So, I mean, Happy New Year and errythang.

In years past, I’ve always made resolutions that, while made with good intentions, never quite made it after day one. I always broke them around lunchtime. On New Year’s Day. They were bachelorettes in tacky dresses and weird tan lines that never got a rose in episode 1 and then cried about missing out on their ONE.TRUE.LOVE. So THIS year, I’ve decided not to make any resolutions at all. I think I’d just be setting myself up for failure if I did and let’s be honest; I have too much respect for myself for that nonsense. So, rather than decree a host of unattainable falsities, I decided that I will just try to be better at everything I do. Sounds easy enough, right? WRONG. In my mind I’d envisioned things like, “I’ll clean one room a night so I don’t spend all weekend cleaning house” or “I’ll blog every day come heck or high water” or “I’ll bathe the kids every night”. They all sound like great ideas, but when your body is formed entirely of coffee, charm, procrastination, and sparkles AS IS MINE, it tends to make even the best idea fall flat. It’s like I baked up bread with no yeast is what I’m saying.

See, I tend to start projects and not finish. Despite all my good intentions, I have the stickability of a booger. You know, it sticks for awhile, but eventually it dries up and flakes off? I have toddlers so I can totally use that analogy without guilt. I know boogers. Fortunately, there are a few exceptions to which I am fully committed:

My God.
My family.
My job.
My friends.

(I’d like to add “My health” to this, but I’d be lying to you all.)

Unfortunately, they are not always in that exact order. This is what I hope to establish this year: Order to My Life. I want to learn to seek God with everything that I have and not with what’s left at the end of the day. I want to be the wife and mother that my family deserves. I make to get back to couponing again and preparing homemade meals with love. I want my work life to be a shining example of Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters….” I want to make an effort at strengthening my existing friendships and maybe even branching out to make new ones. I want to improve my health by establishing a healthy lifestyle. Now, I don’t drink or do drugs, but my sedentary lifestyle and my love for all things candy isn’t conducive to good health. It’s just not. Plus, I spend an awful lot of time with my kids and for my mental well-being I need to learn to take time for myself. Please understand that this is not meant to sound like a bad thing – it’s wonderful! My kids are awesome! My kids are the poster children of GOOD! KIDS! – But I do need some time to myself. And time with my husband. I also need a hobby; i.e.: running, blogging, photography, ice fishing in Minnesota, etc. Now I’ll confess that it’s a coin toss as to whether or not that hobby will stick (Like a booger), but I need to at least try. I mean, one can only take a certain amount of Barbie dolls and Elmo in a day. That's a fat lie too- I could play Barbies ALL.DAY.EVERY.DAY. It's in my nature, but Elmo? That's where I draw the line. Plus, if you've ever met my kids you would understand that my spending 15 minutes to myself each night would not socially impair or scar them for life in any way, shape or form. They are independent; more so, from me than I am of them. They would be just fine.

Wish me luck!
~cp