Starting 2013 off RIGHT

I love New Year's Day. I love the idea of a fresh start and starting over. I have so many goals for 2013 from keeping up with the house so I'm not spending one day cleaning from dawn to dusk to not getting behind in my son's homeschooling. Trying to find the right balance in 2012 made things a bit difficult at times and some things suffered like my Tastefully Simple business so I have goals to work on that as well.

First things first though: clean home - happy mommy.

I happened upon a blog that's the perfect solution to keeping my home in order - Clean Mama.

http://www.cleanmama.net/

Open Eyes and Heavy Hearts

This isn't a typical Monday morning for parents across the country. This morning parents will hug their children a little tighter and watch them walk into the school buildings with a lump in their throat in some cases. After the eye opening terror last Friday in Connecticut we've all had our eyes opened to the unthinkable fear that someone would harm young, innocent children for no obvious reason other than their own inner battles.

I've read status messages on Facebook all morning from friends who were debating sending their kids to school today. They wondered what more or less their kids should know. They looked at empty car seats after drop-offs thinking of parents with empty bedrooms. I look at our Christmas Tree and wonder how these parents will get through the holidays. I would crack. I know I wouldn't make it having to look at the presents and stocking and bedroom. I'd leave the decorations up as long as possible living in that eternal moment of 'the last time they were here'.

My heart breaks today for parents everywhere because we're all together in this fear today. You never know when your time will come. You never know when that last goodbye will take place or the last trip to the ice cream parlor will occur. You do all you can to keep them safe and happy and protected and prepare them for the world. You have to cherish each moment and keep it in your heart forever and trust that there is a better place waiting that welcomed all of the little angels and their guardians on that sad day.