon some reflection, I realize that I pretty much checked out in 2012 (and 2011) and can only attribute it to depression.  Not the kind that medication and therapy would help though.  I think this was more situational (yes; that IS a word - quit underlining it, Blogger!).  I didn't feel the need/want to do anything.  And now that life seems to be getting back on track, I feel more inclined to participate in life again - even if it is just cleaning at the moment.

Although I don't "do" resolutions - mainly because I tend to break them within the first few days - I'm hoping that during this new year I can get back to where I was - emotionally - before life took a great, big U-turn.  That Hubby can finally quit his hoarding/hiding clutter tendencies (particularly since I just found a bunch of new clutter in the closet that I've just recently cleaned out - which means that just got added to the list of what needs to be done tomorrow) once and for all.  That I can find the "happy" again in every day life.  That it will be a fresh start.  Basically, all I'm saying is that I'm actually looking forward to this new year.

And while I'm at it, here's wishing you a very happy New Year.  I hope that it brings you all peace, joy and love.

xo