I will...

Conquer 2012!!

I will own it!

How will I do that?

Well I want to be reasonable so I have decided to set 2 goals in each area of my life. I don't want to set the bar to high and then fail. I want to make achievements in my life. I figured I would start in February when other people are just starting to fall off the wagon from their New Year's Resolutions. I wanted to put this down in permanent record somewhere to help motivate myself. I will also print a copy and put it on my mirror in my bathroom and try and hold myself accountable. But I figured if those around me knew about it as well they could encourage or discourage me as needed.

Spiritually:

*Read at least 1 scripture every day.

Now obviously I hope to read more than that. But I figure if the goal is to get the scriptures into my hand everyday that it will enable me to read on further and make them part of my daily life. I think I sometimes get caught up with the expectation that I need to read X number of verses or chapters by a certain date and that I set myself up for failure. I just want to nourish my relationship with the scriptures and develop a way to make them present in my daily life. However many verses that may be!

*Attend the TEMPLE 4 times this year.

Last couple of years have been rough but not unbearable. I miss having a temple closer like Arizona. With upcoming construction on the Indianapolis temple I realized distance is not an excuse, just a convenience. I love the feeling of peace and contentment that comes from sitting in a warm, white, comfy celestial room. The feeling of completion when I complete someones work. But really I love the spiritual mending that I can only get from a visit to the temple. I need to get there. Doesn't matter if it is Louisville or Chicago or if Chris can come or not. I just need to get there.

Physically:

*Cut out Pop

There are so many factors to take into account here. The term empty calories comes to mind. Plus it makes me burp and feel fuller than what I really am. I don't need the caffeine since it takes away from my water intake. I also don't need the extra sugar, coloring and additives. I want my internal organs to end up a little happier then where they are at the beginning of this year. Do I like the flavor? Why yes I do. Reasonably do I think I will NEVER have a pop ever again. No. No I don't think so. I do enjoy a nice hard Coke every now and then. I just don't want it to become such an accepted option as a beverage choice. I want it to be infrequent. Like, less than 1x per month. There is something to be said for a nice cold pop at a Fourth of July picnic. :-) So that being said, I want to intake few to no soda pop. Which I hope leads to fewer pounds on the scale, increased water intake and feeling a little healthier.

*Move my body and involve my children as much as possible.

Yea, yea, yea, I know this goal statement is vague. I had a hard time trying to set a time bound or specific restriction on this. Since becoming a parent I have realized there is only so much one human can do and I don't want to overwhelm myself with numbered goals. But at the end of the day I realize that I am Fat. Obese. Overweight. Chunky. Fluffy. Heavyset. Whatever you want to call it I am not super fond of my reflection these days and it isn't a looks issue as much as my wiggly parts pretty much gross me out. I may be not be skinny but I am smart. I know things in my life will need to change for this problem to be addressed. There are 2 tried and true things I can do to alter the outcome. diet and exercise. I am choosing to focus on the exercise part because now that I am a parent of a 3 year old I am realizing how perceptive children truly are. And I think I am a bad example to my daughter.

I need to move. I don't want a decreased energy level. I don't want sore or stiff joints. I WANT to feel freer in my body. I don't want to get winded doing remedial crap. I WANT my children to know and experience an active lifestyle. I have a membership to the YMCA. I need to rock that thing. I own a bike. I need to make it operable and attach the cart and take my kids out for a ride. I LOVE playing Soccer. I need to dig out the ball and take my daughter out to a field to start kicking it around. And the real shame, I own an elliptical machine that has never been used. I HAVE to get it out of the box and sweat my heart out on it. I want my children to crave activity. I want them to not be afraid of hard work. I want them to adventure. I want them to be proud of me. I want to be around along time for them. And it's not just that I want to be around for them but I want it to be quality time. Sweat = Success. I need to get moving. Starting 02/13 at my job I am participating in a health challenge for 12 weeks. That should be a good jump start for my accountability.

Relationship:

*Court my husband.

I am married to an amazing individual. He is tender, loving, kind, smart, funny, talented and under appreciated. I love being a family but I do miss quality 'us' time. This goal seems easy enough when you say it aloud. But it is WORK. Hard work. But worthy work. I want to set aside time to court my husband. I want to ask him on dates, steal kisses and tender moments. I want to spend time with him experiencing life away from our recliners. I want to dream with him. I want to do life with him. But it is hard to do that when we are stuck on repeat. Get up-drop off kids-go to work-pick up kids-make dinner-play and watch TV-bedtime ritual. Plus we don't have any days off together with our current work schedules. That is great for child care, horrible for our 'us' time.

Simple ways to achieve this:
+Tell him I Love Him every single day and seal it with a kiss.
+Hold hands as much as possible.
+Turn off the TV and play a game, do a project or makeout. LOL
+Get outside-meet at the monon after work and go for a quick 20-30 walk before we pickup the kids.
+Schedule dates out of the house at least 1-2x a month.
+Get up early together for a breakfast date while the kids are still sleeping.
+Bench our cell phones at the door and at bed. Lose the distractions. Set aside a pre-determined technology time that we both agree to.
+Read scripture and pray 'together'.
+Take an 'us' trip 1x this year.
+Meet for lunch 2x a month.
+Start an appreciation board.

*Call or communicate with family and far off friends.

Since we do live in an age where everything is so technology driven the death of a live conversation has been dying a quick and awkward death. In short I need to pick up the phone and call people. At least 1-2x a week I need to pick someone to 'catch up' with. Especially my family. No reason why we can't talk more.

A good example of why I need to do this: I recently visited my friend Nicole that I have been friends with forever. Since we were small children. But we have grown apart a bit. We haven't been very good about phone calls and such. But when we get back together we fall into old times again. I love that. I am always happy to see her and feel bad that we haven't been in contact sooner. She deserves more attention. She is important to me. Even if I just shot her a text message or Facebook email every now and then I think it would help. I don't want to miss the life that is happening to everyone around me.

Mentally

*Work towards Financial FREEDOM.

For me this doesn't mean being debt free tomorrow. It means becoming responsible for my spending. I have tossed around the idea of taking a Dave Ramsey class with Chris. And I haven't ruled it out. Timing is tough for that type of 7 week commitment.

Right now I hate the unknown bill paying process we employ every month. It's like the bills line up like criminals in a firing squad and Chris and I both start firing. Problem is when the gunsmoke clears there is criminals still standing and neither of us knows who the other was firing at...and we are out of bullets!!

I want to feel organized. I want to sit down with my spouse and see where my money is at and where it is going every month. I want to make goals and work towards them. I want to be able to track progress so I don't become oppressed from the unknown. I may never be rich...I just want to be responsible.

Ways I may try to do this:
+Family Planning/Bill paying Binder
+Dave Ramsey class
+Bi-weekly money talks/budgeting with my hubby
+Put money away and actually save it.
+Make a budget
+Try effective couponing

*Put my house in order.

For me this is one of my BIGGEST sources of stress. I know how to clean. And when I get motivated I do it well. I guess it's motivation that is the problem. I do have a solid case of lazy-buttitis. Usually when I get home I choose to spend time with my kids or watch TV over chores.

The end result. A dirty cluttered house. Now, I know I am a far cry from 'Hoarders' status of junk and filth but it is overwhelming nonetheless. I start to thinking of what needs to get done and then it snowballs. Need to clean the pantry out > also need to clean fridge >then I'll need to steam mop the floors >need to clean out garage--can put stuff in the basement but I need to clean out the basement first > Need to setup dog kennel in the basement, etc. I have those feelings that I will never get ahead. I am beat before I ever started!! I wish I could afford to take a week off work, have my children still get watched during the day and organize/clean my house 1 room at a time. I would stock the shelves of my local Goodwill with donations! But realistically this is going to be more like a 1 room a month project! In the meantime I need to tackle some sort of basic weekly cleaning schedule for the small stuff.

Possible actions to take:
+Chore chart
+Cleaning product station in each room
+Take a long weekend to work on the big projects.
+Liberally donate excess belongings
+If it has been a box for years I likely don't need it.
+Not go it alone. I need my hubby on board. And he does such a great job cleaning when he gets motivated too!
+Focus on one project at a time
+Once I get something organized don't let it get out of control again!!!!!!!



Now I know there is soooooo much more I need to work. But I am taking it step by step. Will I be successful in each of these goals. Probably not. I doth love to Procrastinate!! But either way. I have a focus, a goal. I am ready to start scratching the surface. Help and encouragement is always welcome.