the 'r' word



It's an ugly word - "Resolution". I, personally, am not a big fan. When I was younger, I'd make New Year's Resolutions, only to forget about them weeks - no, days, later. So somewhere along the line, I stopped making them. This year I hope to be a bit different.

I have quite a list of things I'd like to change. Nothing major, just small tweaks and adjustments that I hope will make mine and my family's life a bit richer. I'm not going to call them "Resolutions", but changes, rather. And it just so happens that these changes are taking place at the beginning of a New Year!

In an effort to make these changes a permanent part of my life, I'm choosing to utilize tools to help me. Here's what I mean:

1 - I used to love to cook. I'd spend a lot of time on my menu, prep and serving. Lately, life is so busy and frankly, I'm just too tired come dinner time. I have really slacked in the area of preparing good meals for my family. I want to WANT to cook again. I've signed up for E-Mealz, a service that e-mails me weekly menus and shopping lists. I just decide which meal to make on which night, depending on our activities. I shopped this week from my first list and made my first meal today. I'm really hoping this one sticks.

2 - I really want to get into God's word more. Okay, I just need to do it, period. I have joined Living Proof Ministries (Beth Moore's blog) & their Scripture Memory Verse team. I, along with several thousand other women across the country, have committed to memorize one scripture every 2 weeks in 2011. That's 24 verses in 12 months. I am kept accountable by posting my verse and have recruited friends to join me!

3 - I just need to CHILL out. I find myself getting worked up over little injustices. Well, things that I think are injustices - to me, anyway. My goal is to relax, and remember that these things that I get so worked up about aren't really that important. I will be happier if I smile more and take a deep breath (and possibly a chill pill!).

4 - I like to think that I'm a nice person, but I am really going to strive to be kind. This is a tough one to put out there, since I am running the risk (and the likely chance) that you, or someone else, will catch me in a not-so-kind moment. So give me a little slack, and a look that says "remember that kindness thing" and I will do my best.

I have several more areas that I would like to improve upon, but this is all I'm going to share for now. I have to keep somethings to myself right? Yeah, I know, why stop now? Happy New Year!