Wednesday, December 30, 2009

2010: Here I Come!

I'm not big on making New Years Resolutions. I never have been. But this year I'd like to set some goals for myself in the new year. Call them resolutions if you will. I will, however, refer to them as Jenny's List of Ways to Improve Her Life-2010.

1. Attend church every Sunday (or at least on a regular basis)
The church we currently attend is approximately 45 minutes away from our house. Although I love it and think there are so many things there for us, it's just come to be too far for me. It's so easy to not go when the weather is bad or when we're tired and know we have to get up even earlier for services just to drive there. And I am not able to get involved the way I would like to because going there during the week just isn't possible. Which brings me to my next point:

2. Find a new church in close proximity to where I live and get involved!
I was raised Catholic and Matt is a Southern Baptist so we have quite different backgrounds when it comes to church settings. Although I've made the decision to follow a different path with my religion, the structure and history of the Catholic church is something in which I find comfort. But, I also love worship songs and live music and hearing preaching directly from the Bible. Clearly I have my work cut out for me!

3. Not worry so much about what the scale says
Aside from the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I live and breathe by the scale. There was a time when I weighed myself every single day. I was down to once a week before Thanksgiving, but I began to realize just how much that little (or big!) number was reflecting my mood. I want to pay more attention to how my clothes are fitting and how I feel instead of focusing so much on the pounds. I don't expect to give up the scale completely, but I'd like to limit myself to once a month if even that.

4. Eat healthier and cut back on sweets
Although I don't want the number on the scale to dictate whether I have a good day or not, that does not mean that I don't want to lose weight. I want to live a healthier life and put food into my body that reflects that. I'm also a HUGE sugar-holic and I'd love to see the packaged snack goods disappear from my diet (and my pantry!).

5. Be a better friend
I have a tendency to complain about not having any friends or that the friends I do have suck. Well, perhaps I am not as fabulous of a friend as I think. I want to make an effort to talk to my friends back home more often. I never call. I hate the phone. But I shouldn't expect them to always call me and take the initiative. I'm setting a goal of calling my BFF once a week. Also, I want to build better relationships with the women I have met here in Cleveland. I'm going to make more of an effort to plan things for us to do without our husbands. It's time I made some girlfriends. Period.

6. Formulate a workout schedule
Between being sick and the holiday season, I haven't been to the gym in a long time. I really long time. I'd like to get to the gym at least 4 times a week.

7. Run a 5K
I battled through a running program not that long ago so I'd like to dust that program off and really concentrate on following it through to completion. Plus, I'd like it to take me less than 45 minutes to run it :)

8. Have a baby
This is the year. The year we start trying to expand our little family. Although this is a goal in which I have very little control, I'm putting it out there as my prayer to God (who reads my blog...of this I am certain) that I am beyond ready for my little miracle.

So spill it...what is your "list of ways to improve your life??"

22 comments:

d.a.r. said...

I love, love, love this!!! And oh my goodness, I cannot wait to hear the news that God blessed yall with a little one!

Oh girl, I am with you on the friends thing. I just hate the phone. I will fly to come see you, and email you all day long, but I freakin' hate talking on the phone.

Heather (Live.Love.Laugh.) said...

Your list looks just like mine!! I am doing a half marathon in June and we are trying for a baby this year too :-) Best of luck!

Jackie said...

What a great list. Very practical and attainable :) Once you find a church that is close and that you enjoy attending it will be so easy to go every week. And I hate the phone too ;)

Brittany Ann said...

Praying with you over all your New Years resolutions!

Here's the to the Year of the Baby, as I'm calling it!

jenn said...

i love these. i'm with you on the being a better friend thing. i have so many friends who i love and adore - yet rarely find the time to call. and then i say i'm 'too busy' which in reality - isn't true - i just despise the phone. that is definitely one of mine this year is just to be a better friend in general.

and you KNOW i'm all about you & the baby thing, even if they do ruin everything ;)

Lucy Marie said...

God definitely reads your blog! I heard that He's huge on the blogging scheme. 2010 is going to be an amazing year for you - I am so excited to be a part of it, in someway! I am so blessed by you!

The Shabby Princess said...

Ok, first of all, you are a fabulous friend. I can't believe you're even second guessing that! Girl, when I was dying there at mile 17 of my marathon, I was thinking of how much you encouraged me and I couldn't come back the next week and tell you "nope, I didn't finish". You're am AMAZING friend. I love you!! Now, we just need to sort out this whole I live in Texas and you live in Ohio thing.

And, I'm a total sugar-holic as well. Not good. I could live on fruits and veggies--and sugar. Really, I need my gummi or chocolate fix like 10 times a day. Explains why I no longer fit into my skinny jeans.

Annnnd, I'm so excited that you're ready to have a baby! Is that weird? I love that my friends are all becoming mommies. YAY!

Taylor-Made Wife said...

We are so on the same page with almost all of these. My advice on the working out thing- Find something you really enjoy. I am a decent runner so I kept thinking that is what I needed to do to stay in shape. Problem is I get really bored really fast. Then I tried spinning. I am freaking addicted. Good luck with everything! Keep us all updated on the baby thing. We are thinking we will start trying mid-year.

5th Belle Avenue said...

AHHH what a GREAT list! I am so excited for you guys as you make the decision to start trying to expand your sweet little family! I can't wait for updates! And I love how you don't want the scale to dicatate your moods, and instead want to focus on how you FEEL. AMEN, SISTA'! Have an AMAZING time celebrating NYE and NYDay!

Naturally Caffeinated Family said...

Yes yes yes! I could have written almost your whole list! I'm with you girl! Hubby and I are wanting to do a race too, we're starting to go to a church closer to our new house (on my blog today:)), you know I love sweets!, yes to getting back to more healthy eating again, and try not to let my mood affected by that scale, and I can't WAIT to hear about some exciting baby news!!! Happy New Year!

Kristen said...

I can't wait for you to experience the joys of expanding your family! How exciting! 5K's are definitely my goal for this year, I'm so excited to get started on that one!

Lora said...

Found myself nodding in agreement with much of your post! Except a ring is necessary before a baby :)

I have a good friend in Ohio who was raised Catholic but has gone to several Protestant fellowship groups and services...I may be able to find out if she knows of any churches that would fit the bill in your area!

Classy Fab Sarah said...

Sounds like 2010 is going to be a fabulous year!

A New England Girl said...

What an awesome list of things to look forward to for 2010. :) You are such a wonderfully amazing person and you deserve everything you want... And those goals and new practices you put into place, I hope they bring you all the happiness in th world. :) I'm most excited about the thought of you guys expanding your family - how wonderful!! :) Enjoy the last day of 2009 - this new year is going to be a busy one for you, sweet friend. :) xoxox.

Cory and Mallory said...

You've got an awesome 2010 in store. We have some of the same "improvements" to make! Best of luck to you, you'll do awesome!

Newlywed Next Door said...

OMG - we would so be friends in real life! We have so much in common -- I was raised Catholic and my Husband was Southern Baptist. We used to travel that far to church and after years we got burt out. We found a local church in our area that we went to but never really liked and then spent months praying for a new church. The Summer a new church planted in Long Beach THREE BLOCKS away from us! We've been going there for 5 months and LOVE IT. Definitely pray about where to go to church. God will guide you.

RE: the Friends thing. I feel the same way about my friends a lot. I also HATE using the phone. So funny. Good reminder that I should work on being a better friend too.

Finally... BABY! YAY! I'm so happy for you guys. I would so want to have a baby in 2010 -- but we're just ready career and financially. Might be 2011 or 2012 for us (God willing too).

Glad we got to be bloggy friends this year! Xoxo!

katie said...

this is a great post! i have many of the same resolutions, and i didn't realize someone had the same scale problem as i do!

Megan said...

My husband was raised Catholic & I was raised southern Baptist... We currently attend a contemporary Baptist church and LOVE it! ...YAY for 2010 being the year to start trying for a baby!!

Aaron [air] said...

I just became a new follower of your blog. I love that you called your resolutions goals as well. I just did the same thing today! I look forward to reading your blog!

Shaina said...

BABY BABY BABY YAYYYYY! I can't wait for this day to occur. :)

Your goals are wonderful and totally attainable. Love you!

MrsMis said...

How about ringing in the new year with an award?? I've nominated you for one :) Stop by to claim your prize

ps. A baby sounds like a wonderful idea!!

Tasha said...

Great resolutions! I'm so excited that you guys are thinking about babies. Yay!