2014

Its crazy to me that another year has gone by already!  It seems like just yesterday that I was dropping Brandon off at the airport to come back to Australia, while I (im)patiently waited for an email telling me my visa was approved.  And so much has happened since then!  One day I'll catch up on blogging about it all...maybe.

I've always loved New Years Resolutions.  Not that I'm great at making or keeping them, but I love to reflect on the past year and set a few goals to improve myself.  And I've noticed that I'm really good at setting big elaborate goals, and not so good at keeping them.  So this year, I'm just going for improvement.  Perfection will come one day, but for now, all I need is a step in the right direction.

My 2014:

Read more.  This has always been a struggle for me.  I blame my ADD for not being able to sit for more than 10 minutes without getting up and doing something else.  But I really do love it when I actually sit down and read!  The last few books I've read have been great, and I'm always looking for suggestions!

Detach myself from technology/social media.  I don't even want to know how many hours of my life I have wasted scrolling through Facebook feeds.  Don't get me wrong, its a wonderful way to keep up on everybody's lives, especially when we live so far away, but I know I can cut WAY back.

Get back in shape.  Not because I feel like I need to lose a few pounds (although I probably do) or get a six pack and a thigh gap, but because I know how good I feel when I exercise regularly.  Those endorphins can do wonders I tell ya!

Have productive mornings.  I've always said how much I would love to get up early, eat a good breakfast, exercise, have a good half hour scripture study sitting at a table, and be showered and ready for the day by 8 or 9.  Its time to make that my reality instead of my current roll out of bed at 9 and lounge around half the day.

Document our life more.  Starting with making our wedding album and a 2013 photo book.  Blog more.  Play around with video.  Take more pictures of us. 

Explore.  We've seen some incredible places around Australia, but I've got a lengthy list of more places to discover!

There are plenty more things I'd like to do, but I think that's a good start!

Writer's block.

Do you ever sit down to write a blog post and it just comes out as the most horribly written thing you have ever created?  That just happened.  I guess that's what happens when you don't blog on a regular basis.  Use it or lose it.  So here's take 2:

Hi.  I'm Amy.  And this is my blog.  If you're reading this, its highly likely that you're a family member, friend, or acquaintance that I've come to know in some degree at some point in my twenty-five year long adventure that is my life.  But maybe not.  Maybe you came across my blog through my photography website.  Or maybe you searched for "The Rankin Family" on google and they directed you here (apparently that's what leads people to my blog the most?).  Well anyway, this is it!  At one point in time this blog was kind of like a journal about my life.  And it still is, but it's also going to be a place for my photography.  And whatever else I feel like blogging about.

I feel like I have so much to catch up on!  And one day, I will.  But as a quick recap, I've pretty much uprooted every aspect of my life.  Quit my wonderful job, moved back with my parents, and got married to the love of my life!  Now one day if my visa ever gets here I'll join him in Brisbane so we can start our adventure!  And since I never posted any of our engagement pictures, here's a few:






And since its the beginning (sort of) of a New Year, I've made a few goals to improve myself.  I've realized I could use a little less of some things, and a little more of others:

My more or less of 2013

More of a structured, daily routine.  Less procrastination.  More morning scripture study.  Less idleness.  More budgeting.  Less gossip.  More date nights.  More physical activity.  Less multitasking.  More service.  More books.   Less social-media.  More photography for fun.  More exploring.  Less ignorance.  More learning.  More journal writing.  More guests in our home for dinner.  More quality time with my husband.  More dedication to the gospel...

I could go on and on and on!  But I think I'll start there.  What are you trying to have more/less of this year?