Warning! LONG post ahead!
Aaron and I were recently discussing resolutions. We have never really made any together and he thought that this year we should try to come up with some that would involve our entire family. A few that I immediately thought of were:
- Have a date night one night a month. Even if it is just out to grab a cup of coffee.
- Work with the homeless shelter or the Little Willy Center (center for kids).
- Spend more quality time together as a family.
We haven’t “officially” set our resolutions in stone yet. Still thinking on a few. I found these 20 questions over at Simple Mom that help you to reflect on your year and to think about for the new year. My answers are in red!
Vision Questions for 2010
1. What skill do you most want to learn this year? Sewing….I know how but would like to get a new machine and improve on my skills!
2. What is one skill you already have that you’d like to improve this year? Photography. There is always more to learn about my favorite hobby!
3. Name three books you most definitely want to read in 2009. Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer (have started but not finished yet). She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb (been sitting on my shelf for 2 years and I haven’t got to reading it yet) and the Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder (with the girls).
4. In what specific area do you most want to encourage your spouse? What are some ways you can do this? In his work and in his desire to build relationships with new people that do not know Christ. I can PRAY more for him because I don’t do that nearly enough. I can try not to get too possessive and jealous of my time with him!
5. Think of one of your major life goals. What will you do this year to make you one step closer to reaching that goal? Wow. A major life goal. Well one of them is to raise my 3 girls to know and love Jesus. This year I need to focus more on teaching them about what it means to BE like Christ. I need to be a better example of that to them.
6. Name your kids’ biggest strengths. What are some ways you can specifically nourish those strengths? Annagrace is very smart and very helpful. She is also very caring. Madalyn is very intuitive. She can sense when someone is having a bad day and she loves to give hugs and wants to make things “all better”. Layla…well…her biggest strength is she sleeps through the night now….sometimes! I want our family to do more for the poor and less fortunate this year. Some changes are coming with my job that will give us more “wiggle room” in our budget. This will give us the abiliaty to give money to the homeless man at McDonald’s. We can buy groceries for a family that is struggling. We can do things for others and in the process nourish our children’s caring natures.
7. Name your kids’ most prominent weakness. What are some ways you can encourage their ability to overcome it? Annagrace is way too sensitive at times. Madalyn can be very stubborn and mean at times. I want Annagrace to grow up to be a strong, independent woman. I don’t really know how to make her tougher because she gets her sensitivity from me! As far as Madalyn….I think we really need to work on the “good girl” chart more this year!
8. What is one of your strengths? Think of some specific ways you can exercise it this year. I really care about the less fortunate. And in this economy the lines between the “less fortunate” and the “well off” have really become blurred. I’ve already mentioned that I want us to get involved in some type of charity work such as the homeless center or the local kid’s center. Beyond that I am not sure.
9. What is one of your weaknesses? Brainstorm some ideas on how you can overcome this deficiency. Like Annagrace, I am highly sensitive. I get my feelings hurt way too easily. I cry too easily. I sometimes dwell on things too long that others would let roll off their backs. I have always been like this. I honestly have no idea how to “overcome” this deficiency. If any of you out there have any tips, feel free to send them my way.
10. Think of an important relationship aside from your spouse and children. How will you nurture that relationship this year? I have made some new friends since we moved (hello Gina and Frances!) and I want to spend more time with them and their families in 2010. ‘Cause we love those Browns and Dunns. 🙂
11. Name a few ways your physical health could be improved. Only a few?! I definitely need to get back to eating healthfully. That went right out the door the month I found out I was preggers. I also need to start exercising again. We got the Biggest Loser Wii game for Christmas and Aaron and I both plan to use it. We also have talked about the entire family becoming more active. We have bikes that we love to ride and we plan to take lots more walks this year!
12. Name a few ways your family’s financial health could be improved. Well it is ALMOST official. Starting in January I will be changing positions at work to a full time salaried position. I will be the weekend on-call nurse from Friday at 5pm until Monday morning. I thought all day about the pros and cons and the pros are too many that I can’t turn the offer down. So financially we are going to be in a MUCH better place. In addition to that, we will continue to forego cable and a home phone. I will get back to my couponing and CVSing. We will stay on a budget. We will pay off our medical bills. We will put a major DENT in our car loan. Just because we have more money, does not mean we will live like we do. I want to continue to be frugal and to become even better stewards of our money!
13. In what way do you want to draw closer to God? I want to talk to Him more. I want read His word more. I want to become more like Jesus. I want to think more like Jesus. I want to act more like Jesus.
14. What is one area of home management that frustrates you? Think of some specific ways you could improve your attitude about it. I don’t know about home management but my home in general is frustrating me. I have closets that need to be organized. Bins of clothes thrown haphazardly in the attic. A shed that is overflowing with junk and toys and tools. Kitchen cabinets that are a nightmare. I want to do a major Spring cleaning/Organizing overhaul of the entire house. I long for the day when there is a place for everything and everything is in it’s place. My stress level is much more manageable when things are organized and labeled. Weird, I know.
15. Have you ever created a family mission statement with your spouse? If so, why not do one for this year? No. But this is a fabulous idea! Last year I chose a word for myself (“Simplify”). I’ll have to talk to Aaron about this and come up with something!
16. Name one specific thing you could do with your spouse this year that will deepen your intimacy. Spend more time together without the kids. We don’t go on enough dates. We don’t spend enough time just talking to each other. We both know we need to improve in this area!
17. What is something that is continually undone in your life? What will you do to fully complete it this year? Well this is sort of along those lines….our bills are always late. Not like, 2 weeks late. But for instance the car payment. If I pay it on time and mail it in then I don’t have to pay a processing charge. If I wait until the last minute (which I do almost every month) I have to pay a $12 fee to pay it over the phone. I hate that stupid $12 fee. This year I will be more responsible in paying our bills on time!
18. In what ways will you be involved with your local community? Already mentioned several times above!
19. What is one thing you’d like to accomplish by your birthday this year? I would like to finish painting the house. We still need to work on the kitchen, dining room, living room and our bedroom. I hope to get all that done by July 10!
20. Think of three words you’d like to describe your 2010. Happy. Healthy. Peaceful.
Counting My Pennies 