Resolutions

New Years...

A new year, a fresh start.

A second chance.

A new beginning.

An opportunity to reset yourself, 

make things right.

Self-reflection,

looking into the past and setting goals for the future. 

I love it.

My goals are both light and deep.

My husband says why wait for the new year to make a change,

if you want to do it then do it.

I totally agree,

but something about the new calendar year

forces us to recollect, and reconnect with ourselves.

Here's what's on my resolution list,

would you share yours?

* be mindful of what I put into my body

(hear, see, eat)

*spiritual growth

(spend time reading, journaling, being still {I am terrible at being still})

*keep my house clean consistently

(so I don't feel like I'm playing catch up all the time!)

*be purposeful

(time, money, relationships. More talking, less social media. Pick up a book, put down the mouse.)

*read more

(I love reading, yet it takes me so long to get through a book!)

*minimize!

(my weight and clutter)

*get down and dirty

(I have a quality time girl, I need to get down to her level and play. 

Contradictory to my other resolution, dishes can wait Claire will not.)

*creativity
Learn to make beautiful things.

Blessings to you for 2013!

Family Planning

Yesterday at MOPS 

we talked about raising a purposeful family.

Beginning with the end in mind,

looking at the big picture.

What does our family look like to outsiders?

How do they describe us?

What is our family known for? 

Who do we hope our kids will be in 10 years? 20 years?

What are our family core values?

As I'm sure you can imagine,

this sparked some great discussions.

We were given worksheets so we can 

'map out our destination'

so I brought it home.

Last night over tea Spencer and I discussed

our goals and dreams for our family,

and specifically our kids.

As parents we have a big impact

(along with many outside influences like teachers and friends)

on shaping our children, a huge responsibility.

It was exciting (and a little bit scary)

to think about Claire and our other future children as teenagers,

adults and eventually mommies and daddies raising their own families.

We talked about what kinds of things we hope they take

from their experiences, lessons and opportunities

to teach to their own kids.

One of the activities was to finish these sentences for your family -

We will, We won't and We Try To.

Thinking about your own family, 

how would you finish these sentences?

Even if you don't have kids,

or your kids are already grown,

you can still complete them.

We had quite a few for each, but I will give you just a few examples.

We Try To

live a life pleasing to Jesus and obey his commands,

discern between needs and wants.

We Will

work hard, 

live a missional life,

encourage each other

We Won't

talk down to one another,

give up

How would you finish that sentence?

I'd love to hear.

It was almost two years ago that we found out

we were pregnant.

It has gone by so fast.

When I think 10 years into the future

and know that Claire will be ELEVEN it freaks me out.

My mom said it best

(always providing words of wisdom on days that I seem to need it most),

"The days are long but the years are short."

Amen, Mama.