Saturday, December 31, 2011

2012 will be our year

 Wintery Ocean. It was rainy all but one day while we were there, but it was still so pretty! I love the ocean. 

So I'm super excited for the new year to start. Here's why...this year, I'm going to do the following (hopefully):

Get in remission with Lyme Disease
Get pregnant
Only eat gluten and sugar on birthday, easter, 4th of july, clay's birthday, thanksgiving, and christmas (except for after I get pregnant, no gluten/sugar until the baby is out)
Exercise lots!
Cook more
Grow a garden (just a small one)
Get a 3 month supply of food storage in my basement
Be a CPA!

Well, I know that looks like a lot...but really it's not. The first four are all kind of connected with my 2012 word "HEALTHY". Remember my 2011 word was "ATTITUDE"? Well I really think I stuck true to that cause I'm at the end of the year and my attitude is great! 

Clay's main resolution is to work out. I am so happy for that! My big change in feeling better started when I was able and determined to work out. He got this awesome weight bench for Christmas and a bunch of weights, so it'll be awesome.

The other thing I want to do more in 2012 is be more aware of others and just...love more and reach out more. I feel like it's been so hard this past year to do that just cause I've been trying so hard to get better. This year, I will try and be more focused on others. 

I always pile on a lot for the new year, but I just can't help it. It's my clean slate start and something in me gets all revved up when the new year starts. 

I really am so excited for this year! Clay and I just KNOW it will be a good one.

My mom's Christmas Tree! So beautiful.

Christmas was great! Great presents, great company, so much fun and relaxation. LOVED it. Now today we get to go to Clay's parents and have a super fun time with them playing games, having a late Christmas (yay!) and eating some goods probably. I'm excited. Not to mention I haven't seen my sweet Dante yet! We got home at 2 am, so he just stayed at their house till we go over there today. Clay's still snoozin. 

Clay in his new hat and shirt! We were on our way to the aquarium. Something funny about Clay- never been to the Swamp exhibit before, and he was teaching us all about each of the animals/fishy things. He knew the most random things.

To end, 2011 has been a great year too. I'm so happy! Clay and I had a HELL of a 6 months there at the beginning. My word. Sometimes I forget how it was so poopy...but it was! We were both so tired, sick, and depressed. We wondered if we were ever going to get better. It was a rough uphill battle that we didn't understand fully. Our doctor told us to keep going, our family told us to keep going, and we have had so many people praying for us. We kept going...and some sort of change happened a few months ago. All of a sudden, we felt better. We were happier. We realized...holy smokes, this is working! I realized that I was super unhealthy and had just gotten used to it and forgotten what healthy actually felt like...cause once I felt better, I couldn't believe how good I felt! Clay too. We both have just made so many improvements we can't help but be grateful and happy. Clay actually said, "I can't wait to start my new pills"...which basically has NEVER been an attitude of his. Thank you, thank you, and thank you...for praying for us, boosting us up, and sending good things to us. We have had family members just surprise us with packages and family fasts and help in so many ways, I just don't know what we would've done without all of you. I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. Even you strangers that have popped in here every so often. 

Life is good. Sooooooooo good. 

One last thing- I got to snuggle my sister's new baby a LOT this week. I think my heart has grown 3 sizes, just like the Grinch.

11 comments:

Megan and Greg said...

That last pic of Maddie could seriously be on a card or something. So cute. Such a great picture. I'm so glad you guys were able to come out this year! I'm glad the boys spent so much time together too. I really liked your post. You have really good goals. And I agree, it totally looks like a lot, but it makes a lot of sense and can totally happen. I'm glad things are good and you made it home safe! So cute the way you talk about dante. He's your little baby!

Aliese the Writer said...

Oh, Danielle... you inspire me. You really do. All of those resolutions and you saying that you have had a better attitude this year just as you'd hoped. Really inspiring. I'm really glad that you're feeling better. Maddie is so cute. She looks so much older in that last picture. So happy and adorable. Love it. :) Love you!

Rebecca said...

Beautiful post. You really do have the best attitude. And watching you do your Zumba at Thanksgiving...you must be feeling good is all I can say. Your health goals are amazing and I know you can do it. That baby is yummy isn't she. Love you.

AMY AND MIKEY said...

Great pics there at the end :) That was a really good christmas vacation. I'm glad you have such great goals. I am trying to figure out which ones I want to choose. I'm having a hard time because I want to choose more than one but I'm worried if I do then I will be overwhelmed and not do ANY of them. I'll let you know what i end up choosing. Glad you made it home safe and could see your dante. Great goals you made, good luck! And I'm sure you will accomplish all of them because you are so motivated and disciplined! love you!

Brittany Flint said...

Oh cute baby! I am glad you had a great christmas! tyler is hoping to be out of here like the weekend of the 13th. so ya you need to come hug on our little jodi. we will let you know when we are back. ps lost my phone and i need your number just text it to me sometime! thanks

Sharon/Mom/ Grandma said...

Love, love, loved the blog! I am so happy about this year! I am going to blog about it too. It was a year with great blessings. I think you will make all those goals. I am so happy for you and Clay! The pics were great. Thats exciting about Clay working out and that he feels like it! we had such a great time with you both at Christmas! love you!!!!

Lizzie said...

i always look up to you and your goals. because you actually keep them. so proud of you with the sugar. and the cpa exam. love youy so much

Grandma, Nonnie said...

Loved the blog, and I really was so happy to see you guys at Christmas. I pray for you to have health, and the strength to heal. It takes a lot of work to stay healthy. I know you will get to your goals and I pray for the fulfilling of them all this year. Love you so much and I loved that you loved Maddie so much she is the most precious little thing. So sweet. Love you and you looked so beautiful at Christmas and I will never forget the site of you prancing around in those shoes. So fun. Hugs and Kisses I am throwing your way.

Jenni said...

What a GREAT post, Danielle! It seriously brings me so much happiness to hear how well you guys are doing. OH MY GOSH what a blessing! And 2012 sounds like it's going to just get better and better. That list sounds totally accomplishable BY YOU! YOu can do it.

Love the pictures. Maddie is beautiful!

HeidiT said...

I think it's great to have a word for the year! Fabulous goals, you're a wonderful example of sticking to it -- I have no doubt you'll accomplish so much. Yeah for a healthy year for you and Clay!

Not quite the Bradys said...

Hey Danielle! It's Amy Langworthy. I stalk all the Arnold blogs and occasionally the Mitchell ones too. When I was reading someone's post with pics from the beach house I was amazed at how good Clay looks. I mean, I haven't seen him in person for a couple years and haven't seen pics of him for a while, but you BOTH look VASTLY, noticeably better than when I last saw you. I see pics of you fairly often so that didn't surprise me so much but I was blown away by the pics of Clay from this trip. I just thought I'd say so since most people who comment or that you see probably see you guys often enough that the changes aren't as obvious. Anyway, I am so happy for you that the treatments are working for you guys. I've prayed for you both and I watched the Lyme movie. Hope this year is everything you want it to be. <3