On Ambition

Is it too late to write a post about my New Year's resolutions?

Nah.  Taking a quick look over my blog will show you that I'm pretty much late at blogging everything.

I mean, the Truth in the Tinsel series is still dangling out there.

The Theme Thursdays are woefully behind.

I didn't share anything about our Christmas. 

Hmm.  Perhaps I need to have another resolution added to the list...

 

Anyway, here's the list.  Some of them are more like reminders to myself, and of course I well know the dangers of setting myself up with too much to accomplish and not nearly enough time to get it done.  Nevertheless, it's something at least at which to aim.

 

FAMILY

1.  I would like to spend more time with each child individually.  Each one of my offspring are amazing and unique creatures (oh boy are they unique!), and I don't want to miss out on that one-on-one time with them.

2.  Naturally, I want to spend some more time with the Nerd also.  This would not include playing Star Wars on the computer or watching a bland TV show while playing games on our cell phones. (in case he reads this)  I want to set aside specific time every week that we invest in each other.  Hopefully, at least once this year, I will also make plans for us to get away together, just the two of us.

3.  Additionally, the plan is for me to stay more connected with the family that is scattered everywhere.  And I mean, everywhere!  Dear siblings in Florida and Pennsylvania and Ohio and Canada and Indiana, I want to invest in my relationships with each of you.  And all my wonderful nieces and nephews too. 

 

ORGANIZATION

1.  I dream of coming up with a doable, healthy meal plan and actually doing it consistently every month.  I've got a head start on January by having a day planned to cook several freezer meals.

2.  I need to figure out a new housecleaning schedule and chore system for the kids and stick to it.  The old one isn't working anymore.  I will gladly accept any and all ideas in this regard.

3.  I want to change up our homeschooling schedule and breathe a little "new life" in it, if you will.  I want to fully embrace this path we have chosen as a family and take advantage of every learning opportunity we encounter this year.

 

PERSONAL

1.  I desire to discover the Bible in a new way this year.  I've already started with the She Reads Truth program and am absorbing it all.

2.  I need to make some new friends this year!  This is an area in which I am sadly lacking, although I have a few close and therefore super-awesome friends.  I want to be intentional and purposeful about meeting people and building relationships with them.

3.  Since my life is not busy enough, I want to find a hobby or some outside activity to devote time to every week.  It might be a cooking class, a book club, a sport, or anything-just-to-get-me-out-of-the-house-and-be-social-and-away-from-my-kids.  This has not yet been decided.

4.  I have become extremely lazy in the areas of food and fitness in the past few months.  No longer!  I am back on track in both areas and resolve to continue in them throughout the year.  I am using Mark Lauren's book Body by You for my fitness program.  As for nutrition, I am keeping a food journal in which I record calorie intake as well as how much protein, carbs, fiber, and fat I am consuming to help keep it all balanced.  My sweet mother-in-law is helping keep me accountable to this journal.

 

OTHER

1.  I am seriously considering furthering my education.  I have my bachelor's degree in elementary education, but I would like to either get my masters in education or perhaps in special education.  The Nerd and I are discussing ways we can make this happen.

2.  Obviously, some sort of resolution needs to be made about this blog.  I need to stop committing myself to things like Theme Thursdays that consume a lot of time and try to write posts more organically.  In particular, I would like to focus more on this new faith journey I am on as well as our dealings with autism.  We will see how it goes!

 

I am hoping to be "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" as I seek to carry these resolutions out this year. (I Corinthians 15:58)

 

Happy 2013!

Bye Bye Baby Weight

Well, I suppose it's that time of year in which many people make their New Year's resolutions. I had originally thought that I would skip the whole resolution thing this year - too hard to keep and all. But then a very wise pastor mentioned a quote that I have heard from him several times: "If you aim at nothing, you will surely hit it every time."



And so I wrote down a list of goals for myself this year - specific goals for The Framed Frog and for myself as a wife and mother. I won't bore you with the whole list here.



However, I did make one goal that I know thousands of others make every year - to get healthier and lose weight. I am going to need all the help I can get - so I am mentioning it here to help keep myself accountable. :)



I have always been one of those people that didn't worry much about what I ate in the past. I was always very active; a cheeseburger here or a bowl of ice cream there never really affected my weight. It was bound to catch up with me eventually. Apparently having three babies in three years, eating junk food, and generally being lazy is the perfect equation for gaining weight. Who knew?! haha



I started putting on a few pounds earlier in 2009. I chalked those up to stress and the long hours of sitting and painting. Gradually the pounds added on throughout the year, but I didn't really notice in all my busyness. In December, though, when a former Sunday School student asked me if I was pregnant again, I definitely took notice. I weighed myself at home and was shocked to discover that I had gained ten pounds in the past six weeks!



It's time to stop avoiding it. It's time to face this beast head-on and stop the weight gain.

Here's my plan:

1) Get rid of the temptations. Currently there is a container of to-die-for Udderly Chocolate ice cream in the freezer and piles of Christmas candy on the table. No more!

2) Work out regularly again. With three little ones, there is little hope of getting to the gym, but I got the "Your Shape" for the Wii which is already kicking me hard.

3) Stop eating all the convenience foods that got me in this position in the first place.

4) Drink more water.

5) Once a week, post my current weight and progress (or lack thereof) on my blog.

So (deep breath here) here is my starting weight: 171.8 pounds.

Eek. My goal is to lose 25 pounds by June. I need your encouragement folks! Because that Reese's peanut butter cup is looking mighty good right about now...