New (School) Year's Resolutions 2013

It's hard to believe, but we've already been 'back-to-school' for two weeks!  And while I should (at least theoretically, right?) be getting TONS of stuff done now that I have an uninterrupted block of time each day, I already feel like I am falling behind.

 

 

Ugh!

Fall is such a fun/busy time of year for us, as I'm sure it is for everyone with school-aged kiddos.  But those weeks leading up to class are always a time of reflection and preparation for me.  So last year I decided to take some time to write down a few of my New (School) Year's Resolutions to make me more accountable and help keep me on track.  Like most resolutions though, I found myself having to look back at my post to even remember what they were.  {Sigh.}

Well, I nailed 1 and 5 - not a single tardy in 2nd grade and I did NOT sign up for any more volunteer activities - so there!  I was at least averaging 50% on 2, 3 and 6, so there's definitely some room for improvement - but at least I was moving in the right direction.

Sadly, 4 and 7 were total fails last year.  And of course in retrospect they do seem to be the most important (after the tardies - ha!).  Physical and spiritual well being for myself and my family deserve to be a priority, so consistent prayer and exercise will be returning to the list this year.  Hopefully I can build on my success from last year and move closer to the balanced life I, really we, are all striving for as moms.

So hear goes:

1.  I will exercise at least three of the 4 days each week that both littles are out of the house.  Exercise will resume its place of prominence in my life.  It is good for me and for everyone around me.  Like they say, 'When mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!'  To that end, I did carve out some time to reintroduce myself to our gym (ugh) today.  We'll probably never be BFFs, but at least we're back on track for a working relationship this school year!

2.  More than a blessing at breakfast continues to be hard for us, but it shouldn't mean that I don't spend some time with the Lord in the morning, even if (and perhaps better if) it's by myself.  I have been shopping posts about prayer journals recently and I think that's the way to go for me.  Since coming to this conclusion, almost every day I have been faced with a situation that I can do nothing about  . . . other than pray.  Such a humbling reminder of God's grace and the power of prayer.  I bought a notebook on Sunday.  It turned out to be a planner rather than a journal, but I will not be deterred so I am grabbing an old journal and getting started.  Who knows, I could be praying for you by the end of the (school) year!

3.  I will devote more time to sewing for my daughter while she still appreciates it.  I have more patterns and fabric than I could possibly ever use and will need grandchildren for some of them now (too many, maybe next years I'm afraid), but sewing has always been a pleasure of mine and I want to do it while I can.  And so I will.

4.  I will do more to prep for my volunteer activities and my evening meals in advance.  Enough said.

I would like to add something related to my bloggy life, like I will commit to two blog posts each week, but my heart is telling me that blogging may not top the list this year.  So, despite wanting to grow my readership, jazz up my layout and otherwise become a bloggess extraordinaire ( I mean who doesn't want that title?!), blogging may have to remain my musings for a while longer because I am 'busy' enough.  A friend of mine shared with me the definition of BUSY - have you heard it before?  BUSY stands for Being Under Satan's Yoke - that's pretty powerful stuff and something to think about this year.

I hope everyone has a great back-to school!  Slow down in those school zones and try not to get too busy!

Sharing this sassy story at some or all of these great parties: Under the Table and Dreaming, Totally Overflowing with Creativity, Three Mango Seeds, Classy Cutter, Serenity You, House of Hepworth, Skip to my Lou, LadyBug Blessings, Nap Time Creations, The Style Sisters, Polkadots on Pararde, Rae Gun Ramblings,Costal Charm, Not Just a Housewife, Domestically Speaking, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Sumos Sweet Stuff, The Gunny Sack, Gingersnap Crafts, Southern Lovely, Lil Luna, Someday Crafts, The NY Melrose Family, The DIY Dreamer, The Blackberry Vine, Homeworks, The Rustic Pig, Cornerstone Confessions, Kathe with an E, House on the Way, PJH Desgin, Glued to my Crafts, The Crafty Blog Stalker, Seven Alive, Made in a Day, Live Laugh and Love, A Creative Place, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Home and Gardens, It Happens In a Blink, I Gotta Create, Domestic Super Hero, All Pretty Things, Katie's Nesting Spot, 52 Mantels, Truly Lovely, Twinkle in the Eye, Happy Hour Projects, Six Sisters Stuff, Tutus and Tea Parties, Mop It Up Monday, Saturday Show and Tell, Moonlight and Mason Jars, The Scoop, Wow Us Wednesdays, Take-A-Look Tuesday