2014: My Resolutions

I love resolutions. I love a new start. I love a new year. I love new goals and new lists to scratch through and I love, love, love new calendars.

So, I'm going to have some resolutions just like I always do. And, while they tend to be recognized this month, I am kind of one of those people who is always trying to do something better or new throughout the year. But, let's just put it on paper in no particular order.

1. Be a better wife. we are going to make more time for ourselves with dates. We do not do enough of these.
2. Be a better mom. I'm going to try to keep the tone of my voice calm and low and try to have more patience.
3. Get healthy. Since 2008, my weight loss year, I have gained...like 65 pounds. YUCK! No reason - just eaten more calories than I burned. But, Vic and I both have a summer beach trip in June and are on a health kick! Exercise, eating good, and just focusing on feeling good about ourselves are our plans. Not getting crazy; just getting healthy.
4. Catch up on my scrapbooking! Yikes - this is my all time favorite hobby. But, I am really behind. As in, I haven't even finished Atticus' first year and haven't even started Grace's. So, here's to using what I already own (NOT BUYING MORE!) and scrapbooking late nights to get caught up.
5. Spend wisely. When we knew I was going to stay at home once Grace was born, we started living only on Vic's paycheck. So, it was not a terrible transition to do that when I no longer brought one home. But, over the year, we had hospital expenses, vacations, holidays, and the next thing you know we were saving much less than before. So, we are back to remembering I do not bring home any money! And we are going to spend more wisely.
6. Prayer and devotion. I always have on my daily to do list to spend time with God. But, sleep sometimes gets the best of me and if I don't get up early to do it, I tend to skip it altogether throughout the day. So, I will keep trying to find time daily for God. It is the MOST important thing; I mean, He makes everything above easier if I just talk to Him and lean on Him and study His word.
7.  Quality over quantity. I am the queen of filling up our calendar. I will book something hour to hour just to fit it all in. This tends to include our weeknights and weekends. So, I am going to try hard not to do that. Instead of traveling or hosting guests twice as much and filling up our calendars, we are going to have them in half as much and just spend better time with them while we are together. This then gives our little family of four time to have quality time as well - even if it's just playing outside or running errands on the weekends. Quiet weekends helps Vic and I to relax and get rejuvenated for the week ahead. It also helps us stay even more excited and revved up for when we travel or have company in town!
8. Attempt to unplug occasionally. So, our world now revolves around the internet and social media. The best way to keep up with news, bills, friends and family is to check my iPhone constantly. And while I really only look at Instagram, Facebook, email, and sometimes Twitter, it can encompass my time. Vic and I will catch ourselves at night, after the kids go to bed, watching tv while checking things on our phones. We are tired, but we are not even trying to talk to one another. That is terrible. Or we are so busy trying to get pictures of the kids doing something adorable that we do not live in the moment to just enjoy it. I am the worst at this; I am trying so hard to get pictures to send to our friends and family that I forget to enjoy it for myself. And, Atticus knows the phone is important to me and will ask me where it is and if I need it. Terrible. So, I am going to focus on being less plugged in as much as I possibly can.

Hmm. So I guess that is it. I realize this matches everyone else in America's resolution list. But, hey, writing it down is usually the first step in accomplishing a goal. So, there you go!