New Beginnings

As I walked home from work last night, I marveled at the magical sparkle of ice crystals in the snow around me.  It was perfect! I have always loved the way the snow-covered landscape turns into a fairyland of sorts in the light of the moon. Now that the magic of the holiday season is past, it is moments like these that I cherish when the frost bites and the wind howls.

When I look back on 2015, I remember struggles and growth, along with anxiety and excitement. My family had some happy, fun times as well as discouragingly hard times.  But we made it!  Here we are, in 2016, ready to step forward into the unknown.

So, what is coming in 2016? 

To tell you the truth, I don't know!  But, I do have lofty goals and high expectations that I'd like to share with you.

My goal for my family is to spend more time with the kids still at home.  I have made a list of places my youngest son and I can visit and we have already checked off two.  So far, so good!

The older kids are a bit more of a challenge.  I intend to make it to as many of my second youngest son's wrestling meets as I can.  I also intend to see all of his older brother's performances. Listening more often to my 19 year old daughter will be the best way to spend time with her.  Perhaps we will sneak away occasionally for a mother/daughter night out.  The biggest challenge will be spending time with my adult children who don't live nearby.  I will have to think on that one...

My goal for my marriage is to be more consistent with our date nights.  With everything going on in our lives, it is easy to lose touch, even though we live in the same house. It is such a good feeling to just be us without children or the clamor of things that need doing at home.  It is in those moments that our love grows, and I wouldn't miss it for the world!

My goal for myself is to make a concerted effort to seek out and enjoy things I am grateful for each day. I tend to get grumpy as life piles on more and more things to do.  I know if I can just slow down long enough to focus on the good things in my life, I will be more content. 

In addition to my personal goals, I have goals for PattyLou's Boutique as well. This year's focus will be on building a store that meets your needs with adorable new outfits and accessories. We hope to help you find just the right outfit for pictures and events that captures the sweetness of each precious little girl. 

In addition, we will share helpful tips and great ideas that we find with you, as well as things that we have done to meet the challenges of parenthood ourselves. We will keep our eye out for hot new hairstyles and fun party ideas. And, what blog would be complete without fun kid-friendly recipes! 

Of course, we will be sharing new trends and especially our newest additions to the store. Keep an eye out for our Valentine's Day update in the next few weeks! 

In closing, I would like to say thank you for your trust and for your interest in our little corner of the web.  Let us know what we can do to make your stay more comfortable. And please, pull up a chair and stay for a while.  We love having you!