Archive for the ‘New Year's Resolutions/Goals’ Category
2012: A Year Of Joy And Connecting
Monday, January 9th, 2012
Well, hello there! Happy new year!!! Thanks for sticking around and reading. I’m up early and blogging!! I won’t even go into a long apology about my lack of blogging lately. You guys have heard it all. Jocelyn has been sleeping through the night for two weeks now so hopefully we’ll see some good changes in my blog coming up. Actually, you will see some exciting changes in my blog coming up. More about that coming soon!
I hope you had a great Christmas and new year. We did!
We were abundantly blessed last year with a great Christmas budget. We were able to have a great Christmas with no debt and received some pretty sweet gifts from our our families as well.
We had a fun, family friendly New Year’s Eve party. Lots of fun, good people and lots of good food.
I’m 19 weeks pregnant! Yes, really!!! I find out January 20th if this fourth kid is going to be our first little prince or fourth little princess. I’ll have a pregnancy update once I can announce what we’re having.
So…2012. What will God have in store for us this year?? For starters a new baby! We also have an election this year. Hmm….wonder what that will bring?? I’m praying for God’s will to be done in all areas of our life. We should especially be praying for our country and for God’s hand to be on our election process. He cares about who’s running our government!I always get so emotionally involved in elections. So, you may not see me on Facebook much in the beginning of November until it’s over!!! And then, I may still need a couple of days after that. Ha!
I don’t really have any resolutions this year. I have some basic words that I want to look back on and hope described this year.
Simple. Organized. Joyful. Connected.
The third word was originally “fun” but I realized not all of 2012 is probably going to be “fun”. But, it can be joyful with the joy you can only find in the Lord. The first two words are pretty self explanatory. I think most people want their year to be simple and organized.
My fourth word is “connected”. This year I want to be more connected. Connected to God’s word, to prayer, to my family, to joy, to the present and to people.
I don’t want to go into a long explanation ( maybe in a new blog post. Maybe not) but I’ve struggled for some time to connect and have deep relationships with other women. It’s something I’ve prayed about for a long time. I crave a deep, close relationship with another woman or two. That “BFF ” relationship. I’m purposely praying for a real, deep connection with another woman friend this year.
I do have some Bible verses to share that I want to focus on this year. I can never find just one! These are the ones that embody what I’m praying for and that I’m going to be referring to a lot this year.
Let the saints ( Believers!!) be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the highest praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword ( God’s Word!) in their hand. Psalm 149: 5-6 { Words in parentheses mine} (NKJV)
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV)
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 (New Living Translation)
Did you make resolutions this year?
Welcome 2012!! Let the joy begin!
2011 Goal- Forming New Relationships
Monday, January 10th, 2011
Even though I didn’t have much of a list in my previous New Year’s resolution post, Mike and I do have some things we want to work on this year as a couple and as a family. One of them this year is forming new relationships. The Bible has a lot to say on relationships and how important they are so this is an area that needs improving in our life.
In sharing what I’m about to share I don’t want anyone to feel guilty, offended or feel sorry for me/us.
I’ve lived in New England going on 14 years now and have yet to form a lasting, close friendship with another woman. I met and become friends with several different women over the years. We’ll be close for about a year or so and then, somehow, we drift off and go our separate ways. Some friendships were lost due to differences and some we just lost interest in keeping up the relationship. Distance has made some friendships hard, although I truly love these friends. Some of them are still “friends” but not ones I’m super close to or see very often. Some I would love to reconnect with, but sadly, it just doesn’t seem to be happening! As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t like people saying to me ” Let’s get together!” and “We should hang out sometime” when they don’t really mean it. It’s very annoying to not have any kind of follow through on the other person’s part when they say stuff like that to me. When I say that to someone I truly mean it. And usually follow through. I’ve found before that when I do try to follow through the person always has some reason for not being able to hang out. After a couple of failed attempts I figure they don’t truly want to hang out. And that’s fine!! Just don’t tell me you want to hang out in the first place. And by this, I mean, don’t bring up the subject yourself. I understand if I am the one to mention it and put the person who is really not interested in the awkward position to try to be nice. Then, the hemming and hawing is understandable.
And, yes, I’ve done a lot of soul searching and tried to figure out if it’s me that is the issue.
I have a lot of good “Facebook friends”! As much as I love Facebook, I think it does contribute to “shallow” friendships. They look good on Facebook but in real life aren’t sincere and have no depth. But, that’s ok too. Not every friendship in your life has to be super intimate and close. It’s ok to have fun people in the periphery of your life.
Mike and I haven’t had a close Couple Friend….ever? And when you’re trying to be friends as couples I know it’s harder because it brings a totally different dynamic into play. The wives get a long but the husbands aren’t really into each other. The husbands have a great time together but the wives can’t stand each other. It’s tough! But definitely doable.
I have found that as a “southerner” it’s hard to form relationships here in New England. There’s seems to be a cultural (?) gap there. And I’ve found that many or most of the people here have grown up in the same town,continued to live in the same area all of their lives, have all of their families close by and already have close friends they’ve had for years. They’re not necessarily looking for any new relationships. And I don’t hold that against them. I’m actually jealous of that. I think it would be awesome to have a close bond and real friendship with another woman or women for years. That’s got to be a huge blessing.
I’ve always been the type of person who craves intimate relationships with other women. And maybe that comes off as desperation?? I know that’s not an attractive quality to most people. What’s funny is that I don’t consider myself a huge “people person”. I do enjoy my alone time and I’m not super spontaneous. But that doesn’t mean I like to be alone all the time either!! I do love to host parties, have people over and go to dinner with other women and couples.
I’ve heard the theory that maybe this “longing” stems from being a twin who lost her twin at birth. Maybe part of me is always looking for that “twin” in my relationships.
Mike has recently gone through some changes in his friendships and I truly feel for him. He’s also the type of guy who’s super friendly and loves to “hang with the guys”. Except, there are no “guys” at the moment! And we both know it’s hard with long work hours and trying to be with the family on the weekends.
So, I say all of that to say this- Mike and I would like to really focus on strengthening and forming new relationships this year. We’ve always thought of ourselves as friendly people but maybe we need to put ourselves out there more? We’re in a new church and met many new people last year. There’s lots of opportunities for new friendships. I don’t want to go another few years without having formed close bonds with someone. We’ve been praying over this area of our lives and know that God will move and bless in His time. We know we’re not perfect so we’re working on our attitudes as well.
I’m also clearing out my “friendship closet” , so to speak. There are people in my life who truly bring me down and aren’t “real” friends. I’m not going to waste my time and energy being annoyed with them or trying to wonder what they’re true intentions are anymore. Sometimes, you really do have to say “goodbye” to relationships because they are no longer sincere or healthy.
What is your “friendship closet” like? Are you blessed with many wonderful, close friends? Is your closet empty? Do you need to clean yours out?
Like I said before, I don’t want pity and I’m not writing this to offend anyone. This is a real issue in my life and I really do want to make it better!
Here’s to closer friendships in 2011!!
A Nod To New Year’s Resolutions
Thursday, January 6th, 2011
So…. everyone’s writing New Year’s resolutions/ideas/goals blog posts. I usually do too but found myself coming into the new year without any goals or resolutions written out. Oh, I’ve thought about a few things but I think my main goal this year is to have this baby! Part of the reason I haven’t come up with a list of “to do’s” for this year is that I know they’ll be blown to bits by a newborn and attempting to breastfeed. I don’t want to put all that pressure on myself. My goals this year are learning how to mother three kids, instead of two and survive the newborn stage without any meltdowns on my part. Oh, and finishing up our homeschooling year, staying on top of laundry, grocery shopping and making meals is thrown in there somewhere. That’s all I think I’ll have time and energy for in the next few months! Anything above and beyond that will be icing on the cake! I don’t want to be discouraging but I do want to be realistic.
I would love to start exercising regularly (which I will attempt at some point) and finding a regular, new time to read my Bible and pray ( Certainly won’t be at 6 am anymore. Probably during attempts at breastfeeding!!). But, I’m going to take those things one day at a time.
I’m all about learning flexibility this year.
A verse that was on my heart last year and is still on my heart this year that sums up what I want spiritually for myself in 2011 is Micah 6:8.
I have taken the liberty to copy and paste my favorite three versions from Bibleresources.com.
Micah 6:8 (New American Standard Bible)
8He has (A)told you, O man, what is good;
And (B)what does the LORD require of you
But to (C)do justice, to (D)love kindness,
And to walk (E)humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 (New Living Translation)
8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 (Amplified Bible)
8He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?(A)
If I can learn to consistently love and practice justice, kindness and mercy more than their negative counterparts this year I think I’ll have accomplished something.
If I can learn to humble myself before the Lord and walk side by side with him, having given my desires completely to His will in 2011 that will be better than losing 20 pounds or cleaning out my closet.
What are your goals for 2011? Do you have a concise list of exactly what you want from this year? Or are you like me…winging it a bit and hoping for your flexible best?
Here are some great blog posts and articles I’ve found that are great motivations for the new year.
10 Tips For Making Your Goals a Reality ( From Life…Your Way)
Quick Tip: Write Down Your Goals For Yourself As A Mother (From Motherhood…Your Way. A Life…Your Way blog)
5 Ways To Get A Fresh Start ( By Linda Samuels from The Other Side Of Organized)
Jesus Wasn’t Radical (By Kat at Inspired To Action. Thought provoking for when you’re planing your 2011 goals)
What’s Your Theme For 2011? ( Also by Kat at Inspired To Action)
HAPPY 2011 and here’s to at least accomplishing one of your goals this year!
