Now, assuming you haven’t left me because of the cryptic title of this post, I’d like to welcome you to the New Year!

I’m so looking forward to a fresh start, a new beginning, and a chance to get things right.

The past year was full of flubs, flops, fails, fixer-uppers, and fun. I pray the fun is what the family remembers…

The potential highlight for our end of year adventures was a long overdue trip to the Festival of Lights at Bull Run. I haven’t had the chance to take the family there since we only had the “O.G.’s” – the original 3, as they call themselves.

Hubby said, ” YOU take June- she’s at the sweetest age- you won’t want to miss this. Well, that sounded like a good enough season to keep her with me ( we had to take two cars down the farm) so we packed everyone up, and we headed off.

All was well, even sailing down 66 West on a Monday night, which doesn’t ever happen. And then, magically, no traffic getting onto the property for the lights. “This is going to be great,” I muttered to myself with emphatic positivity.

Urch. If only….

I will spare you all the details but highlight the ones worth repeating.

1. Immediately as we hit the park ticket booths, June yelled at an octave most high sopranos have to train years to hit because we took away her IPAD and told her we are at a light show and to actually look up at said lights.
2. She continued to yell at this level for the entire 20 minute ride for audacious and unlawful things such as a) looking at the lights b) discussing the lights, c) pointing at the lights- yes, she even screamed at baby Riley for this) then finally, d) being quiet.
3. Also, there was the angry backseat driving and pointing out that I was either driving too close to the car ahead of me, or by contrast- not keeping up with them.

It is at this point, I must mention that I did not keep my cool as this scenario unwound. I yelled back ( such a face-slapping thing to do with a tired toddler) and got quite mad that she was putting me through this. I was wallowing in self-pity and even pictured the scene from “Just Friends”, where Ana Farris drives over the lit-up lawn display and drags ALLL the lights with her- trailing a burning up reindeer – as she dramatically destroys this small town Christmas scene.

Folks, that was almost me. On route 66. On the 29th of December.

I have a vivid imagination, so I pictured the whole thing.

But that is not how the story ended. Thank Heavens.

I did eventually calm down, but I not before lamenting on how poorly I handled the whole scene.

At no point, did I ask for strength and patience from above. So there was my New Year’s nugget- maybe it could be good to ask for more help from Heaven?

Fun (albeit slightly depressing) fact? Over 90% of resolutions made on New Year’s Eve fail by January 12th. The 12th!! Not even two weeks later. Why is that?

By definition- a “resolution” is:

1. a firm decision to do or not to do something. With synonyms such as: intention, aspiration, and promise.

Folks, I have incredible intentions. I have astronomical aspirations. I have plenty of promise.

But I fail. Over and over again at things. Probably because I don’t have the support, but most definitely because I don’t ask for help.

So this year, I’m going to try something new.

I’m not going to try to knock it out of the park at just one, BIG thing.

I’m going to try to do better with a whole bunch of little things– by inviting God into those moments.

This idea was pressed more firmly in my heart while jamming out to the song, “Steal my Show” by Toby Mac.

From the chorus…

“If you wanna steal my show
I’ll sit back and watch you go
If you got something to say
Go on and take it away
Need you to steal my show
Can’t wait to watch you go oh oh oh
So take it away“

What amazing things could be accomplished each and every day if I lived this way? And not by the way the world measures… my waistline won’t shrink, my laundry pile will probably grow, and the dishes may stay in the sink a little longer- but there would be some serious heart-work going on!

So, this January- I am embarking on a quest. To not be good at just ANY thing. But to be better at the things that really count. Each and every encounter and adventure, each question and conversation- they could all be different. Dare I say, great?

*and they really could be… with God.

Who is ready to rock 2026?