As I mentioned the other day, 2017 brought me some of my greatest joys but also some of the scariest things our family has had to endure.

As we start 2018, I am hopeful for so much.

I am hopeful for growth.

Growth in spirit, growth in my job, growth as a parent and wife. I want to wake up a better person than I was the day before.

I am hopeful for my children.

It can be scary when you turn on the news and having the pressure to raise human beings in our current world. But never before have we had the resources that we do now, and I am hopeful that we can use that for good. I look forward to seeing who these two are meant to be. They are my greatest joys, and I want to help encourage these tiny wonders to be world changers.

I am hopeful for my marriage.

Dare I say it that this is the year for boring marriage life? We aren’t having a baby, moving, changing jobs, or doing major construction. It is year seven for us, and I am ready to continue strengthening our relationship in this boring, but great, life we have created. We have been together for more than a decade, but there are always ways for us to grow more in our partnership.

I am hopeful to be present.

Life is moving so fast. Faster than I would like most days. Our calendars are constantly full of things to do, and these babies of mine are growing much too quickly without my permission. I hope that this year, I can take a breath and soak up this time when they are little and my life is so beautiful.

I am hopeful to get my body and health back.

I am not growing a human being, and here in the next few months I more than likely will be done feeding that human being. So my body will be fully mine again. I want to get back into shape, and be the healthiest I can be for my family. I also hope that I get my core strength back so I don’t have to be afraid of peeing my pants every time I cough or sneeze. #momtruth

2018 has so much potential. I don’t want to get in a rut and just go through the motions. This is our one life. I am hoping for the best out of this year.

What are you hopeful for in 2018?