Here we come....2009!

Season’s Greetings!

I hope everyone had a spectacular Christmas and I wish you a happy new year!

I wish I had more to share but life has been a bit uneventful for me lately. I just completed my first semester of college and I am still completely unsure of the direction I want to pursue in my educational endeavors. As far as State Council goes, I am greatly looking forward to the upcoming Pennsylvania Farm Show.

I find this time of year to be the most difficult for me as far as motivation goes. Perhaps it is the weather. I typically do not make New Year’s resolutions, but this year I am trying. I have already purchased a fitness pass for at school, so now I have no excuse for not exercising. Also, I have a few art projects and sewing projects and scrapbooks to finish. Also, I must begin to make decisions about school. I think this is a good time of year to begin to set my 4-H goals for the upcoming year. In reality, there is only a single month left to our term on PS4-HC. It defiantly does not seem like a year, but soon, a new council will continue in our place. I wish them the all the best! Being a Council member is a great honor, and a great responsibility. This experience can teach a person much about life, if they are open to those lessons. But it will soon be time to move on to new goals. I encourage you all to begin to set your own goals for the new 4-H year as well. Here are some of mine:

1. Improve my ability in the show ring, I currently have a crossbred steer and hope to purchase a lamb as well. (I wish I had time for more!)

2. Complete a sewing project, maybe another gown or maybe a costume.

3. Woodworking…I hope to make something larger and useful that I can keep forever, but have yet to decide.

4. Attend as many events as I can around my college and work schedule.

Most importantly, I want to enjoy this year of 4-H as much as I can because even though I have time left, the next year will be almost impossible to stay active especially since I would love to study abroad. I have spent a great deal of time over the past few months reflecting, every memory, every experience in a person’s life is significant if you allow it to be. I have been so blessed! As the start of 2009 is upon us, I wish for you all to be able to look back over past year in peace, seeing all that you are blessed with. Allow the lessons of the past year to help you set goals for the coming year. I am terrible at setting goals, but this year I hope to improve that and stay motivated to continue on to complete those projects and make the changes in my life I know are completely necessary. Once again, don’t hesitate to set your 4-H goals and have a HAPPY NEW YEAR! See you all at the Farm Show!

Yours in green,

Danielle Shaffer

PS4-HC President