Merry Belated Christmas and a Happy Early New Year and all that stuff

We've been back in our home for a little less than a day, after a nice (but quick) visit with my parents and sister (and friends) in Delaware. I can't say that it was relaxing — as a parent a relaxing vacation typically only happens when you're not with your kids. Its been a while since we've been back, and the kids had a difficult time adjusting to sleep — maybe it was the excitement of Christmas, or just that they can't really share a room anymore; but we spent a good portion of our evenings just trying to get them to settle down and sleep (which didn't seem to happen any earlier than 10-11pm; a good 2 hours past their normal bedtime). It was frustrating, wanting to keep things somewhat "status quo" in terms of a schedule and expectations and behavior, but everything seemed to go the opposite way. All I can say — Blue Dye #1, you suck. Aside from that, it was a great Christmas. How was yours?

I'm not a fan of reflecting on the year past. I hate seeing what I haven't done, what time I've wasted, what poor decisions I've made, all the rivers of crap we've seem to waded through. I don't make resolutions, because I know better than to set myself up for failure. There's been lots of amazing and incredible things, but I tend to only see the worst (maybe the subtle fear that I'll be ungrateful or prideful or to content — and God will remind me who's in control by taking it away — I know, insane, right? So pessimistic, so paranoid, but its there and ingrained and it's hard to break that mindset)

There are things that I look forward to in this coming new year. I hope to grow the coffee business, and maybe make enough to help supplement what I make in my other business. I hope to grow my photography business, doing more commercial, portrait and creative work; and growing my skills and techniques. After signing a contract with Jupiter Images this past week (who will be my stock agent, reselling "Rights Managed" images), I hope that turns out to be a profitable key to my photography growth. I look forward to several new design projects. I look forward to a few new seasons starting -- LOST, Battlestar Galactica, finishing up Deadwood, etc. I look forward to knowing if Sonya and I will be growing our family. I look forward to seeing my bearded friends at the end of February. I look forward to vacations in North Carolina and maybe back at Disney World (?). I look forward to the unknown-- the new friendships that might form, those things that I couldn't even imagine, the unexpected graces and surprises of life.

What about you? What do you look forward to in 2008?