A New Start-January Goals

I mentioned yesterday that I had some goals for 2012.  I hesitate to call them resolutions as I feel as if I'm setting myself up to fail.  But clearly, that's what they are.  The coming of the new year brings with it a sense of change so I'm stepping up and sharing with you some things I've been wanting to do in my own life for some time.

1.  Go to the gym/work out at least 5 X a week.  

I had a pretty good routine of 4 X per week going before Christmas hit so I'd like to bump that up a little bit to get in some more cardio.  With this goal also comes the obligatory goal of losing weight.  I put on some pounds during the holidays so I have some serious work to do.  I actually took a before shot of myself yesterday morning and intend on doing an after shot on my birthday (6/3/12) 5 months from now.  Lord, let me look better than I do right now.  It was not pretty.

2.  Read my Bible everyday.

When I was working I had the perfect set up.  I read the Word during my breaks and at lunch and finished the entire thing in a year.  But since then, I've kind of been lackluster in my reading.  And honestly, I've been lost at how to approach it.  I found a Bible I was gifted when I left my job in a different translation than my regular one so I'm excited to get into it.  It has a reading program in it so I think I will follow that for now.  My plan is to do it as soon as Natalie goes down for her first nap before something else comes up.  I started yesterday.  So far, so good!

3.  Give up pop.

I'm not a big pop drinker.  I gave up caffeine when I got pregnant and have pretty much stuck to it as I've continued with the breast feeding.  But some days I just really want one, you know?  I know water is much better for me so I'm going to try to bump up my intake of that instead.

4.  Organize recipes that are winners.

I'm a meal planner.  And probably uniquely so, I exclusively make new meals.  Okay, that's not entirely true...but for the most part I'm a one and done kind of girl.  I'm not sure why, but I just have so many recipes waiting to be tried that I have never even thought of keeping a list of those that we loved.  Kind of stupid when you think about it.  So I'm going to start a folder on my desktop to compile those I would make again.  And, you know, make them again.  Does anyone have any other easy way of keeping track of this?  The folder idea's all I've got.

5.  Finish Natalie's 1 year photo book, keep up with her baby book, and print pictures to put in albums.

I'm about half way through Natalie's photo book in Blurb, but I recently got a Shutterfly coupon code for a book so I'm not sure what to do.  Anyone made one on either of these sites?  Recommendations?  

I'm fairly good about keeping up with her baby book but I have yet to print any pictures to put in there.  I'd like to get that done.

Also, I do want to print out all of our pictures and keep them in really nice leather albums just so we have them.  Do any of you do this?  Suggestions for great albums to use?

6.  Get an Ohio driver's license.

Okay.  Confession.  I have lived in Ohio probably 6 years now and I still have an Indiana driver's license.  I know.  I'm hanging my head in shame.  I do have Ohio plates though, so that's a start!  I have lots of excuses as to why I haven't done this...such as I didn't want to do it when I was pregnant...or before I lost the weight...or I didn't want to take the lame written test.  But it's seriously, seriously time.

That's my list so far.  I want to check back every month to keep an updated list of how things are going and perhaps add some new idea that come to mind as the year progresses.  Keep me accountable, okay? 

The Journey is Far From Over

Today is a momentous day in my life.


Today I accomplished something I have wanted to do for many, many years.


Today, just a few minutes ago, I finished the last book...the last chapter...the last verse...of the Bible.


Remember when Facebook was all the rage with everyone's lists of their "25 Random Things About Me?" Mine included things like:

• My hands and feet are always freezing. They seem to be the chilliest just before I go to bed. I like to put them on my husband in bed and watch him squirm. It's one of my favorite things.

• I am weirdly obsessed with keeping things clean and organized....like the DVR...I want it to be at 0% capacity so bad...but Matt keeps recording stuff and never erases it. It's one of my biggest pet peeves. I also have to have my e-mail Inbox cleaned out everyday and all of my saved e-mailed organized into folders. I know...it's weird.

• I was Valedictorian of my high school class.

• I miss my puppy and think about her still almost everyday.

• I screen my phone calls. I really just hate the phone. I only call people back if they leave me a message...and usually it takes a few days for that.

• My best friend at work is a 60 year old man with one leg...no joke...he's awesome!
  

Well, unlike my list of completely irrelevant facts, I read a list of one of my "friends" (AKA girl from high school I never talked to) and she said:

• I read the Holy Bible cover to cover last year.

Whoa! Now that's something! I screen my phone calls and this girl read the whole Bible?

Not everyone knows my religious background...or how I came to believe what I believe...but it was not something I grew up with. I wasn't the girl who knew the stories from the Bible she learned in Sunday School. I didn't go to Sunday School. I was the teenager in church who was hearing things for the first time and not understanding how they fit. I desperately wanted to know but felt completely lost and overwhelmed by the daunting task of reading something so intimidating.

But this was my wake up call. I actually knew someone who had sat down and just read. Cover to cover. The entire Bible. Why couldn't I do it too? Plus I had just finished Breaking Dawn which was a huge book so how much longer could it really take me to read a few hundred more pages, right? (Unfortunately, this is actually what I thought.)

Well, clearly it took me much longer than a few weeks. It took me just over a year of reading everyday during my break times at work. It was a time already carved out that I could do something useful. I am now officially, "the girl who reads her Bible in the cafeteria." And you know what? I'm okay with it.

I know that God has made it possible for me to do this. I feel more mature in my faith and I have such a better understanding of my purpose than I did before. I feel changed. I feel fantastic.

Now I am in no way ending my journey here. I haven't exactly decided what type of study I am going to pursue next...but I'm on the hunt (any suggestions?!?). I understand that being in the word is a daily task I need to continue that will only strengthen my faith and relationship with God.

I wanted to share this with all of you because:

If you haven't done it....now YOU know someone who has...and you can too!

If you have done it...know you have been an inspiration to me. I never imagined that blogging could so deeply encourage my walk as a Christian but I have met some amazing women who are such an example to me and I thank you so much for the impact you have had on my life.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Weekend Roudup!

Good morning my friends!

I must admit...I am pooped.

My weekend was jam packed with cleaning. And not just the...oh I'm gonna vacuum and pick up the area cleaning. Oh no. More like I'm gonna scrub all of the cabinets, wash every floor in the house, dust all wooden services, and clean the windows outside kind of clean. Yeah.

Saturday I woke up early-ish and went to the gym. I reappeared at Zumba for the first time in months and it was hard! Fun...but hard! After that, I set out to clean. I got one room done and then passed out :) I know. Sad. But I woke up to watch the final minutes of the Purdue/Michigan game...which I had previously turned off because it was making me throw up. But in stunning fashion, my Boilermakers stepped it up and actually won a game :) Boiler up!

source

After my nap, I hit the ground running with some serious cleaning. And I caught Dirty Dancing on TV which actually brought a few tears to my eyes seeing little ole Patrick in his prime. But can I just tell you one thing? Okay, I have been watching Dirty Dancing for a bazillion years. Yes. A bazillion. It is my favorite movie of all time...by far. But when I was watching it on ABC Family...there were parts in there that I had never. seen. before. I am more than upset about this. I think traumatized would be a better word. So is ABC Family showing some director's cut that I do not have? Why does my VHS and DVD not have these scenes?? And it wasn't just one scene. I would say at least 5 scenes in the movie I had never even seen before. My heart hurts at this development because I can no longer legitimately say I know every word to this movie. (insert sad face here)

source

Anyways...I spent the remainder of my Saturday night sorting and organizing papers, shredding, and paying bills. Exciting...I know.

As a hilarious side note, I turned off Saturday night football when Matt fell asleep on the couch to the only other watchable program...The Prince & Me II: The Royal Wedding....of course. Matt woke up soon after and we headed to bed. Yes, we have a TV in our room, and yes, we love it. Sue us. So we had the movie on in the bedroom and my dear, sweet, lovable husband watched the entire rest of the movie. I, however, fell asleep in 5.2 seconds. And you want to know the cutest thing? He told me all about the movie in the morning. Ha! Sometimes my heart literally bursts with love for him.

source

Sunday was spent doing more cleaning and attempting to assist Matt in crafting our own box spring (minus the springs) for our new mattress. And we'll just leave it at that because it did not go well.

So today I would love to spend lounging....but I am at work. And I have another freaking Junior League event tonight. And I have to squeeze a trip to the gym in there somewhere as well. Ah, my glamorous life. Good thing I wouldn't have it any other way :) I guess God really does give you all you need :)

And speaking of God...I finished the Old Testament today! I cannot wait to start reading about Jesus! Eek! I can't believe I made it through!

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! What did you do????