A New Year - a New Chapter

The week between Christmas and New Years Day is a favorite. The ballet studio is closed for the week, and I get to spend some more time than usual at home. This gives me some rest and a chance to reorganize and prepare for the new year.

Saturday was another unseasonably warm, rainy, December day. I savored each moment of rest under the warm blankets and kept my eyes closed longer than necessary, hearing the sound of the stream of water splash into the gutter as it slid off the roof and down the spout to drain into the street below.

Suzy Lue "meowed" softly and hopped up on my chest, peering down at me with obvious displeasure that I didn't at least get up to feed her yet. It was nine o'clock, far later than usual for me to still be drifting in and out of dreams. The day had begun.

At last, I threw the covers aside and my feet hit the floor. Suzy jumped down and scuttled down the hall enthusiastically. breakfast at last! Despite the warmer weather, I reached for my robe and tied it over my warm pajamas. It was still winter after all.

It was the one day of the year when I would organize everything and set the tone for the coming year.

What a long to-do list I had! But rather than the usual feeling of being bogged down by the sheer number of tasks, I felt excited and energized. It was going to feel so good to have this fresh start again. But this year would also be different. This year, I was organizing and preparing for a new life as well as a fresh start.

Of course, Suzy wasn't the only one who needed breakfast. Before I tackled a single project, I had to feed my incessantly hungry belly and give some extra calories to a miniature human too. Toast, eggs with baked ham, and tea were all consumed in good time, and after a refreshing shower, the day's events began.

First, I re-organized the bathroom closet. I threw away many lotions, perfumes I had been given, and a mirror that I hadn't used in over a decade. Then I set a large basket on the empty shelf, a basket for future baby supplies.

Second, was the bedroom closet. I reorganized my diabetic supplies, put a box of gift bags, maternity clothes for the future, and other odds and ends in the attic. Then, I organized my shoes.

Third was the dresser drawers. I still had some summer clothes in my dresser drawers; so, of course, these went into bags and boxes and were thrown into the attic. Then, I re-folded all my jeans, pajamas, and sweaters, and neatly matched sweaters with jeans. Two new drawers opened up. These would be for baby.

It was time to tidy the car, throwing away old garbage, bringing a bag inside, and a Christmas present that I didn't have enough hands to carry with me the night before. Soon, the car looked much better.

Last was the desk, my writing desk where I sit now. Envelopes were put in slots and the new daily planner for 2024 was freshly laid out with a favorite pen. A new candle graced the edge of the table, and chocolates were stashed in the drawer.

So many trouble spots had been tackled and organized in a number of a few short hours. How satisfying!

Even more exciting was my new Bible reading plan in which I would be studying the New Testament throughout the year, covering each chapter by the end of 2024, I received a beautifully bonded journaling Bible for Christmas, highlighters, and stickers.

I also used some Christmas money to purchase a whole new set of safe, organic skin care products for a healthier pregnancy.

These new items really helped me to feel that I was starting the new year out right.

What would this year hold? It's so hard to say. But fresh starts feel so good. Might as well prepare as best we can for the adventure just around the corner...