Word of the Year: 2011 Edition

It's that time of year again. And by that time, I mean January. January is not my favorite month. It's cold and bleak and endless, which is rough for a person who is ready for winter to end on December 26. It is time, though, to think about the new year and what can be accomplished and what needs to be accomplished. (How trite is that? Can I get a duh? I came across a lot of sites for preachers writing sermons as I was looking for a quote for this post.)

So without any further triteness or ado, my word for 2011 is stewardship. Merriam-Webster defines stewardship as the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care. Primarily, I had money and time in mind when I chose this word, but as I thought about it some more, I realized it can also be applied to my family--and other things, too, of course, but those are the main ones for me right now.

Money: I'm not going to act like we're scraping by, but who couldn't be better about their money? We have always lived below our means, it's just gotten easier to do as we've gotten higher paying jobs, and by we, I mean Jay. I do find myself spending on stuff I don't really need--a run through the drive-thru, a set of placemats, and on and on--so that's where my focus will be. I'm not saying you won't see me at the splash pad with a big old Sonic cup in the middle of July, but hopefully I will usually bring my own drink.

Time: Any mother out there knows that this is the most precious thing there is. No matter how much you have, it's not enough. No matter how much you work, there is always a big spider web in the corner or lint on the baseboards or a spare room full of random crap. (Please tell me you have one of those, too. It's okay to lie to me to make me feel better. I really don't mind.) With that feeling of futility in mind, I want to spend my time in better ways: playing with the kids, reading, catching up on old shows with Jay. I am trying to make the spare minutes in the day count and get some of the small things done when I can so my larger chunks of time can be used on the good things.

The Rest: This time of year I find myself thinking a lot about my family and how I want it to be. Together is always good, and thankfully we are together a lot more these days. I want my children to grow up knowing that they are loved and wanted and that I am thankful that we get to spend our days together. I want my husband to know that I'm glad to see him walk in the door each evening and I'm happy to help around the house. I want these to be good days, and a lot of times, that depends on my attitude.

I am looking forward to all the new year has to bring (unless it's record low or high temperatures--I hate those) and hope that you and your family have a happy 2011!