2011 New Year’s Resolutions

So it is January 1st, and I’m, as usual, bizarrely excited about my resolutions. I love goals. I love making lists just so I can cross things off that I’ve accomplished. (This, by the way, is why I want an actual planner, not the planner that comes on my phone. Philip.) I have my list written on a clean, crisp white piece of paper. Philip had his emailed to himself on his phone. We shared them with each other at midnight last night, after attempting to decipher what in heaven’s name Dick Clark was saying. I digress.

My Resolutions:
1. Daily Bible reading. I love doing this. I have no idea why I struggle to keep up with it. My ESV bible comes with a reading plan that is easy, interesting, doesn’t leave you stuck in Deuteronomy for weeks, and takes about 15 minutes. This one is very important to me.

2. Read through at least one non-fiction book every two weeks. This should be easy. I can rip through a 500 page novel in less than a day, but novels are easy to read, take no thought, and I don’t have to process what it means in regards to my life. So I’m going to write on my blog what book I’m reading, when I start and when I finish it. Sort of an accountability thing. Which leads me to…

3. Blog at least 4 times a week. Every year I put journaling (is that not a word? My spell check is telling me it’s not. I’m certain it is. Am I smarter than Microsoft Word?) on my list. Every year I fail within the first week. I hate journaling. I love buying journals. I love the idea. But blogging seems to come easier to me, and it really is a journal for me.

4. Write a book. I have no idea which subject, fiction, non-fiction, for children, for women, etc. I have so many ideas bouncing around in my head, they collide in a spectacular fashion, and I’ve decided this will be the year that I write a book.

5 and 6 go together. Exercise 4 times a week, drink 8 glasses of water. Blah. But it’s a must.

7. Personal hygiene has dropped far down on my list of priorities since having children. I have a voice nagging in my ear every night (who said this?) that if I don’t wash my make-up off it adds seven years to my life. Does that mean every night? Does that mean I’ll live seven years longer? Does that mean I’ll look 60 when I’m 35? Regardless, I plan to do this. And floss. Again, blah.

8. Create a keep a schedule for a well-ordered home. I read a book once that was written for busy moms, to create a schedule for cleaning. That way, everything doesn’t pile up and have to been done in one day. I did this for awhile before I got sick this summer, and I really liked it.

9. Return phone calls or texts within 12 hours. Really, I’m going to do this, so I promise if you call and leave a message, I will return your call (Erin, Jen, the U.S. Department of Education, etc).

10. Memorize one scripture a week.

11. Daily remind myself what my purpose here on earth is, and live it. This may seem silly, but it’s easy for me to start thinking that my purpose is to make sure the bottles are clean, the kids eat more than just macaroni and cheese, and that people like me. But I’m here to glorify God and to know Him. I have to remind myself of that every day.

12. Daily try to find a way to make Philip’s life easier and happier. This is a fun one. He’s always doing little things for me, thoughtful things that show me he treasures me and loves me. I want to make sure I’m doing this as well. The life of a pastor is hectic, stressful, filled with temptation and struggles. I’m here to help him, encourage him, love on him, make him laugh, and someday, cook for him. 🙂

13. Try daily not to complain. I don’t mean just the complaining that I do out-loud, but the thoughts in my head. This is definitely where the memorizing of scripture will come in handy.

14. Continue to have daily family worship. Since Callie Grace and Justus assume now that this is a part of life, as much as eating and bathing and going to church, this is not a hard one at all. Getting Callie Grace off of one particular hymn that she’s taking a liking to is much more difficult.

15. Twice a week send an encouraging card or email. Again, this is something I love doing. I just want to do it more regularly.

So there is my list. Now, is anybody going to share theirs?