a new year, 2014.

this new year crept in and blanketed my thoughts with warmth and joy.  as my lips pressed against my husbands on the stoke of midnight when that glittery ball announced the new year, i felt a spark of excitement rush through my veins.  a thumping pulse made its presence known in my heart and soul.  

how truly alive i felt!  

for our little family of mine is on the cusp of something rather exciting.  this year we are taking a refreshing and much needed stroll down an untrodden path we've been longing for.  we are pointing our compass towards adventure and exploration, towards airplanes and car rides, and towards meeting new friends and forging deeper connections with old ones, too.  this year, it is all about getting out and sucking the marrow out of life's potential.    

this spark i mentioned earlier was succeeded with obligatory clinks of champagne glasses and always comforting "i love yous" and a card game around our new wooden table with family.  hours past in the snowy night and we slept through the haze, waking to the first sunshine of a new, untouched year.  this white blank page greeted us as we woke, staring at us with purpose and intention.  it was rather moving seeing it sit there patiently, waiting for us to wipe the tired from our eyes so we may grab ahold of it and start scribbling.

after coffee and breakfast, my love and i reflected on our hopes for our family for 2014.  we found a saying in a new book of blessings and poems by john o'donohue.  it resonated with both of us and spoke to our dreams. 

"awaken your spirit to adventure; hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk; soon you will be home in a new rhythm, for your soul senses the world that awaits you." 

it's time we put thoughts into action and soar high, using our wild, feathered wings to take us into the unknown.  it is time to get lost with each other and burrow about this divine earth of ours.  we need to feel salty waves rush over our toes and we must get grass stains and see snow peaked mountains and gaze upon historic monuments and feel the frustration of being surround by a foreign language.  our soul needs this.  all of it. 

in this coming year, we have bigs plans for travel and plan on seeking new adventures together as four.  may we live our time away to its fullest and return home more enriched and free.  our jar of hopes is waiting to be filled with memories, and we are so ready to begin.     

cheers to 2014, friends.  it's bound to be our best year yet.