Happy New Year! A new year. I just love a new year, don't you? It even feels brand new. Like a new pad of paper, having torn off the wrapper and opened the pages that are just waiting to be written! I only pray it's a good one.
This year we had several milestones. My oldest turned 16 and began driving. YIKES. She also bought her first car. Well, her dad bought it and she's making payments. My second oldest turned ten - no more single digits! She also got an iPhone. Okay, okay...I know. However, it was free and I like her having it. She's much more accessible and I have something to take away if she gets out of line. Our son, the youngest, started Kindergarten. I was more ready than he was, I think. He is doing well, but still has a lot of growing to do!
The year 2013 was supposed to be "my year". It was the last year of my thirties, the last year I would feel like a kid still, and the last year to make some lifestyle changes necessary to secure good health for 2014. Unfortunately, I failed miserably at that. So now, 2014 is "my year"! I'll be turning 40 in April, so the healthy changes need to be made ASAP. The rest will hopefully follow.
Goals for 2014:
Begin getting up early. I currently get up around 7:30, which gives us one hour for the kids and me to be ready to leave the house by 8:30. This leaves no time for exercise, quiet time, or breakfast. Usually we're rushing around, trying to get out the door on time. No bueno. Wanting that to change!
Spend more time with Jesus. I met Jesus when I was 24. He is my Rock, my Salvation, my Truth that keeps me hopeful that this world is not all there is. I'm just passing through. All I am is owed to Him. However, over the past few years we've lost touch. I want that back. As a friend of mine says, "I don't HAVE to spend time with Jesus, I NEED Him." I do. Every hour, just like the hymn says. I look forward to our mornings together and am praying for the strength to get up earlier. He is worth it, after all.
Lose Weight/Get Healthy. I am approximately 50lbs overweight. It is starting to take a dangerous toll on my health, as I have a small frame and a very poor heart history in my family. Blood pressure is already an issue, and I'm on medication to keep it and my heart rate down. I have heart palpitations if I don't take my meds, but they also cause water retention and therefore, a few extra pounds and some serious puffy. My cholesterol is okay, but borderline. I could stand to eat a lot less butter and carbs. My goal is at least 20lbs lost by my birthday in April. I think I can do it. I KNOW I can!
Be Nicer to My Kids. I'm a mean mom. I am, it's true. It is not at all what I want, but what I have sadly become. I yell at my kids and say snappy, judgemental things. I expect a lot from them and when they fail to meet those expectations, I'm not nice about it at all. I want that to change. I want my kids to remember me as kind and loving, to be respected, and to know they will be good moms to their kids, too. This one will be hard, but I'm committed. I love them and don't want them to remember me as a shrieking shrew.
Stop Using Bad Language. Besides being mean and yelling, sometimes if my orders/demands fall on deaf ears. Worse yet, they are given a response of mocking me or belligerent behavior. I get to where I feel I have to throw in a foul word for shock value to grab their attention. I don't want that. I really do NOT want that. Especially when I don't want them to use bad language. We'll have to work on this together.
I pray that I can measure up to the standards I've set forth for 2014. It will not be easy, but I want to look back and say, "I did it!" I want to claim that I got to wear that size 10 pair of pants to my birthday party. I want to wear that small swimsuit this summer (with no mommy skirt!). I want to ditch the BP meds for good. I want to learn all I can about Jesus and what He has in store for me. I want to be a good mom and wake refreshed and renewed every day! I want a good relationship with my kids, and to feel attractive again to my husband. Most of all, I want to feel like ME again.
Here's to 2014!! I'm ready, let's go.
