We spent the first day of the new year out at the Lake House. I love it out there. I don’t get any cell phone reception and I can’t cross much off my to-do list. And so we relax and play and eat and watch cartoons and read and walk. Telfer took the girls for a boat ride and I walked Henry around the lake. I am always restored by the very idea of a New Year. I find it comforting to know that I can spend my time in different ways and my focus can shift. It’s such a valuable act for me to at least think and reflect and pray about the coming year. I love it.
Things I am looking forward to this year (in no particular order): capture micro-moments of grace and gratitude, learn to make french press coffee really well, my kitchen, start a little free library, spend the time I have to myself more carefully, schedule regular one-on-one time with the girls, make risotto and gnocchi expertly, cultivate a peacefulness of heart, read a lot of books. To very loosely paraphrase David Brooks: I am the happiest when there is a steady, almost overwhelming, flow of both information and affection coming in and out my life.
On a related and fun note, RaChelle and I bought these perpetual gratitude calendars (at least we are using them that way) for each other for our 35th birthdays as well as Christmas. Not cheap but so lovely. It’s been sitting on my desk in my little office looking lonely so I am thrilled that it’s January…
Andrea Y. Griffith 