2008 New Year's Resolutions

I am blogging on this basically for my own accountability and reminders of what I am working on! It never hurts to share your deepest passions with all of cyberspace when you need a little accountability. Cheaper by the Half Dozen started this blog topic and has some great resolutions if you need help thinking of something. :)

I am reminded in a post by Wellblog on the subject of New Year’s Resolutions. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”—Prov. 16:9 (NIV) I am keeping that in mind as I think of all that I want to do this year.

She also added in her post that they are doing a Bible study curriculum (Faithlink Dec. 30, 2007, copyright Cokesbury) and it had this quote: “While a lot of people who make New Year’s resolutions do break them, research shows that making resolutions is useful. People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions.” (Quote by John Norcross, a researcher at the University of Scranton).

Spiritual Goals: How do you measure closeness with Jesus? My only guess is that you look more like Him each day. That’s the goal. The ways that I might attain this. . .
1) Consistent Quiet Time – my time is before bed because I usually hit the hay before hubby
2) Memorizing Scripture with my family through Awana
3) Praying without ceasing

My vertical relationship will impact my horizontal relationships: reaching out and ministering to others

Family Goals:
1) More Time with my Hubby (You know . . .time)
2) To play with my kids. . .you know to get down on my hands and knees in the floor and play. . .they don’t want presents, they want my presence!! That is going to be my reminder this year. Presence not presents!
3) I would say to clean my house better. . .nah!! Not important, right!? Maybe I could get a house cleaner in 2008! Woo Hoo!
4) Continue to pray and seek the Lord for wise counsel on our school decisions for next year.
5) Continue with my meal planning because they save everyone from chaos during the week. It also saves our family money when I am able to think ahead.
6) Take a family vacation somewhere. Celebrate our 10th anniversary somewhere tropical even if I have to decorate the bedroom like a rain forest! 
7) Remember my family’s birthdays and try to get a card to them on or before their birthday. We will start with family first and then work our way to friends. Baby steps!

Physical Goals:
1) Continue with my crazy exercise program; it not only benefits me physically, but emotionally, mentally as well as socially! Wow, now that’s a keeper!
2) Eat well. Look for healthy alternatives to my faves: chips and dip and cookies!
3) Drink water. Like a camel. I will look young when I am 100. Now that’s for thinking ahead!
4) Run or walk in at least one 5K like the Race for the Cure. . .possibly a summertime 5K as well would be fun.
5) Look for ways to push myself physically-like buy a bikini and look in the mirror every day with it on. Never mind. . .erase that mental picture! 

Personal Development Goals:
1) Possibly take classes to get my teaching certificate back
2) Continue blogging at least 3 times a week.
3) Work hard and diligently at my job with Apartment Life. Look for ways to honor God and help others in what I do. Take every thought captive when working with applicants.
4) Garden this Spring throughout the fall. Very enjoyable. Very rewarding.

Looks like a wild year. And my God always brings on a couple of extras in there. My hope is that my security will lie in Him only this year. . .not things, people or any other distractions. . .only in Him!

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”—Prov. 16:9 (NIV)