What's Ahead . . .

who knows? It seems I go into every new year with a plan and I'm excited about it. It lasts about 1 or 2 months and then life seems to take it's regular path and all goes back to the way it was, the way that's comfortable, the way that's mundane but safe. I end up staying in my comfort zone bubble and I like it, it's home to me.

However, it seems like I'm going through a bit of a mental epiphany in which I want change. The weirdest thing about me saying this is my personality has been anything but "change". I don't like it - at all!! I'm one of those people that wears the same jeans for three years until they get a hole in them, or the same coat until it gets replaced or gets too worn out, or remains the same "weight" because I can't seem to fix the mental devil in my mind that keeps telling me "just eat one more - what could it hurt, you've already have three of them what's one more." - I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I guess I'm tired of it!

So - this year I want change - even if it's small, I'm craving it!! The kind of change I want is a little unrealistic but I'm going to tell it you you anyways. I want to move (not necessarily out of Nampa - just to a different house). I want a older (o.k. - really old) farmhouse on some property (not much - just a few acres - enough where my kids can run free and play and explore), I want to have my own cow and chickens and maybe some sheep (cuz they're cute) and I would love to own a few horses ( but that is probably out of the question because my husband won't even agree to a big dog let alone a horse). I want to make my own bread, have my own milk (from the cow), eat my chicken's eggs (and maybe some of the chickens ;)). I also want a barn so that when we entertain large groups (I really do love to entertain) we can camp out in the barn and have dances and parties and lotsa fun!!!! - Ummmmm . . . . .

Even though I REALLY do want those things I mentioned above I realize that my "dream" house will never live up to what I have layed out in my mind. I'm sure that with an older home comes lots of problems - leaky pipes, mold, mice, leaky roof, etc . . . and with the animals comes upkeep - poop, cleaning up the chicken coop, dirty, smelly sheep, risking injury but dealing with a fussy milk-cow, or pecking chickens. Sooooo - I will begin this new year with a few less drastic changes - but changes nonetheless.

#1 - We took the Dave Ramsey's FPU course a few years back and we were able to keep a budget for about a year - and it helped a lot. We have somehow slacked off on the budget thing in the year 2010 and it hurt our finances so we are jumping back on the budget bandwagon and setting a budget for this coming year. Each month I will set a budget for the finances that we are guaranteed to get. One change that I am making is that I am going to take out cash for our groceries, eating out and entertainment - that should help us cut back because I can physically see the money leaving my hands.

#2 - Each month I am going to try and read three different books, a fiction, a children's chapter book and a self-help book. I don't really "do" self-help books due to the fact that I can be kind of proud and say that I don't need any help (in raising my children, being a good wife, a good Christian, a good teacher, eating healthy, etc . . .) but the reality is - I do need help and I'm going to force myself to read them - and hopefully be better for it! HOWEVER, as I just researched the top ten best sellers for self-help I realize that the world views "self-help" in a different way than I do because the top ten included books like, "how to love myself, How to pleasure myself and not feel guilty, how to make the most out of your life" - what??? Those books hold meaningless words to me due to the fact that I am a believer in Christ and my entire worth comes from Him, not some author that thinks they have it all figured out. So, I'm changing my "self-help" idea to Christian books on parenting, loving others, being a better wife, growing closer to God, etc . . .

#3 - Each month I'm going to make a different recipe that I've never made before. It's going to be a dinner meal and then a new dessert that I've never made before. I'm looking forward to breaking out of my comfort zone and seeing if I enjoy foods that I am unfamiliar with, or have never made before.

#4 - Each month I'm going to plan a family activity. Whether it's with our small family of four or if we include other family members to join in our fun. Each month will have a special activity that will involve family. I'm looking forward to it! Creating memories is one of my favorite things to do and sometimes I will look back on four months and realize that we have not done anything out of the ordinary.

#5 - Each month I am going to write a "hand-written" letter to one of my friends. I want to encourage people and tell them how much I appreciate them and who they are.

#6 - Each month I'm going to do a different craft activity. I'm going to try and utilize as many materials as I have already to lessen the cost of these projects. I'm also going to make them original - my own idea!!! One of my downfalls in the crafting world is to create things that others have created - nothing wrong with that but the satisfaction of creating it is plagued by the reality that it's not my own idea - I copied it!! I promise to share them with you even if they were complete disasters!!

#7 - I am going to be doing the HCG diet again beginning next week. I did it last year and lost 19 pounds in 23 days - crazy huh? However, the diet got the best of me and the "promise" that the pounds would stay off was another one of my fantasies. Didn't happen!! As the holidays crept closer, the scale crept higher. It was my own fault because I did not follow the diet properly - I hope to this time!! My goal is to do the diet twice, get to my goal weight and then maintain through the use of weight watchers. I'm actually looking forward to it.

#8 - Each month Jeremy and I are going to watch a new movie - one we've never seen!! Whether it's an old one or a new one in the theatre.

#9 - This year I am looking forward to doing some new Beth Moore bible studies at my church. I am excited to see how God is going to work in my life and even though this is not necessarily a "change" for me as far as going to bible studies, I'm changing my approach to bible studies and look forward to drawing closer to God and listening specifically for what he wants me to do with my life. I'm also going to change the way I pray for people - I hope to keep a prayer journal and monthly update it.

#10 - Each month Jeremy and I are going to buy something for our house. We have needed to upgrade different things in our home ever since we've moved in and we never seem to do it - so hopefully this will help. I will set aside a few bucks each month to do something for the house ( drapes for the kitchen, lighting fixtures replaced, doorknobs replaced, kitchen faucet replaced, shelves, etc . . .) I'm looking forward to how this house transforms in the coming year.

#10 - And to keep myself accountable for all of these shananigans I'm going to be keeping you posted on my blog. (I'm pretending a lot of people read it) I will give montly updates on the books I've read, recipes I've made, movies I've seen, pounds I've lost, bible studies I'm studying, family activities, letters I've written, crafts I've made, household items purchased and money I've saved. It should be fun!! And hopefully I can keep it up for 12 months.

I am planning on doing other "crazy" things like - making my own laundry detergent and my own dish soap. And also baking my own bread. I think I may change my hair more once I reach my goal weight, a different color or something weird, I don't know!! I'm looking forward to what this year is going to hold and the memories that will be made. Bring on 2011!!