spt (self portrait tuesday) - resolve

tuesday, january 6 i resolve to take more self-portraits
tuesday, january 13 i resolve to take more self-portraits with people i love
tuesday, january 20 i resolve to take more self-portraits while trying new things
tuesday, january 27 i resolve to take more self-portraits doing things i enjoy

Well, I'm not taking on the challenge I did last year to take a self portrait everyday, we all know how that ended, but I am resolved to be involved in the SPT each week. It's such a great way to a) make sure you are present in your families memory books, b) a great way to reflect about life in a way you may not have ever thought before, and c) a really great photography challenge. I'm definitely looking forward to another 52 weeks of challenges.



Since self-portraits are something I've been doing for a while now, one thing I'm going to try to capture is everyday life in my self portraits. In this photo I am writing in my journal aka life book. Yes, I have now officially started a journal and haven't missed a day since January 1st (the goal to write something everyday if only a line or two). It's something I've wanted to do for a long time and for some reason or another it keeps getting pushed to the back of my list. This year I decided there is enough that gets missed with blogging because I either feel like it's too personal, it's so boring who would want to read it, or I just don't find the time to blog that I want to make sure the workings of my thoughts don't go unrecorded. I can't tell you how many times I've thought about blogging about something on my mind and then I end up completely forgetting. Hopefully by doing both (blogging and a journal) I will get a great sense of our family life this year.

Have you started up a journal again?

thawing out

[I couldn't believe how warm it was today. I was shoveling some snow that got neglected last week and I was doing it in a t-shirt.]

What is that feeling after a big holiday or event that make you want to purge and clean like mad? Maybe not everyone feels that way, but I always do. It's most prevalent after the winter, summer, and especially after Christmas. I guess so many things get neglected with the holiday busyness that it's nice to finally get things in order. Of course nothing says organization like the new year. I always like to start off fresh and yes that includes my goals.

Well, today the majority of the day was spent organizing and cleaning. I almost took down all the Christmas decorations, but I just couldn't bare to say goodbye to the lights just yet so I'll wait until Friday like I normally do. We are looking pretty good over here except for my studio which is still a disaster.



I've decided to take a picture of my desk once a week this year just to see how it evolves. I like the idea of seeing what stories the messiness tells, like the cough drops on my desk share that I was feeling less than myself around the holidays or the crochet hat in the back by my monitor shares that I went to Joanns today to get some yarn so I could attempt my first crochet hat (I actually did finish it tonight, but will share it when I take a picture) or the Christmas wrapping paper that is still out shares the time of year. So many stories in one small pictures. I'm quite excited about this new project of mine. If nothing else it will definitely help me appreciate all the work that's getting done to create such a mess.

One more thing....your help is needed. Yesterday out of the blue I got a new calling for my church. I'm now an 'activities day' leader which is planning/executing two activity a month for 8-11 year old girls. I'm looking forward to something different, I've never done activities day before, but I will miss being in the primary and teaching each week. Since I've never done it I feel sort of at a lost so could you please share any ideas you might have or a good resource for me to draw on? I would greatly appreicate it.

Hope it was a good post Christmas Monday.