So, I have been so surprised to hear so many people via news, social media, word of mouth, etc resolving NOT to make New Years resolutions this year or EVEN ever again. WHAT?
I love making resolutions at the beginning of a new year. Of course, I get excited about any excuse for making a list and checking things off of it 
Here are a few of my resolutions in no particular order:
GO BACK TO ETHIOPIA- My plan is to return with the short term team from Central Church in June. By then Silas will no longer be nursing and Joe will be on summer break from school. It seems like the most convenient time even though that means leaving Joe by himself with the kids. I have no doubt he can handle it, I just know how difficult some days can be without some back up. At this point, I vow only to think about how badly I want to return NOT the fact that I will be leaving my kids for 10+ days.
STUDY AMHARIC-Regardless of whether or not I actually return to Ethiopia this year, I definitely plan to begin studying and reviewing Amharic.
I have all of my recordings, notebooks, worksheets and the Fidel (Amharic alphabet) just waiting for me to jump right in. It’s hard to believe that at one time I could pronounce and write correctly the entire Ethiopian fidel. I fear that I have waited to long and therefore lost it all! Here’s hoping it’s like riding a bike!
WORK OUT MORE DAYS THAN NOT-My goal is to work out at least 4 days a week. If I get really ambitious, then every day is fine BUT at least 4. I think this is totally doable even with 3 kiddos. For me nothing beats a good run but I realize that does not always hit my trouble spots.
So, I plan to incorporate a few additional crazy exercises into my program like 100 jumping jacks, 25 push ups and a daily ab routine. This site will be my go to for abs: www.randomabs.com. It provides you with a daily ab workout. AWESOME! It also provides you with a written explanation of each workout AND/OR a video demonstration of each workout. DOUBLE AWESOME!
This will be my go to for inspiration (not so much for the grammar:)):
FINISH CAFE CURTAINS FOR MY KITCHEN- I purchased some pretty awesome fabric last year on sale at Joann’s BUT have yet to get started. The huge bolt of fabric makes me extremely nervous. I must enlist my mother in law’s help to tackle this project. I don’t anticipate it to take a very long time or be to terribly difficult so WHY haven’t I started. Probably for the same reason I buy new clothes and leave them hanging in my closet for a few weeks before wearing them. I DON’T KNOW. There is just something about new things that I love. I take that back. There is something about new fabric and new clothes that I like to leave untouched for a bit.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE CHRONOLOGICALLY-A very good friend of mine gave me the NIV Chronological Bible several years ago. I started as soon as I recieved the gift but it was in the middle of the year. Needless so say, it was easier to lose track and fell to the wayside after about 3 months. My plan is to keep on trucking this year. Not just to read the required scriptures for the day but to actually take time to research obscure passages and seemingly contradictory scriptures as well as memorize and meditate on favorite new finds. I am thrilled to make this ”mommy time” and to let my kids see me prioritize time with God. I’ve also made the decision to NOT read books for fun for the next couple of months. Reading is one of my favorites! I just finished The Hunger Games trilogy and have a long list of others that I can’t wait to get from the library BUT I must practice some self control and establish a habit of reading my bible passage each day first
LEARN TO MAKE A COUPLE OF SIMPLE LITTLE GIRL DRESSES-McLaine may be a tough little cookie BUT cute little dresses seem to be her MUST wear outfits. Fabric is one of my favorite things (especially vintage or colorful)! I figure I should combine the 2, right? I get to buy fun fabric and Mac gets cute little dress. WIN WIN!
Something like this is really cute BUT doesn’t look very simple. Maybe I’ll give it a whirl anyway!
PINTEREST-I have tons of pinboards full of kids crafts, recipes, do it yourself home decor projects, etc. My goal is to try 2 recipes and at least 1 kids activity a week.
PRACTICE KINDNESS-My main objective is to say kind words to my husband and children but then extend to family, neighbors, & random strangers. Joe consistently tells me that I look like I hate him when we have serious discussions and it doesn’t take a genius to hear when my fuse is short with the kids. So I am going to practice kindness using my words & my face!
I will publicly say that I am aiming for blogging more than once a month but will not be adding it to my resolution list. WHY? Because that is just setting myself up for failure.
What are your resolutions? Come on, let me hear ‘em.
Must go to bed now if I hope to check any of these of my list tomorrow!
I break resolutions, so I don’t make them.
However, I do have goals that I started back in October. 1) Be under 200 lbs by Thanksgiving. – Met. 2) Be under 190 by Jan 1. – Failed. 3) Get down to 160 by Memorial day.
Maybe I should make a resolution to actually get out of bed when my alarm goes off at 4:30am so I can have that quiet time alone with God that is the reason I set the alarm for 4:30am rather than hitting the snooze until I have just enough time to get myself & the kids ready to leave. Hmm, this would require me to actually go to bed at a decent hour, which I am not doing right now…
I am trying to live by my planner all year. I usually fizzle out at some point and I start forgetting all the things I need to remember, get behind on TFC work and stay generally stressed out. When I stick to my calendar and to do lists I stay so much more sane!
I am trying the chronological Bible reading through YouVersion.com which emails me the passage I need to read each day. The email wasn’t working at first and I promptly forgot for day 2-4. I am back on track now.
I am also trying to eat vegetarian 5 days a week, do a devotion every day with the girls, and Alyssa and I are learning Spanish. It’s probably far less challenging than Amharic. I did speak the only two words I knew to the waitress at the Ethiopian restaurant not too long ago. She probably thought I was nuts.
I love it! What a great (& ambitious) list!!! I think I’ll blog a list of resolutions in the next couple of days.
P.S. I love your curtain fabric! I used to know how to sew… I wonder if I still can?!
LOVE it!! I’m reading thru the bible too with an app on my phone. somehow it works better for me. I’m also trying to be nicer. I’m quiet at work and that has turned into a nasty rumor i heard this morning that i am so mean. i strongly dislike hearing that about myself and really feels beat down right now.
WAY TO GO MARTHA! You are doing great. Don’t let 1 missed goal discourage you. Keep at it!
Maybe I should actually set an alarm clock
I think learning any language is really hard unless you are a linguistics nut & just love languages so much. At least you could have the opportunity to hear Spanish often. Not so with Amharic
Petra-I look forward to reading your resolution blog & that other one you talked about writing but haven’t yet. I really really like to sew but I’m not very good. I wish I had learned from my grandma years ago instead of thinking I was too cool for sewing. MAJOR FAIL!
I’m with you Buffy. I don’t like for people to think I am mean. Therefore I have become a people pleaser which is worse, I think
I want people to spend time with me and feel better about themselves when they leave. I don’t think that happens much right now.