Reflecting on a New Year

So, here I am thinking of the New Year, of course, as it is the first of January. What will be different this year? What will be the same? What did I want to change in 2010 and did not?

2011 goals...

* Spend more time one on one with my girls. Take one out one-on-one each week. This will give me one date with each per month. Really listen when they are talking. Stop what I am doing to answer them. Be there.

* Spend less time cleaning. (Really?) Point being, it just gets messed up within an hour anyway. What is the point? I really am truly wondering about all the vain hours I spend getting annoyed with my kids and with myself... and cleaning up. So maybe if I go more slowly about my day, maybe I can just do a better job with putting things away AS I GO. Just an idea.I look around and see suitcases, piano books, coats, shoes, pillows, gloves, mittens, and Christmas decorations that I still have not put away. How do I keep up and stay sane? Not sure. I will never be an expert on this. I have come to this conclusion. So, if anything, in 2010, I have learned that as much as I can, I need to simplify in order to keep less "stuff" around my house. If that is possible with 4 girls, a Korean exchange student, and my dh to clutter it all up. BUT I need to thank the Lord for the "clutter" of it all and quit whining. That is my point. Submit to this stage in my life because before I know it my house will be quiet and my kids will all be gone, AND my house will be clean... but empty. Submit to the clutter... the papers coming home from school, the library books, the dvds, the webkinz, the coloring crayons, and the fingernail polish that has all been left out. Find my refuge in God in the clutter. Psalm 2. :)

*Spend less money. Stay away from the mall. Stay away from Target. Stay away from Ross and the great deals there. The deals will be there next year. Submit my budget to God. Stay away from credit cards. Use cash only. There are no surprises with cash. When it's gone, it's gone.

*Read the Bible more. Daily. Use biblequizzes.com/readings for my daily read.

*Remember that my body is getting older and needs to be better taken care of. Be a good steward. Stay away from junk and processed stuff. Exercise daily. DRINK 4 BOTTLES OF WATER DAILY to keep myself hydrated. Take 11000 steps and burn 2300 calories daily. Limit TV at night. Go to bed with the sink clean. Make my goals for the next day the night before. Use my dayplanner.

*Pray for guidance with directing the girls in their gifts and talents and pray for provision for them.

*Check my messages more often and call people back. Maybe get rid of the home phone answering machine. All it does is create guilt. I never check it. Tell people to call my cell if they need me. Find my charger. Get new downstairs phone.

*Bodybugg daily.

*Go to Heath's class 2-3x per week.(5:30?)

*Bex daily... end of each day. Get 8 lb. weights.

*Bed by 10; up by 5. Walk 40 min. daily to increase steps.

*Be a good steward of what I have. Sell all I don't need.

*Embrace the opportunities God gives me and EVEN THE ONES I AM NOT SO SURE ABOUT. Some things, I am learning, God has for me to do that I don't want to, but there is a reason. Embrace his will for me and my family. Embrace.

*Put a guard on my tongue and use my words with discretion. Even with my girls. Watch my words. Use them to build up and for God's glory; not to diffuse.

*Connect with the important people in my life. Listen for God's prompting and respond to it.

*Rely on the strength of the Lord, not on my own or my husband's or the world's ways to gain my strength or peace.

*Clean my garage. Park my car in it so my lock doesn't continue to freeze.

*Do a load of laundry in the morning. Kids put it away at night. Do this daily.

*Fast once / week. Listen to what God lays on my heart.

*Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for me in Christ Jesus.