Resolutions #3 and #4....

Resolution #3:
Sleep.  More.
Get in my room on time. 
Then, I'll most likely be to bed on time. 
Which will enable me to get up on time. 
And I won't be grumpy as often. 
My husband and kids will thank me for this one.

Resolution #4:
Read more.  I know it's not the highest of aspirations to only plan on reading 8 books in one year.  But give me a break, people.  It's about the best I can hope for at this stage in my life.

Currently I am reading (and enjoying!):

The Well-Versed Family by Caroline Boykin is really good!  I heard her speak here in the Dallas area recently and was really moved by her heart.  Her book is about practical ways to help get scripture into the hearts and minds of our kids.  I've been putting some of her ideas into practice and my kids are responding beautifully.  There is nothing more precious to me than watching my kids internalize the Word of God. 

My rating (thus far):  5 out of 5.

I am also finishing up:

Fascinating Womanhood is about marriage and how to become "fascinating" to your man.  It's chocked full of great information and practical applications...and isn't for someone who is the least bit feminist.  I'm learning a lot and enjoying it immensely, but also know full well that several years ago, it quite possibly might have offended me immensely. :)

My rating 4.5 out of 5.

I better go...I'm supposed to be reading......

Resolution #2...as much as I hate to admit it!

For only the 2nd time in my 40 years of life, I am adding the resolution to get in shape (along with the rest of America) in 2010.  Actually, for only the 2nd time in my life, have I needed to.  I know, I know...before you log off now due to irritation, please know that there is a difference between FIT skinny and UNFIT skinny.  I may have been skinny most of my life...but definitely not always fit!  Regardless, now....I am 40....and neither fit NOR skinny.  Nice. 

So, I have a plan in place.  I actually gave myself until Monday, the 4th, to start....so I get one more day to indulge in fattening delights!  Nine years ago, I undertook the Body for Life challenge. It's a 3-month nutrition and exercise plan....and fairly easy to do.   I really liked it...and loved the results I got.   So now at 40 (and two babies later), I will try once more.

Today I took care of planning out the menu Bill and I will eat next week...and bought all the groceries.  We're set and ready to go!  I'll update you mid-week next week, when I feel like I've been hit by a mack truck.

I must admit, although I am looking forward to feeling like I look better....my main reason nine years later for doing this program again is to be healthy.  I want to take care of that which God has given me.  I will do my part to see that my sweet boys have a healthy, present Mom...and Bill has a vibrant, energy-filled wife.  If I get to actually wear a bikini this summer, then that is just a bonus.

What about you?  Do you have any fitness goals this year?

Simple Resolutions

I told you I'm a New Year's Resolution maker.  I thought I'd take a few of them and share them with you in the next few days.  I'd love to let you know what God has laid on our hearts around here for twenty ten.  Maybe I'm telling you so you can offer some encouragement...or maybe because if I speak the words out loud in writing, then I have to follow through.  :)  Either way, thanks for letting me share. 

In two thousand nine, Crystal offered much inspiration to me in the ways of frugal living.  I'm so thankful I found her blog! She has been a true blessing. In this post, she talked about how she and her husband saved up cash to buy their first house this next year.  She started out 2009 with 33% saved.  And ended the year with 100% saved.  Amazing!  So she inspired me and got me to thinking....

It's been awhile since I posted about our debt payoff journey.  The last time I posted (in June), we were at 64% to our goal.  Since that time, we have had some major set-backs financially.  My husband's job became 100% full-commission, as he is trying to build a business in a recession.  That scared me.  But it didn't scare God.  It didn't even make Him flinch. 

I could recount time after time of God's faithfulness to our family during the past several months.  No, we haven't received an official paycheck since September, but we've not missed one payment thus far, not put anything on a credit card, not missed a meal and had a beautiful, sweet Christmas.  God is so faithful! 

And looking back, it is amazing.  Since the last post, we have even moved from 64% to 74% of our goal!  How is that even possible?!  God is so good. 

So...the number one resolution in this house for this year is:  DEBT PAYOFF. 
This is it.  There is a line drawn in the sand. 

My personal theme for this year as well is SIMPLIFY.  This should be easy in the realm of our financial goals.  Life can't get too complicated and busy when you have to say "NO" a lot.  We will have one more year of participating in less, so we can walk out of twenty ten debt free, by the grace of God!

In future posts, I will share with you some of the ways we plan to make that happen this year.  I also eagerly anticipate God showing up~again~in big and small ways.

Do you have any goals this next year relating to finances in particular?