I saw on a blog several weeks ago, someone refer to their goals for this year as revolutions instead of resolutions and it really struck a chord with me. I think so often we make these lofty goals that we know we don’t have a hope or a prayer of sticking with and then we feel guilty for the rest of the year for not “following through”. Instead of starting fresh or getting back in the swing of things, we push the commitment off and procrastinate until another year brings with it the chance for a fresh start. I know that my goals always have to do with health, fitness and finances and I feel ridiculous listing them out for you to read, when if I looked back at last year it would be the same sad list. Josh & I have been talking about some goals for this year and some areas that we’d like to really work on. I’m hoping that together, we can achieve so much more than when I take on a project by myself.
So here we go, three weeks into 2012, my New Year’s Revolutions!
We have declared 2012 as the “year of gifts”. While that might sound sad and materialistic, it is really far from it. When we read Love Languages together during our pre-marital counseling, it was no surprise to me (or my then fiance) that one my primary languages was giving/receiving gifts. It isn’t about the money invested or hoarding of things, so much as I love knowing I was thought of and that someone carefully selected something with me in mind and I love even more finding gifts for other people. You know how your momma always says “it’s the thought that counts”? Well, that couldn’t be more true. SD and I are bad about declaring a holiday gift-free or buying a house gift or family gift instead of carefully selecting something for one another. I love shopping for gifts and the anticipation of giving and we’ve been missing out on that for a long time. We decided that this year we would give gifts for Valentine’s Day, our anniversary, birthdays and Christmas. We aren’t setting or comparing budgets, we aren’t asking “did you buy me a gift for this holiday?” we are just buying each other something we know they would love.
We need to be more organized. And I don’t mean some sort of filing system or color-coded labels. If you had visited my house before I had children, it would have been clean and everything in it had a home. While some of that suffered after Ella was born, I managed to stay on top of things pretty well. If I’m being honest, that all kind of fell apart after the second child. Now I find myself exhausted after dinner and hoping that bedtime would hurry up so that I can relax for a few minutes and read a book, or have an adult conversation with my husband. We avoid laundry like it’s the plague and our kitchen rarely gets cleaned the same day we cook something. It’s both embarrassing and unnecessary. We’ve decided that we let ourselves get lazy last year and we are done. Josh thinks we need a laminated sign that says “the year of organization” to hang up so we can’t ignore it. I can’t help but laugh just thinking about how nice that would look! Here are few things we are trying to do to keep our home better organized and our lives less cluttered:
- Folding and putting away laundry as it’s done — I’m having a hard time typing this since we currently have about four loads that need to be folded, but we have to start somewhere. Ella is responsible for getting the girls’ basket to the laundry room when it’s full and Josh generally keeps it rolling throughout the day while he’s at home working. That means I have to take some responsibility for the length of its stay on our floor after being dried. I’m hoping to spend 30 minutes or so each night folding while I watch television. Even though I don’t want to do it every day, I know if I would spend a few minutes each night that it wouldn’t pile up and ruin my Saturday morning.
- Whoever cooks dinner gets a reprieve from cleaning the kitchen and the other spouse makes sure it’s all cleaned up before the next day. Josh pointed out last night (when he wouldn’t clean on my schedule) that the cleaner should get to do it on their own terms, so I’m going to try not to dictate when cleans, as long as he does!
- Meal planning. For the last two weeks, we’ve sat down over the weekend and planned our meals for the week before I head to the grocery store. Monday night we cook. Tuesday night is a crock pot meal because Josh usually works late and that gives me some time for other chores if I don’t have to cook right when I walk in the door. Wednesday night we fend for ourselves — Ella spends the night with my parents, Josh takes Sophie to the Grill for a daddy/daughter date night and I usually grab Chipotle or Panera Bread on my way to Bible study. Thursday nights is dance and we usually do something easy. I might pick up pizza from Little Caesar’s or we’ll cook a hamburger or tacos. Friday night we cook and then we leave the weekend open for dinner out or a little spontaneity.
- Grocery shopping on Sunday (or Saturday) afternoons while the girls are napping has been great the last few weeks. As much as I hate to do this on the weekends, my Monday night shopping trips weren’t working. For starters, it means I’m late getting home one night a week and the girls lunches are a little sad on Mondays. I also hate sending supplies to Sophie’s caregiver mid-week. Meal planning really helps keep my grocery budget under control and I’m hoping to get back into the swing of couponing this month.
- Early bath times for the girls make a huge difference in our night. When we put it off until after dinner, the night feels rushed, there isn’t as much family time and we don’t all get to eat together. Tuesday night, the girls hopped in the shower as soon as we got home while I finished up dinner and Josh worked. By the time they were fresh and clean, he was done for the day and dinner was on the table. We were able to eat as a family, spend some time playing hide and go seek and then read before bedtime. It also guarantees everyone is tucked in on time!
Another area I’m really working on is our budget. I don’t just mean I’m trying to “spend less and save more”, but that I’m going to be more diligent about keeping up with our finances. We might not have any more money, but I at least want to be aware of what we have. I made a nifty little budget form when Josh got his new job last year, but I rarely even look at it. On Monday night, I spent three hours updating my checkbook register and writing checks. The last time I had even looked at our bank balance was the day before I flew to NYC. For whatever reason, thinking about money gives me heart palpitations. This year, I’m going to be more deliberate about our finances. I am going to transfer money into our savings account once a month for Disney World. I’m going to update my register, balance my checkbook and pay bills once a week. We are going to *hopefully* pay my car off early and start looking for a new family vehicle for Josh to drive now that he doesn’t need a big truck. I’m going to pay off my two remaining credit cards and learn to live debt free. I am not going to have an anxiety attack thinking about the stack of paper on my desk. As long as I stay on top of it, there is nothing to panic about.
Bible study. I hope you realize that this list isn’t in any particular order. If it were, this would be number one. I am striving for nightly devotions with Ella before bed. She has a precious book she received for her birthday last year and after only a few nights, I am already seeing a difference in our nightly routine. She is starting to recognize that God can speak to her through books and scripture and some of the devotions have really applied to situations in her life right now. I am also hoping to spend more time in the Word myself. I have always struggled with daily reading, but my small group is really helping me to conquer that. This year, I am leading a ten week study of Crazy Love and the obligation of leading my group is keeping me accountable. While I might not be reading lengthy passages each day, I am spending many days preparing for our sessions and even more time thinking about what God wants me to say. I am hoping the study will strengthen friendships, help me to better understand God’s crazy love for me and revolutionize my prayer life.
Now. Those are the major things I want to focus on in 2012. It isn’t a list of goals to check off, but some areas of my life that need revolution. I know I’m not going to look back in 2013 and laugh at this list. It isn’t unmanageable or scary and because these things are vital for my sanity and survival, I’m hoping I won’t completely flake out. And just in case you did want to see a list of “not as life-changing” goals I’ve made for myself this year. Here is a list of things we can check things off:
1. Limit my shopping/spending to one or two things for myself each month and nothing more. No more buying things just because they are on sale or because I feel like shopping. Save that money for more important things. Instead, buy pieces that will last longer and that I won’t get tired of. So far this month, I bought a new pair of pumps for work and a winter coat. Neither were overpriced or frivolous and I didn’t have buyer’s remorse. I am done shopping for January. Done.
2. Buy at least one Christmas gift for each girl every month in 2012. Since we are going to Disney World for Christmas (shhhhh, it’s a secret!) I want to be done shopping when December 1st rolls around. I want to be able to use the money we normally set aside for gifts to help fund a trip of a lifetime for our girls. I don’t want to be stressed about how to pay for the trip and buy gifts the month of December. In fact, I’ve already bought them each 3 things! I got them both a really pretty winter coat for next year and I picked up two Disney movies for them each. If you aren’t already a member of the Disney Movie Club, it is a great way to keep up with what movies are currently out of the vault and they are always offering great deals.
3. Use my life-planner. Write down appointments and events, make weekly grocery lists and monthly action lists. Lists keep me on track and I didn’t make nearly enough of them last year.
4. Organize the clothes the girls have outgrown by size and season. Stop tossing them into bins and ignoring them. That will only make me scream later down the road.
5. Better organize our holiday bins and mark them for content. Be thinking about Christmas decorations and projects throughout the year so that I’m not overwhelmed in December. Repurpose decor we already own in new ways and add some outdoor decorations this year.
6. Go on at least one weekend getaway with my husband and leave the girls behind. NYC was so much fun last year and traveling together is so good for your relationship. We are already making plans to go to Dallas for the Bama game this year, so we’re well on our way towards checking this one off.
7. Begin planning a big anniversary trip with my husband. This is our tenth anniversary and because of Disney, we won’t really be celebrating it in style. We’re thinking of celebrating close to home and starting to save for a big trip for #11. I’d like to have a destination and a budget in mind before the year was over. Any unused Disney money can be funneled here. I’m thinking European vacation… sounds nice, right?
8. Read more GOOD books. My goal is two books per month and I’m taking recommendations if you have one. I just finished reading the Millennium series, and although it was extremely graph and hard to read in some places, I really enjoyed it.
9. Get back into the gym on a regular basis. Last year I did so good working out on my lunch break and I want to keep that up this year. A busy fall at work and then the holidays got me out of the routine, but I already have my bag packed for Monday. I really, really want to wear a two piece bathing suit one more summer!
10. Blog a few days each week. I’m not making promises to be here every day, but I hate that 2011 isn’t nearly as well-documented as the several years before it. I can do better than this!
Okay. That’s it. No pictures, just a long list of things I really need to work on. Maybe I’ll recap at the end of each month and let you know how things are going!
