So long, 2007

We woke up this morning to snow falling outside, and it looks like it will be coming down for a bit. It's perfect, as our New Years plan involves staying right put and cozying in. The kids have grand plans of 'staying up all night' to greet the new year. All manner of strategies are in place by these little ones - involving water bottles to spray in their (own) face when they're tired; a walk in the woods after dark; uncomfortable sitting positions; and so forth. Good fun, and fabulous entertainment for us. Who needs TV when you've got a full-on performance troupe in-house?

The coming year holds so many different and exciting things, and I'm sure there will be lots of talk tonight of all those plans and dreams for our little family. Tonight, we'll put aside the practicality of some of those fun kid - and adult - wild ideas and just let the dreams fly. I love the magic of a New Year - giving room to all the possibilities in the world. Because you never do know...

Thank you for sharing a bit of 2007 with me - your daily stops here to read, cheer, laugh and encourage have moved and amazed me and warmed my heart in more ways than I can say. I thank you for all of that.

May your own New Year be full of joy, creativity, and peace! Cheers to you and yours!

Comments

[Jonah Lisa]

No, thank you. I found your blog in late 2007 and look forward to a new, full year of humor and inspiration. Happy New Year.

[nina beana]

with this post, you've given me the inspiration to actually give my kids the permission to stay up as late as they want. they usually go to bed at 5:30pm (no joke!) so it should be interesting to see how late they make it. guess i'll have to bust out the spray bottles! :)

happy new year!

[liza]

Happy New Year Soule family!

[Julie]

I bet your troupe will be up later than I am!

All the best in 2008. I enjoy your site so much and am looking forward to the release of your book.

[Francesca]

I read your blog every day and it's so inspiring for me!!!
Happy New Year to you beautiful family, may 2008 be a fantastic year!
Francesca from Italy

[kirsten]

And thank you too. I have learned so much from and via your blog, been inspired and laughed aloud.

[emily]

joy, creativity, and peace. yes, please! and to you, too, amanda. a wonderful evening and a joyous new year.

[flowerpot]

Happy New Year! It's been fun discovering your blog this year! Many happy wishes for 2008!

[Shannon]

Where have you been all my life! I also discovered your blog late this year. It has been a breath of fresh air to share your journey. Thank you so much!

[Sarah]

Happy new year to all the Soules! I'm looking forward to getting my hands on your book, Amanda!

[emily ruth]

& thank you, miss amanda for being such an inspiration to a mom who feels like she's not doing quite enough...you help remind me that the little things really do matter the most & that handmade is alway better than store bought (unless it's a car or something:)...happy new year to you & your dear sweet family..& hey! tomorrow you can say 'my book comes out later this year' how cool is that?..i for one can't wait:)

[jen]

Thank YOU for giving a spot that all of us can stop in for daily doses of laughter, creativity, inspiration and reminders of what really matters in life. Happy new year to you and your amazing family! Can't wait to read about the adventures that 2008 holds for all of you! (And yay for being that much closer to the release of your book!)

[claudia]

Your children are brilliant! I love the tactics - I hope they work out for them! A good afternoon nap should do wonders, so they might like to consider that :)

Wishing you all a wonderful 2008.

[SierraMoon]

belle & heureuse année 2008 to you all...

[MelissaS]

I've been reading your blog for most of 2007, and have to thank YOU because each post makes me sit back and sigh. I love your photos, and all the wonderfully creative things you and yours make together! Reading a SouleMama post is like a breath of fresh air in the hectic daily life.

Happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours :)

[jean]

happy new year my sweeties. (love the water bottle idea. I could use that on so many occasions.)

[Vonnie]

All the very best for 2008 :) xx

[Kim]

Cheers back at you & thanks for your amazing blog!

[kritterific]

Staying put here too and also looking forward to a 'great 2008'! Enjoy that majestic snow for us here in Los Angeles. Thank you for your daily inspiration.

[Heather]

Happy new year!!

[Mom2-2boyz]

From our family to yours, Happy New Year!! May 2008 bring as much happiness as you can dream. Thank you for all your creative thoughts and ideas. Over these last few months of reading your blog I have been inspired to make more things handmade, spend more time on the little things AND get a sewing machine, I tested it our last night for the first time. Now I just need to learn how to get the thread back on the bobbin. Thank you for allowing us to look in on your beautiful life. Cheers!

[Stefani]

The happiest of New Years to you and your family, Amanda. I'm so looking forward to sharing a new year with you all!

[Kirsten Michelle]

finding you here this fall has been one of the highlights of my year...you are an incredible source of inspiration, amanda!!!
wishing you and yours a whimsically wonderful new year.
xo

[Mama Urchin]

Happy New Year Soules!

[Niki]

Those pictures are beautiful! It doesn't snow here in AZ where we live. I miss the snow :(
Have a wonderful New year's Eve :) HUGS!

[Julia]

Wishing you and your lovely family a great new year. Only good things and that your wishes for 2008 may all come true. Your blog has been a great inspiration and at one desperate point of harvest the greatest comfort I had. I wish I could somehow give back some of the goodness.

[betz]

oooh, uncomfortable seating positions, I hadn't thought of that. :) When I was little my parents would wake us up right before midnight and we'd go outside and bang pots and pans with wooden spoons to ring in the new year! Thinking of that cracks me up...

Happy New Year! 2008 will be a doozy with that book of yours entering the world...just like a new baby. :)

[Meredith]

Amanda, the happiest of New Year's to you!! I cannot wait to see where this year takes you and your sweet family!!

[mathea]

Thank you for your good wishes and for all you have shared through your blog during 2007. Best wishes to you and your family for 2008!

[meg]

happy new years, amanda! hope you are all happy and cozy today.

[alice]

Happy New Year to everyone! :)

[amanda]

Thank you for all the beautiful stories and inspiration you've shared with us in 2007, Amanda! All my best to the Soules for a wonderful 2008 :)

[Claudia]

Feliz Ano Novo!

Don't know how I found you, but it was a great surprise. You are a very sensitive and clever girl. Your kids are lucky to have you as a mom.

See you around in 2008!

[Hanna]

Thank you! Your blog makes me so very happy. I recently moved from Vermont to Arizona, and seeing northern New England through your eyes -- the snow falling outside the window, the lure of the woodstove, the pinecones and fallen leaves -- have fed the part of my soul that doesn't get fed by cacti and grapefruits (note: it's a big part!).

Thank you for sharing your creativity, your sweet family scenes, and your landscape with us. And best wished for 2008!

[Clare]

Happy New Year to all of you :)

[lauren]

Thank you! You have continually inspired me to express my creativity and focus on what matters most in my life. For that I am a better mother, artist and wife. I am all tingly about 2008! Peace and happiness to you.

[kelly]

happy new year to you + your lovely family! enjoy the big cozy-in tonight : )

thanks for such a wonderful abundance of inspiration + joy in 2007. i'm so excited for 2008 too + the possibilities it holds. ready to jump in? xx

[mindful mothering]

happy new year soule family! thank you for giving me the courage to stop and smell the roses - roses that bloom all year long here in florida! you're a light in my day. :)

[Nichole]

Happy New Year Amanda!!!! I just want to share something with you, I feel like it is a blessing that I have found your blog to read and to inspire me to be a more creative person in many ways. I mean creative with my individual self and as well as with my husband and children. The way you cherish the moments of everday life is so wonderful. I am so glad that I have the opportunity to be a part of a internet community that embraces living life fully with creative zeal (:
Wishing you New Years Blessings, Nichole

[aza]

Happy New Year to a very inspiring woman and her adorable family. I have found your blog to be my daily grounding; an inspiration as a new mom and a rekindling of a creative side of myself I had forgotten all about!
Looking forward to 2008!
Peace and Love to you and yours!

[Wendy]

Oh, this reminded me of when our kids couldn't stay up til midnight.

Now, all but one of them are teenagers. It has gone by so quickly.

Just wanted to thank you for reminding me to slow it all down, to spend that meaningful time with them (not this post in particular, but your blog in general). Because they'll be ready to move out sooner than I ever thought possible.

[Bluebirdbaby]

Happy New Year!!

[bigbucketgirl]

"Blwyddyn Newydd Dda" ~ "Happy New Year"
Thank you for 2007 and we're truly looking forward to sharing 2008 with you...xxx

[Veronica TM]

the best 2008 to you and the rest of the performance troupe! thank you for sharing and allowing me {us} to have this conversation during this past year.

[Joline]

I've been reading your blog for awhile now, you are an inspiration and a daily haunt. I am very excited for your book to come out. I look forward to your words and pictures. Happy New Year!

[Katherine]

Happy new year to you and your family, and thank you for writing such a wonderful blog.

Love the ideas on how to stay awake!

[nicolette]

Thank you Amanda, for a wonderful blog and so much inspiration! Happy 2008!!

[Kelly]

Thank you, for your continued, inspiration! Have a blast, celebrating this eve, sounds like a grand time is in store! May you have a blessed New Year! Cheers ~ Kelly

[Monika]

"En guete Rutsch is neuä Jahr!" this is good old swiss-german and basically means "slide well into the next year", I guess it comes from drinking high up in the mountains and then sliding home in snow and ice when slightly inuberated (grin)... From my new home in Toronto, Canada I would simply like to say "Have a wonderful New Year, good health, laughter, joy, fulfilled dreams and creative moments!" Huggies and Pampers too....

[coffeechris]

Thanks for inspiring me so....for the freedom to really let my creative self loose...I happened upon your blog and it is one of my highlights of 2007. Happy New Year and DREAM BIG to the Soule Mama Van Troupe Family..... so long - farewell ---- i bid 2007 goodbye---with the anticipation of all things a new and dreams come true in a great 2008.
chris