Resolute Resolutions

New Year's resolutions can be a blessing and a curse. Every year they are made and broken, but on very rare occasions they produce lifelong habits that enrich our lives. At the end of 2011, after a lot of prayer and heart searching, I decided to write out some resolutions, or goals I have for 2012.

My first goal for 2012 is to re-read and implement Managers of Their Homes (MOTH). A few years ago I read MOTH and what a blessing! It was full of practical scheduling ideas for families. Encouraging quotes from other moms are dispersed throughout the book along with many example schedules. What did that do for me? It fired me up about organizing my time! After all who hasn't wished they could look at another mom's schedule for inspiration. This book caused me to get so excited that I included it in my Homemaking Five Fat File (More about this in a future blog.) I have even started putting together a Home Management presentation incorporating things I have learned from MOTH.

Another goal is to make uplifting music a part of our everyday lives.  "Let there be singing in the home, of songs that are sweet and pure, and there will be fewer words of censure and more of cheerfulness and hope and joy." (Education, p. 167) I would love for my home to have more cheerfulness, hope and joy. In fact, I've made that a prayer for my home this year. I have started singing while working around the house and encouraging the children to join me. I really enjoy the Peasall Sisters' Home To You.  At first the kids complained, but soon they started asking me to play their favorite song from the album. The harmony is beautiful!

A few years ago I read a little book by Bill Gothard called The Power of Spoken Blessings.
I know our words, especially those spoken to our children, are so powerful. I also know that I don't always "open (my) mouth in wisdom and the teaching of kindness" (Proverbs 31:26) isn't always on my tongue. This year I am praying for divine help to change that. Therefore, my third goal this year is to think before I speak and ask myself, "Will this be a blessing to the hearer?" If the answer is no then those words will go unsaid.

The Bible tells us that "A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad the spirit is broken." (Proverbs 15:13) Sometimes my three year old son looks at my face and asks, "Mama, are you mad?" Now, there are times when I'm just intent upon what I am doing, but other times my face is accuartely reflecting what is going on in my heart. Do my children think I am angry at them because the thoughts I'm dwelling upon translate to my expression, tone and body language? An honest answer to that would be, yes. That's why I have made it a goal to think positively this year. A few years ago my women's group read a book called Becoming the Woman I Want To Be. In her book, Donna Partow taught us to use Bible-based affirmations as a part of our daily mind renewal. (Romans 12:2) One of my favorite affirmations is based on Luke 1:37. "I know that nothing is impossible with God. He is able to transform my life from the inside out." Becoming the Woman I Want To Be, p.66. How can you not think positively when dwelling on thoughts like that?

At the end of 2011 I started reading a book that would seriously challenge some of my longheld beliefs. Passionate Housewives, Desperate For God sent my emotions spinning. Hope, discouragement, anger, resentment and liberation were all swirling through me. One night I was sitting on the couch reading and had an intense desire to throw the book across the room. Instead, I continued reading and had an epiphany. God wants me to serve my family and let Him worry about meeting my needs. I have caught myself getting upset as I gaze upon the dirty dishes, scattered toys, piles of laundry and messy counters. I feel taken advantage of and defeated. What God taught me was that I was being selfish. I was thinking about "me". That's why "Modeling servanthood while trusting God to supply my needs," became my next goal for 2012.

Several years ago a friend told me about the Once A Month Cooking (OAMC) method. Since then I have consistantly written out a monthly meal plan, but that's the only aspect of OAMC that I consistantly followed. The written meal plan curbed last minute stressing about what to make for dinner, but I was missing a huge blessing by not making those meals ahead and freezing them. This year I would like to cook once a month, for the whole month. In an effort to gear up for my marathon cooking, I recently checked out the book The Freezer Cooking Manual I found great tips, testimonials and recipes to get me started. I spent eight hours January 1st making  and freezing a month's worth of meals. Now that was time well spent!

January 30, 2011 I began a fitness journey. That's the day I began P90X. Since then I have shed 35 pounds and gained a life-changing exercise habit. Tony Horton, creator of P90X recently wrote, "For some reason, too many of us have forgotten (or have never been taught) that joy, happiness, health, fitness, loving relationships, and financial success all stem from hard work, persistence and the occasional bit of physical, mental or emotional discomfort." That is something I have learned to appreciate over the last year. This year I have resolved to advance my fitness journey by continuing to exercise six days a week.

Over the course of the next few weeks I am going to be blogging about what I have learned from my resolutions. They might not all turn out as I imagine, but I "Commit to the LORD whatever (I) do, and he will establish (my) plans." (Proverbs 16:3) Whatever may come this year I know God has amazing plans for me. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give (me) a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11). I can't wait to experience the blessings God has in store this year!