Laurie at Tip Junkie (a blog I'm fond of) is challenging her readers to pick a word of the year: one word defining what one wants for herself in 2009. She's even hosting a giveaway in relation to the challenge. I think it's a great idea. One can make all the resolutions one desires but it's a whole lot easier to remember a single word and allow it to mold your everyday actions (and it is, after all, the little things we do each day that lead us to achieve our larger goals). So, what's my word?

Stretch.

2008 was a year of big changes for our family. Adam graduated. We moved to Canada. We set out on a new life path (med school here we come)! And our precious Lucy was born. It is in 2009 that we must rise to meet the challenge these new developments will include. My body stretched in 2008 (and my stomach has the marks to prove it). But in 2009 it is my inner self that needs to stretch.

I want to grow in 2009. I want to be harder working, more organized, more centered, and serve my family. I want to stretch myself to the limits of my abilities to make our house a home and then I want to stretch a little further.

So here's to 2009, and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g!

(And here's another reminder about the giveaway!)