2017: Resolutions and My Word for the Year

So clearly I'm a little late to the game, 

but seeing as how it's still technically January and still early in the year, 

I've spent some time thinking about what I want from this year. 

The past three years of my life can be summed up in one little word: 

adoption. 

If I wasn't crying or praying or filling out paperwork then I was fundraising or planning or traveling to Africa. 

The aftermath of that? 

Well, who am I now?

What do I want to do next? 

How can I work towards something that will be as meaningful as that was? 

We don't feel called to adopt again, at least not any time soon. 

And while I would love to buy a one way ticket to the land I love, 

we aren't there yet either. 

And while there is a little something on the horizon (more details to come soon), 

WHAT'S NEXT is still a work in progress. 

Here's what I do know: 

I want this year to matter. 

Adoption (while totally worth it because EVIE) was hard and consuming. 

There are things I pushed aside while spending all that time filling out forms, 

and this year I am playing catch up, which leads me to my word for the year: 

INVEST. 

I want to invest more in my family. 

I want to invest more in my body.

(You try being paper pregnant for three years and let me now how well your jeans fit.)

I want to invest more in my friends. 

I want to invest more in my marriage. 

Here are some others things I'm dreaming about for 2017: 

-More reading time and less TV time. 

-More recognizing birthdays and important events in the lives of people I love. 

-More date nights. (Can  I get an AMEN?)

-More time in the Word. 

-More prayer time spent listening and less time spent talking. 

-More intentional memory making for our family. 

What are YOU resolving to do in 2017? 

Do tell. 

2012: What I'm Resolving NOT to Do This Year {Linky Party}

{You can find my list from last year here.}

I believe in the power of resolutions.

I think that by simply choosing to do or be better and then making note of it, whether it's through confiding in a friend, announcing it to the world via facebook or your blog, or simply writing it down and tucking it away in a place where only you will see it.
 I think that there's something to be said about wanting to be and do better.
 And I want to do both this year.

So, with that being said, here are the things I am aiming NOT to do in 2012: 

1. I will NOT let facebook by my only connection with the outside world.

I am so guilty of this. Instead of calling a friend or sending a card (which I'm afraid will soon be a long lost tradition), I check in on facebook. There's no real contact. There's no intimacy. There are so shared smiles, tears, or giggles. This year, I'm making more of an effort to keep up with those who are dear but perhaps not so near to me. There will be more phone calls, more e-mails, and more letters. Get ready.

2. I will NOT eat when I'm bored.

Although I am not terribly bad about this, I do want to be more conscious this year about eating when I'm truly hungry rather than when I'm truly bored.

3. I will NOT fail to comment.

I have failed miserably at this this past year.

I'll read a blog post, love it, be touched and moved by it, and yet I still fail to comment.

This year, if I enjoy reading what someone took the time to write, I will make an effort to tell them so. I am touched by those who comment on my blog, who let me know that someone out there took the time to read what I wrote and to peek into this little life of mine. And then to know that someone actually liked what I had to say....well, it's like the cherry on top. I want to be that little voice to someone else.

 Commenting, here I come.

4. I will NOT rush through my morning.

This is probably the biggest thing that I need to work on changing this year. You see, I wish I was that mom who got up early every morning, went for a run, came back and showered. Then I'd cook a big breakfast, and enjoy a cup of coffee while doing my morning devotion. All of this would be done before the kids even wake up, of course.

Well, it turns out that in real life, I am anything BUT that mom. I sleep 'til the last possible second, rush to get ready, get frustrated, and leave the house a frazzled mess.

While I'm not expecting a major revolution, I do realize that I am happier and more pleasant and have an overall better day when I get up just a little earlier in the moring and have more time to do my thang. My family deserves a mom who is friendly in the a.m., and this year I will be making an effort to give them that, at least more often than not.

5. I will NOT covet.

I want one of these....badly. And one day I will have one. But it's my turn to enter the magical camera world, I will sit patiently and will NOT waste my time being jealous of those who are clicking and editing away.

6. I will NOT watch more than I read.

I love to read. It's truly one of my all-time favorite activities. And yet in 2011, it often took a backseat to, of all things, the television. It's just so easy to pop in a movie or flip the channel and melt away my worries. But, what do I really gain from that? I'm not saying the tv is bad; it's not. But everything should be used in moderation, and moderation does not mean consuming most of my free time. This year I WILL read more than I watch. I've already made my list...and have already finished one book that is on it.

Now it's your turn.

I want to hear what you're wanting to do this year or resolving NOT to do this year.

Link up your resolutions, ladies {or gents, if there are any readers of the male variety out there}.

And then go and see what others are resolving to do in 2012.

And remember: a little encouragement goes a long way.

As for me? I'm ready to comment, so send your posts my way.

This link will be open for one week...so that means until next Tuesday, January 17th.

And if you want to link the post back to this post so that others can join in the fun, I'd certainly appreciate it.

Until then, happy resolution-ing to you and you and you.

Linking this post here, here,here, and here.

2011 Resolu-NOTS: HOW DID I DO?

Last year I vetoed making resolutions.

Instead, I resolved NOT to do a few things.

Turns out I'm pretty darn good at not doing things....

Here's a recap and a run down on how the whole 'not doing things' played out in 2011:

1. Be Made a Fool of by This Baby: FAIL

This baby knows how to play me like a fiddle.

All she has to do is smile that adorable smile and bat those pretty little lashes, and I'm all but putty in her little hands. Thankfully, her personality is one that needs very little discipline right now, so it works for us.

2. Not Break the Bank on Craft Supplies: SUCCESS!

While I did do my fair share of crafting this year, I did a much better job of using what I already had rather than spend, spend, spending every time I got a new idea. This is an exceptionally good thing seeing as how there's not a craft store within an hour's drive, so gas plus craft supplies bought on every whim could have been a very bad combination.

3. No More Eating Endless Amounts of Mint Oreos: SUCCESS!

While I'm not dieting or anything like that (not that I shouldn't be.....cough, cough), I have done better about being intentional when eating sweets. My go-to phrase for this:

IS IT WORTH THE CALORIES?

If the answer is no, then I simply don't eat it; it's as simple as that.

4. No Pouting Because I Want One of These: SUCCESS!

While I do still hope to drive around in one of these one day,

my sights are currently set on something that looks more like this:

5. No More Missed Opportunities: A BIT OF BOTH

While I have tried harder to take advantage of random fun moments, this was not the best health year for me what with the back issues and the liver-induced hospital stay. I will say though that I view these moments as more of a blessing now than I did this time last year.

6. No More Breakfast Bar Every. Single. Morning.: FAILURE

As a matter of fact, I ate one of these this morning. I have, however, tried harder to venture out on the weekends with home cooked breakfast. But, this may just be one of those 'the grass is always greener' situations that isn't necessarily the best fit for my family...at least not while the girls are still little.

7. No More Rainy Day Excuses: SUCCESS

We did do some playing in the rain this year.

This post is proof.

8. No More Missed Chances for Kitchen Dancing: SUCCESS!

In fact, there is now a radio in my kitchen for this very purpose.

9. No More Forgetting My I-pod: SUCCESS!

10. No Breaks in Reading: SUCCESS....kinda.

(Currently reading....)

While I have read pretty much non-stop all year, some of that has been strictly reading I've had to do for work (aka novels I'm teaching). Does that count? I'm thinking perhaps....

11. No More Feeding My Dear Blank Please Blank Addiction: SUCCESS and FAILURE all in one.....

While I have completely parted ways with dear blank please blank, I would say I currently suffer from a wee overdose of Pinterest...... but at least I'm not the only one.

I'll be posting my 2012 RESOLU-NOTS next week.....there will be a linky party for you to post your as well.

Raise your hand if you're excited.

And in case that's enough for you, tomorrow there will be a birthday party at my house for Hollyn while I celebrate turning thirty-two. That's a whole lot of birthday for one little house...

Happy weekend-ing to you and you and you.