My FOURTEEN for '14

I have not done "resolutions" in a few years.  I began thinking it was pretty lame honestly.  I mean do we ever really follow through?  Me=NO!  I try for a few weeks.  What I realized is that when I do not make a list of yearly goals I just don't try at all...not even for a few weeks.  I tried to make a list of VERY attainable goals.  Things I will definitely have to work toward and won't happen overnight, but by December 31st 2014 I should be able to have a lot of these in place easily.  So, here it goes...my 14 goals for 2014.

No particular order...

My 14 for ‘14

1)      Put away the phone!!  I spend more time than I care to admit glued to my phone.  It is ridiculous.  I am missing precious time with my kids to look at a phone?  DUMB!  From now on my intention is to come home, plug it in to the charging station and not look at it again until both kiddos are asleep.

2)      Save money.  Things are about to change financially for us.  For over a year we have had no mortgage, no utility bills, etc.  Therefore we have kind of lost our ability to think about purchases and kind of spend money without a thought. Not good!  In about 8 weeks we will again have all those big monthly bills so we will HAVE TO start saving again!! We do pretty well with the retirement plans/401K’s/catastrophe savings, etc, but just regular saving is more difficult.  I like some of the savings ideas I see online.  I want to find one and stick to it.

3)      Take Mason on a trip.  The plan is to take him snow-skiing for the first time (we have a vacation savings so that won't interfere with #2).  Along those lines…mommy son date times.  Once a month to a movie, lunch/dinner, musical, library etc…

4)      ME time.  I need a good hair-cut, new make-up make-over, new up-to-date clothes, workout time, and to eat healthy.  The new year is a good time to start taking some time for myself (which I have neglected BIG TIME).  As always, lose weight so I can be healthy.  I HAVE TO get all my unhealthiness in gear this year so I will feel good and get off of some medications!!

5)      Spend intentional time with the kiddos.  I am with them a lot, but find myself just trying to make it to bedtime a lot of nights.  :( That means the TV is on Nick Jr, I have my phone (see #1), trying to get dinner for everyone, stressing through bath and bedtime.  I HAVE TO slow down and enjoy these times.  Play more made up games, board-games, outside play, patience with a 5 year old that so craves attention, floor play time with Lucy, sing/talk/read/pray with Mason at bedtime etc.

6)      Date nights with Brady.  It was hard enough with one baby, but with 2 those times alone are few and far between.  We need some nights out!  Looking forward to a mini-trip in January just us.

7)      Get ORGANIZED.  So much would fall into place if I were organized!  I really hope with the big move coming soon  it will bring with it LOTS of organization.  I need lists, menu planning, everything put in its place, cleaning schedule, grocery store planning.  LESS CLUTTER all the way around.  Cook more at home.  Pick up the house every evening.  Mason is old enough to help and got a chore chart for Christmas.

8)      Friend time.  Somewhere along the way (ahem, since my sweetie #2 was born) that has been almost non-existent.  More hanging out even if it is at our houses.  Dinner here and there.  Musicals/movies/plays here and there.  Craft nights!!

9)      Make our house the place to be.  I want to invite family and friends to just come hang out at our place and make it cozy and accepting.  Family meals on Sundays, holiday parties and hope to make game nights a new tradition.  When I made the plans for our new house I tried to make it cozy and inviting to others.  It's not a big house, but it's hopefully going to be full of warmth! 

10)   More time praying and seeking God.  I am in need of a good devotional or bible study.  Since my situation with my kids is unique, I was out of church for about 2 years with Mason and will be the same with Lucy due to their weakened immune systems (just can't risk Sunday School germs!).  It is so easy to put it all to the side including prayer time unfortunately.  I need a 365 day study.

11)   Make a “thankful” jar---like on Pinterest.  Write down big events, fun times, funny moments, family outings, etc and read them at  the end of 2014. (Update: DONE!!!!  Rebecca made me one for Christmas…now to fill it with fun memories!!!)

12)   Be kind…randomly.  I love hearing random acts of kindness and I want to be more giving and do those things throughout the year.  I want to include Mason on them too so he can learn how to be giving to others (Lucy too!).  For some reason I chicken out sometimes when I feel led to help someone…WHY?

13)   Read books during my down time and stay away from the computer unless it is for something like working on memory books or editing photos.  As in #1 I am just so tired of feeling stuck to technology.  There is NOTHING on the computer or phone that can’t wait until another time usually.  It honestly stresses me more than relaxes me.

14)   BE HAPPY with the life I have (and I do have a good one!).  All of these are GREAT goals and attainable goals.  But most of all I want to live in the moment and be happy!  J

 

 

Twenty Plus

I am going to go ahead and do days 20-30.  I know if I stop at 26 today, 27-30 will never ever get posted.  I just know myself and it for sure won't get done since I will be at home with my family!  :)

20- My grandparents...3 of the 4 are deceased and the remaining Grandmother is 93 and has Alzheimer disease (so she does not know me).  They were all great role models as I grew up though, and I miss them all a lot.  Grandmommy is still with us on this earth, but she is not the same Grandmommy, if that makes sense?  I was kind of her favorite growing up (being the baby girl in the family) and now she doesn't know me.  But, the times we had together are memorable!  :)
21- Medicine.  I am glad that when we do not feel well we have medicine to help.  Some don't believe in medicating and that is fine (and I sure am paranoid about taking too much), but I am glad we have that option!
22-Cold weather.  I am thankful for it for about 3 days and then that is enough, but I am glad we have changing seasons (usually) and get to experience new life in the spring!
23- Mason's friends.  I am glad Mason has made so many friends and MDO this year.  He is really coming out of his shell.  The first 2 years he would watch his friends play while he sat with the teachers.  This year he slowly started playing with the girls (who are much calmer) and now is playing with the boys. 
24- Urgent Care on Sundays.  I think that sums up this day.  Glad we were able to see a doctor and get medication for strep on the weekend without the cost of an ER visit.
25- My 5 year old!  I might have mentioned him before...but today he is 5 instead of 4.  Where did the time go??  He is such a joy.  Sweet boy!
26- Naps.  If only I could take one RIGHT NOW.  I took Tylenol PM cold last night to fight off this icky-ness that I have and now I am so tired I can barely do anything (so I am blogging instead of working!)
27- Family Days.  Looking forward to getting off work early tomorrow and spending the entire long weekend with my little family.
28- Turkey and Dressing.  One of my favorite meals of all time.  But only my moms!
29- Tradition.  Day after Thanksgiving is a HUGE tradition day in my family.  The house will be full of Christmas music, cookies baking, and décor going up.  It was always one of my favorite days growing up and now I love it even more with my own kids.
30-That this list is done.  :)  For that I am thankful.  And I hope that the rest of the 11 months I remember to be just as thankful as I was in November! 

THE END!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Behind in the Game

November...the fastest moving month in history.  Pretty sure that is the definition in the dictionary.  Do they even make dictionary's anymore?

So, yep I did not do what I set out to do...30 days of Thanks.  Oh, I am thankful alright...just so much going that I don't have time to blog.  Annnnnnnnnd, for that I am thankful!  :)

Here is a short version of days 5-19.

5- My family...the extended version.  I hope it is apparent that I LOVE my kids and husband so much.  I am so thankful for my family beyond that on both sides though.  Amazingly blessed!
6- My job...most are not so fortunate to have a job like me.  I try not to take it for granted.  I am not tied down 8-5 with a clock that I have to click on time or else I get written up.  No, I come in after I take mason to school around 9:15 and get off at 4:30.  I have half days and can take vacation days as needed.  I can bring my kids to work and never have to miss a school even or doctors appointment.  I AM SO BLESSED. 
7- Mom and Mom-In-Law- I name these two specifically because when I can't be with my kids, they are.  I am so fortunate that they keep my babies and we do not have to do childcare.
8- Mothers Day Out Program- Mason goes 3 days a week and oh my goodness, he has learned SOOOOO much.  The boy can read anything put in front of him and just realized this weekend he can count to 1000!  He is learning to get along with friends and teachers too.  Amazing program!  And the best part...he goes to chapel daily and learns about Jesus!
9- House/Cars/Food...the obvious things beyond that too, like beds and TV's, toys and clothes.  Mason and I are trying to focus on doing for others (I realized lately that he is all about "ME"...which I think is normal for a 4/5 year old, but I think its time we talk about giving) this holiday season.  It's all too apparent how much stuff we have when others have basically nothing.  :(
10-The sunsets.  Rarely, a day goes by that I don't get out my camera to take a photo of the sunset.  I can not get enough of them.  Living in the country makes them that more beautiful.
11- My marriage.  I mentioned my husband on day 2, but I am so thankful for a strong marriage.  I am so glad I have my best friend with me every evening and wake up together every morning.  So many of my friends are struggling in marriages and I am just so glad that I don't have that issue.  He loves me so and I love him so!
12- Fall...everything about it.  Smells, sights, sounds, cool air (sometimes) holidays and celebrations.
13-  To go along with the one above...changing leaves.  Can't get much better than that.  I could sit outside for hours and just stare at the trees! 
14- Friends!!!!  Oh my goodness...this one should have been wayyy up there on the list!  DUH!  So thankful for my friends old and new.  I am so fortunate to have such great women in my life!
15- NICU nurses and doctors.  Just everything about them...they kept my two miracles alive and I just CAN NOT THANK THEM ENOUGH!!!!!  I will never be able to repay!
16- Another year.  Turned 34 this year. 
17- Social media.  As much as I don't want to be thankful for it and many of the things I do NOT like about it, BUT I do enjoy catching up with some people and reading the blogs of Christian women and Pinterest...oh Pinterest.  I have gotten some good recipes and cheap decorating ideas from there!!
18- Entertainment.  We take it for granted, but we have options to eat out and attend pretty much any kind of entertainment activity we want.  Some countries only have dirt and sticks.  Wow, we take that for granted!  :(
19- Clean water.  As above...we take it for granted that our water is safe to drink.  Sort of random, but I LOVE water so I am thankful.