Welcome 2014

While I was with my family for the holidays, they urged me to write again.  And it sounded delicious and daring, so here I am.

There are two kinds of people who celebrate a New Year.  Those who make resolutions and those who hate those people and make fun of them behind their backs.  For me, a new year is almost as good as Christmas.  There's something about it that is so FULL of hope and expectation and unanswered questions in the most beautiful way.  I believe in intentionality, in setting goals that are attainable and measurable in an effort to force yourself off of the couch (or computer, oopsies) and take a step in a good direction.  Nothing more, nothing less.

So I don't call them resolutions, but I do set goals for a new year.  It's an exciting process to reflect and choose the things I think will stretch me and make me uncomfortable and push me toward something better that I might have otherwise missed. 

So here are my goals for 2014:

1. Find a Bible reading plan and follow it.
2. Read at least one non-fiction book per month.
3. Run two half marathons.
4. Pay off all debt!! (11 loans in total left)
5. Make an exercise plan for each month with hubs.
6. Have one night per week with no TV.
7. Read 2 books together with the boy (about anything).
8. Continue our monthly budget meetings.
9. "Complete" our apartment one room at a time.
10. Write a blog post at least once per month. Checkmark please and thank you!?
11. Give away at least 10% plus $20 per month to church/charities.  Re-start our "needs fund" for when we hear of needs we might be able to help meet.
12. Have one couple/friend over per month.
13. Create plan for keeping our home clean.
14.  There is a 14th, but some things  can stay private. ;)

I know it may not sound exciting, but it's filled with so much promise for me.  It fills me with hope and anticipation of what this year could bring.  I'm ready.

Photo source

Those Darned Priorities

Happy New Year everyone!

I apologize for my brief hiatus; I was busy learning to skydive.  And taking synchronized swimming lessons.  And running a marathon. 

Okay fine, those are all lies.  Really, I was just busy.  The holidays punched me right in the gut and I didn’t feel like getting up until just now.  That being said, I missed you.  I missed this.  Not writing made me realize how much I really like writing.  So thanks for waiting for me.

It’s funny though, that writing on my blog fell to the bottom of my priority list.  Why is it funny you ask?  Fantastic question, ever-intelligent reader.  It’s funny because sometimes I feel like writing a blog post is the best part of my day, yet I choose to do it last because…why?  I’m not sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion it has something to do with my priorities.

I get really caught up in the day-to-day worries, like dirty clothes on the floor or dirty dishes in the sink.  So I take care of those and neglect the things that bring me real happiness.  But today is a new day, and though I have both dirty clothes AND dirty dishes, I’m writing anyway. (Just don’t be offended when I don’t invite you over for a while.)

This little business of priorities really convicted me in another way, too.  I’m scrubbing countertops and vacuuming floors like there’s no tomorrow, but I’m not even finding time to spend with my Creator. 

What really triggered all of this was my nasty selfish demeanor on Christmas.  I’m supposed to be celebrating my Savior’s birth, but instead I mostly just focused on counting my gift cards and figuring out which gifts to return.  Do you ever just feel grossed out by yourself?  Because that’s how I felt/feel.

So that’s why you’re getting this post, you lucky dog, you.  I’ve decided that I’m going to ignore the little things today and focus on the things that matter, the things that bring me real joy.  So I’m going to write, I’m going to spend time with my friends and my loverface, and I’m going to go talk to Jesus and ask Him to keep right on fixing me.