1 post tagged “resolutions”

We're back in the swing of things in the Jackson household. Kids back in school, Jeff back in law school (halfway done!!!), me back at work setting new goals and looking forward to being done with having a job (did I mention that he's halfway done?). We went for a walk this weekend that for some reason, really kick-started that January thinking for me. Must have been the cold (45 degrees! In Phoenix!). We took photos along the way - here's some of what we saw.

All the citrus trees in the neighborhood are ripening. I'm so jealous - I think we're the only ones without one. Sniff.

This is one of the mountains near our house - the very offensively named Squaw Peak, as well as Piestewa Peak. To the north of us is North Mountain. I love the way the mountains turn pink when the sun starts to go down. The light can make Phoenix such a beautiful place.

 

 

 

 

 

My boy. With a very Gunnar look on his face. Kid seriously needs a haircut - must happen this weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff and Annika walking in front of me. It really was cold that day - Annika has a coat on and boots and everything! That never happens. Jeff, of course had to be manly and keep his shorts on. He regretted that decision.

On those January resolutions...

I'm not usually a resolution person, but this year I really do have some areas of my life where I'd like to see some growth. Well, one area in particular. This is the year that I plan to grow my photography business so that it pays the bills and is rewarding financially as well as personally. My goal is to have photography provide 1/3 of the income that we generate this year. It's a big goal, but I think it's doable with a lot of hard work and some good networking. I'd love to know what has worked for others in growing a portrait photography business. What are the best ways to get your name out there?

I want to expand my crafting activities into more sewing and  creative crafts with the kids, teaching them to knit and to sew. They're also passionate about clay and the pottery wheel. We need to take more time on the weekends to dive into projects. I'd like to convince my husband that it's okay for the dining room table to look like this most of the time. It would be fantastic to have a craft room or a studio, but I don't. Since our living space is essentially one huge room, the arts and craft supplies tend to take over. I love having creative tools out for the kids and for me. It drives Jeff crazy.  So I guess my resolution is really for him. He'll learn to love it. Really he will.



I think my most difficult goal for this year will be to just live in this year, in now. I've already mentally moved ahead from here to the next thing - to June 2008. To Jeff graduating and getting a job again. To Lindsay graduating and heading off to college. To not having a "real" job anymore and being able to work as much as I want at what I love. To living again in a place where I can walk to my coffee and to the store, and can go for days without driving a car. I need to remember to step back and enjoy each day as it comes. I need to do my best at work each day I'm there by being a good manager and by making good decisions. To enjoy my life in Phoenix because there is so much that is wonderful about Phoenix. I need to treasure each day that I have with my family, since this is the only year that they are 4, 8 and 16. This year will never come again and I don't want to miss it by looking ahead to next year. One way that I'm going to accomplish this is to bring my camera wherever I go so I don't miss the special moments or forget who they were this year. With photos like this one to keep me going, it's going to be a very memorable year.