Friday, December 26, 2014

Out With The Old & In With The New!



Only a few days left in 2014!  Wow, where has the year gone?  2014 felt like a whirl-wind of activity & change. I don't know about ya all, but I say, "Bring on 2015!"

 I thought it would be fun to start a New Year Linky Party where we spend a little time remembering, reflecting, and then setting new goals for the New Year!  What do you think?  Want to join me? 


Questions to ponder as you remember...
1.  What were the best memories of 2014?
2.  What do you remember most about 2014?

My best and most powerful memories of 2014 are that...

I started Blogging on 1/20/14!!  What an adventure Blogging has been.  So much to learn and so little time to do it all!  I would like to give a SHOUT-OUT to my Blogging Mentors over the past year:

Joanne Miller @ Head Over Heels For Teaching for inspiring & motivating to get started.  

Megan @ A Bird in Hand Designs & I Teach. What's your superpower for creating my Blog Design and answering my questions when I tried new things!  

Diane @ Fifth in the Middle for letting me become a guest blogger on her Friends on the Fives over the summer!  I gained so may new followers!  

and to Alison @ Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin' for being a great blogging friend.  She just got hitched and I can't wait to hear all about it!  

Then in August, Several things happened all at the same time!  First, I upset the apple cart by moving schools, (I love my new school-home by the way!!)


And, Florida decided not to use The Common Core Standards, (WTH???) Instead, the powers that be in Tallahassee developed MAFS (Mathematics Florida Standards) & LAFS (Language Arts Florida Standards).  The new standards are a hybrid of Common Core and The Sunshine State Standards! FUN!!!!  Learning to teach with the depth & rigor of Common Core, with a Florida twist, for the first time without new materials/resources has taken all of my extra time.  This is the main reason I haven't been a part of the blogging world since August.  I always feel like I'm a day late and a dollar short with everything!





Then there's the fact that my baby boy, my sweet little boy dropped out of college and joined the Marine Corps!  It was enough to drive this mamma insane!  I have had a few months to adjust to the idea and I have to admit that I am now ONE PROUD MAMMA!!

Remembering when he was a boy (4th Grader) wanting to become a Marine...Standing on the Yellow Footprints at Parris Island, SC for the first time...

The next day he believed he was a Marine!!
I thought it was funny then...

I went through a mourning phase from August-Mid October.  Then I was able to see my boy, now a Marine for REAL!!  My heart just swelled with pride...



Questions to ponder as you reflect on 2014...

1.  What was good/bad?
2.  What do you want to do differently?
3.  What do you want to change this year?

Starting a Blog was definitely a good thing!  I want to continue to blog more in 2015!!  My TpT production was definitely bad!! I want to become more productive in that department.  I have to find time to fit it in.  I enjoy it, and it is fun sharing with others.  I need to loose weight.  I've gained 20 pounds in 2014, which is a BAD!!  I want to change my eating habits and walk/exercise  everyday!  I say this as I stuff peanut M & M's into my mouth...<sigh> I want to change the colors in my life.  House color, hair color, and who knows...maybe even my toe color!!  Lastly, I want to finish projects that I have started in 2014!  These unfinished projects include Darci's Quilt, painting the inside of my house, landscaping the backyard, and converting the empty bedrooms left behind by my now grown children into a home office and a Naked Room!  Hee! Hee!  

1.  My first resolution of 2015 is to try and not break any resolutions that I make here today.  Easier said than done, right?  

2.  Blog at least once a week in 2015!  Even if it is a quick post just to say hi to my blogging friends.  

3.  Publish at least one new TpT product each month.  That's only 12 new products!  I know I can, I know I can!!

4.  Walk/Exorcise at least 5 days out of the 7 day week!  (Notice I couldn't give up my M & M's just yet?)  Maybe for Lent...

I'm going to stop there!  Don't want to overload myself.  At least I've reflected and know deep down in the back of my mind what I want to accomplish, so if I do indeed accomplish my goals above, then I can add another one to the list.  After all, I've got 365 days to get er done!    

Okay, it's your turn!  Who wants to go first????  Any takers????





4 comments:

  1. I like your 2 resolutions about blogging and products because they have very "do-able" time frames - that's just what I needed! :)

    -Lisa
    Mrs. Spangler in the Middle

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  2. Thanks for inviting me to your "Linky"... It has been a while since I have done one.... :o)

    I too have the same problem with "time"and blogging and products.... Someday time will not be my enemy.... :o)

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  3. Aw, thanks so much! I'll have to set aside some time to reflect on this past year and the year to come!

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  4. Great reflections! Crazy to think you're almost at one year in your blog ;) Happy almost-blog birthday to you.
    -Leslie
    TeachJunkie.com
    KindergartenWorks.com

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