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Happy New Year!!

I just love New Year's Day.  There is something refreshing about a clean slate that comes with the start of a new year.  Over the last week, the girls have been playing with new toys and wearing new clothes.  The house has been restored to a pre-holiday state, the decorations safely stored away for another year.  My scale breathes a slight sigh of relief since I am about 40 pounds lighter.  My closet has been thinned a bit as well, with my largest sizes in a bag ready for a trip to Goodwill.  I have also been fiddling with my new toy, a brand new Nook Color from Barnes and Noble, my hard-fought winnings from our family Biggest Loser challenge.  (A tip of the hat and a "thank you" to Tracy and Missy for pushing me all the way to victory!)

I am excited to see what 2011 holds for us as a family.  I still have about 80-90 pounds to go to reach my goal weight.  To help along the way, we are planning on Season 2 of our Biggest Loser challenge.  I am also registered for a Warrior Dash in March.  The Warrior Dash is a 5k race on steroids, with 13 various obstacles along the way (think mud pits, fire jumping, cargo net climbs, etc...).  We are also looking forward to seeing what the local Y has to offer to keep our family fit and active.

Professionally, I am hoping to give some wings to a personal business, Chisholm Trail Foods.  We will use another side business, S Bar C Catering to accomplish this goal.  All of this of course will only be possible if I can manage to reduce the travel my day job currently requires.  There seems to be plenty of reason to believe that is possible though.

Grace and Hailey continue to grow into beautiful little girls, inside and out.  They are at a fun age right now and developing into 2 really distinct little jewels.  Both are blond haired beauties, just like their beautiful mommy.  But both show plenty of me in their personalities.  Hailey has an independent streak and fearlessness that I definitely recognize.  Grace has a palate that grows more sophisticated by the meal.

A review of the family budget shows that we won't be able to do everything we want to do, something that is hard for me accept.  But I can see that we are certainly not lacking and I count it a joy to name my blessings as a remembrance.  Big dreams, supported by ambitious plans and unyielding faith will show itself in plentiful fruit.  That to me is what makes New Year's Day such a great day.

Here are my New Year prayers for you.  May you and yours be blessed beyond your comprehension in the year to come.  And may your efforts be rewarded, your love returned and your laughter contagious!

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