I must confess, I’ve started the new year out as a total bum, a major Scrooge, and a complete loser. Now I don’t plan on extending the laziness much further into the new 2010 year. But it is nice to have a day that you don’t have a long to-do list to complete. A day where you don’t have to keep track of the check marks and a day where you can do absolutely nothing. How many times does this happen in a year? Not many… so I’m taking full advantage of it. No housework, no shopping, no laundry, no cooking, no working, no email (work email that is), no makeup, no getting out of the sweats, and no fixing the hair.

Today has consisted of cycles of sleeping, eating junk, and watching football. I even slept through the Rose Parade! We did briefly start taking down the Christmas tree – but it was very brief. I thought about doing some laundry since the hamper is overflowing – but it was fleeting thought. I thought about catching a movie but decided I didn’t have the energy or patience to deal with the lines. So I sat in my chair, played solitaire, took naps, and watched college football all day. And now that the sun has gone down, I find myself continuing the days trend.

In my attempt to get into the “New Year” spirit, I contemplated coming up with some resolutions for the decade ahead, But then decided, it was too much trouble and too much stress. Then I thought about 2009 and the ups and down of the roller-coaster year. On one hand, it was a terrific year. Alex came home. I had all the kids and their families together in the same spot twice in the same year. And we welcomed in a new adorable grandson. So from that perspective, it was a wonderful year.

On the other hand, we’re still too far away from home. The economy has damped our savings plan and our travel plans. Work is crazier than and ever and I’m working way too many hours and still can’t get caught up. But now as I sit here and type, I can’t really think of any other negatives to say about 2009 (well I do have a lot to say about the current political climate, but that’s for another post!). Which brings me to the conclusion that the year wasn’t as really bad as everyone on TV  wants me to think it was.

And here’s why…

I have a wonderful family. They are healthy, strong-willed, and independent. They are carving out their place in this world and doing a magnificent job. I am so fortunate to have the best parents anyone could ever dream of. I have the world’s best little brothers and adore their families and grin at their antics posted on Facebook. I do have a roof over my head and don’t think I’ve ever really been hungry. I have the coolest and cutest husband who has more patience  than anyone I know. And unfortunately, he needs all the patience he can get to live with me. He’s my best friend! I have vehicle that gets me to work and back every day. I have pictures and memories of my life that I treasure so much. And maybe most importantly,  I have a testimony of Jesus Christ and realize that while I am sooooo imperfect, His Atonement gives me hope, gives me strength to keep going, and reminds me to try and be a better person every day.

So while I was determined to avoid any new year festivities today, I ended the day in humble gratitude for all the good things in my life and for all the blessings that I enjoy daily. So while 2009 was a very bumpy year, I am looking forward to 2010 with optimism and with a grateful heart for I truly do possess the greatest things this life has to offer. To my parents, my husband, my brothers, my children, my grandsons, and all my friends, I wish you continued happiness and peace in the new year and give thanks that each of you are in my life. I love you guys!!!!

Emily recently recieved an academic achievement award for scoring “distinguised” in three subject areas. Her top ranks were received in Math, Science, and Writing Portfolio. She was honored with all Clark County 4th and 5th graders at a ceremony held at the high school.

Previously posted on AmericanWoman is Alex’s mailing address at the MTC. Here is another cool way to drop him a line…DearElder.com. This is a website that allows you to type a letter and send to him. You still need the address below (MTC mailbox, etc.) but they will print it off and put it in his mailbox the same day – which is pretty cool. He also has a new email address:  jachugg@myldsmail.net. Just keep in mind that he cannot email you back, but he can send any replies to his parents and they can forward his message to  you. Thanks to everyone for helping to keep Alex pumped up during this transition time!

More picture and news items posted on the Family Website. Click here to view. What fun we had with everyone here for the weekend with Alex before he left on his mission. The grandsons are growing and keep us all entertained! They are soooo cute – check out the new pics added to the albums, too!

Coolest blog ever! With talking points about family, fun, football, and other stuff very important to the average American Woman, mother, sister, wife, and aunt! Enjoy and check back often for tidbits of thought-provoking sentiments and some funny stories about everyday life. Plus, as a bonus, you’ll get to see pictures of my two wonderful grandsons!

Enjoy, Robin!

Up, up and away….

Seems NASA is not having a good day. It was reported by Aviation Week & Space Technology this morning that a special panel studying astronaut health found that on two occasions, astronauts were allowed to fly after flight surgeons and other astronauts warned they were so drunk they posed a safety risk. The independent panel also found “heavy use of alcohol” before launch — within the standard 12-hour “bottle-to-throttle” rule, the magazine reported.

Seems like this has some NASA executives in an uproar and fearful of congressional hearings along with the much dreaded additional bad press. Of course you have to sympathize with their concerns due to information also released this morning about a computer sabotage incident and a previous arrest of another astronaut on assault charges related to a love triangle mess. While these are serious actions and definately deserve scruitny of whatever internal process NASA has in place, they can at least take pride in knowing that our finest aviators still are better behaved than most of our professional athletes.

All in all, though, I find it very amazing that all of our astronauts don’t have a little something to relax them before strapping themselves into a multi-ton space craft that sits on top of a couple of highly explosvie contraptions that hurl them up, up and away!