A needed break, a fresh start

After our big holiday snowfall
After our big holiday snowfall

Ah, the first Monday of a new year, a new decade. Hopefully you all had some time off during the holidays, or were able to relax and restore even if you've had too much time off because of too little employment in 2009.

As our kids have gotten older and our work lives intensified in the past few years, the week between Christmas and New Year's has provided needed time for our family to relish just being home, relaxing, seeing family and friends and, basically, to get a needed break. And each year I look forward more and more to this time to stop and turn inward, keep a fire going in the fireplace, and enjoy the fact that we don't have to run here and there after a full day of work.

It's over too fast, of course, but I am starting the new year refreshed, grateful for what I've got, hopeful for days to come. Morning came fast, dark, and cold this morning in our house, but everyone arose pretty easily as Monday mornings go. Lots of mornings of sleeping in and hangout time with friends will do that for the teen set, too.

Happy New Year to our treasured Shine community! Did the holidays provide a needed break to start fresh in 2010 after a shaky end to the last decade?