Okay, people, I am staying true to my word...here is a post from February. :)
So, this month has been an interesting month. I have tried to get more focused while I am at school. For the most part, I have been pretty successful! I am trying to keep to myself, team, and students. It has been easier to maintain my focus this way. I have not been caught up in all the drama that comes with a building full of women, right?!?
I will give you an update on my goals and all...how about that for a post? :)
1. Credit card debt-free...I am down to my last month for this one, people!! I am so excited about getting this one completed!! March's post will give y'all the final woohoo!!
2. Pay off my car...This will take place this year, which is so exciting!! Once the credit card is done, the car is tackled!! I am seriously going to do it!!!
3. Attend a Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, and Dallas Stars game...I have tickets to a Dallas Stars' game and am making plans for the other two!
4. Establish a nice customer-base for photography by taking family, children, and maternity photos...I have taken 1 family's Christmas card photos, 1 family's pregnancy and newborn photos, so getting there with this one. I also have a couple of birthday parties coming up, as well as another family's photos. :)
5. Travel to New York City or Chicago...I need to work on this plan!!
6. Donate half of my clothes...I have donated about 1/4 of my clothes, but sadly I have replaced most of them. I have to work on the latter part. I guess if I am going to replace them, I need to start out donating more so I end up having less, right?!?
7. Lose 15 pounds and tone up...I have not lost any yet, but have at least done more activity than I ever have...I can thank the snow for that one, since we stayed in the house, looking for things to do. We got out the Wii, and now we are all trying to be more active with games like Dance Dance Revolution, Wii Sports, Just Dance 2, Biggest Loser and Wii Fit.
8. Learn how to landscape our yard...Now that Spring is here, and it is prettier outside, I will start to work on this one!! :)
9. Learn how to coupon well, saving at least $50 a month...I haven't hit my target yet, but I am diligent in cutting coupons and organizing them. I need to get the system down better. I did at least save $35 last month, which is better than nothing, I suppose.
10. Try 2 new recipes a month...I have so been sticking to this one. December-Pasta Bake and Upside Down Pizza, January-Cajun Chicken Pasta and Lasagna with Cheese Ravioli as the layers, February-Chicken Spaghetti and Baked Ziti, March-... All of the dishes were yummy, but my favorites were Cajun Chicken Pasta, Chicken Spaghetti, and Baked Ziti. Check out Pioneer Woman for these favorites!! :)
11. Take a cruise...Hmm...need to plan this one, too!!
12. Write 4 songs...I have a couple of songs being thought through, but haven't stopped to put them into words yet.
13. Blog at least 1 time a month...You already know this one...I will not miss again!! I will be putting pictures up soon, as I have heard from you out there that I have been slacking!!
14. Attend 2 musicals...At Disney World, I saw Finding Nemo and Lion King. Let me just say...Lion King is my FAVORITE!! Maybe I can see another one (or two) in New York!!! :)
15. Install a new fan in my room...Planning for this one around Spring Break!!
16. Stay under budget each month, and put the remaining money in savings...I have stayed under budget each month, but have had unexpected expenses that needed the money that would have been put into savings, so alas...haven't moved it to savings yet. :(
17. Add over $1,200 to my savings...I have put $300 in savings...more to come!! :)
18. Write thank you notes...Not good with this one, but hopefully will get better.
19. Go to San Marcos...planning this one for summer, I believe. It looks like I will be traveling a lot this summer!! :)
20. Sell most of Mary Kay...I have sold a good bit of it, but still have a lot to sell. I am going to be putting together a variety of combinations to sell to people at school or home, so we will see.
21. See 2 new movies a month...I know, I need to get out more for this one, but I have at least stayed on top of the goal, right? December-Life as We Know It and Karate Kid, January-When in Rome and Eat, Pray, Love, February-(500) Days of Summer and The Secret Life of Bees
22. Send happies to my friends and their kiddos...I have actually gotten good at this one!! :) I have sent happies every month, which makes me feel so good. I love giving to others!!
23. Become a covenant member of The Village Church and serve in a ministry...I will attend membership class for The Village this coming weekend and will be filling out an application for ministry once I am a member.
24. Learn how to play 4 new games...I have to get this one going for sure!! I did play some of a computer game with Kristy and Megan during the snow days, so I think that counts. We completed several puzzles during our hunt on Nancy Drew.
25. Learn how to edit photos...I am attending a workshop in April that will hopefully help me with this one!! :)
26. Donate my hair to Locks of Love...Currently I have about 6-7 inches I am willing to cut, so it looks like this will be accomplished this summer. I am hoping to donate 10-12.
27. Become a vendor on Etsy for my letter photography crafts/projects, in addition to other photography...I have created my profile, but need to decide on prices and such before I put everything up.
28. Read a book of the Bible each month...I am not doing too well with this one, although I am currently working on reading through Esther, as the Parma Place Girls continue the study. I am also reading through Ruth for Bible study, so getting better, but still not quite there.
29. Do 1 Saturday cleaning a month with the roomies, followed by a craft :)...We for sure did this in Dec. and Jan., but didn't do it in Feb. I say we did it, but what I meant was...we did the Saturday cleaning, but have yet to do the crafting part. Hopefully, we will get better with this part!
So, there you have it...an update on the goals. It looks as if the end of the year and summer will be busy trying to accomplish them, but so many of them are ongoing from month to month and still others are soon to be accomplished. I will update with pictures next time. Until then, happy February!! :)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Argh!!
I so missed posting in January by 1 day!!! That is so frustrating, since I have really been trying to make a conscious effort to hold true to my birthday goals for 30. I cannot believe I am saying that...I will be the big 3-0 this year!! Honestly, I look at the last 29+ years, and just wonder...where is all this going to lead me? Am I going to ever be married with a family? Am I ever going to be able to start up a photography business for real? Will I ever be financially stable? Will I ever find a routine in eating healthier or working out? Will I ever have enough push in me to become more spiritually sound and knowledgeable of the Word? Will I ever push myself to write thank you notes and send cards?
I look at the goals I have set for myself and just want to scream. I feel like I always have things I WANT to do, but for some reason, everything within me WON'T let me actually accomplish them. I don't know what is going on within me. I feel like I am in the middle of an inner battle, starting with accepting myself as I am. I spend more time beating myself up than celebrating who I am in Christ. I find every flaw within me and what is on the outside.
I want to have beautiful teeth, tanned skin, toned body, and an ear without an ornament on it. I am really tired of wearing my hearing aid, but truly know there are no other options, so acceptance is necessary. Also, I am so sick of not having strong, white teeth, but without enamel, acceptance is necessary. I am also sick of not being able to drop the pounds and keep them off like I once could, but without a plan, acceptance for my current weight and pushing to lose it has to be key. Also, tanned skin...well, until summer, this paste will have to do. :)
I guess that I am writing this blog to let you all know of some inward struggles. I have always been a goal setter and goal getter. For some reason, I have let so many others control my drive to accomplish things. It is frustrating and stressful when you live for others. I am currently fighting Satan's hold for pleasing people. I am trying to rid myself of the chains that have a hold on all that I am.
I will be learning a lot about this idea, as I dive into the study of Esther by Beth Moore with the roommates.The title is Esther: It Is Tough To Be a Woman. I know that I will learn a lot from this study, as the first week has already challenged me in ways I never knew it would. I have lots to learn about myself, especially the way I view myself. If I cannot love myself as God loves me, then loving others the way God does is impossible. I am trying to defeat the inner struggle that won't let me accept who I am and move forward to improve my self worth in Christ. I look forward to learning more about who I am in Christ, and redeveloping the love I have for myself and others.
I know that God has been waiting for me to come back to Him and understand that He is so in love with me and has a great plan for my life. It is just that I now have to remember that for all of the goals to be accomplished, I have to come to an acceptance of who I was created to be, as well as stay focused on Him, so "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." I am reclaiming that verse, so that I can stay focused on the prize that is set before me by God. He has such a mighty plan for my life, and I have let so much be robbed by doing anything and everything to please others instead of Christ.
So, all this to say...goals are there, and I am going to do all that I can to reclaim the person I am in Christ...the one who is so focused on Christ that nothing could stop me from doing anything He puts in my path. So here is to accomplishing all the things I desire from the first paragraph and all the lists I have written down in the past...
I look at the goals I have set for myself and just want to scream. I feel like I always have things I WANT to do, but for some reason, everything within me WON'T let me actually accomplish them. I don't know what is going on within me. I feel like I am in the middle of an inner battle, starting with accepting myself as I am. I spend more time beating myself up than celebrating who I am in Christ. I find every flaw within me and what is on the outside.
I want to have beautiful teeth, tanned skin, toned body, and an ear without an ornament on it. I am really tired of wearing my hearing aid, but truly know there are no other options, so acceptance is necessary. Also, I am so sick of not having strong, white teeth, but without enamel, acceptance is necessary. I am also sick of not being able to drop the pounds and keep them off like I once could, but without a plan, acceptance for my current weight and pushing to lose it has to be key. Also, tanned skin...well, until summer, this paste will have to do. :)
I guess that I am writing this blog to let you all know of some inward struggles. I have always been a goal setter and goal getter. For some reason, I have let so many others control my drive to accomplish things. It is frustrating and stressful when you live for others. I am currently fighting Satan's hold for pleasing people. I am trying to rid myself of the chains that have a hold on all that I am.
I will be learning a lot about this idea, as I dive into the study of Esther by Beth Moore with the roommates.The title is Esther: It Is Tough To Be a Woman. I know that I will learn a lot from this study, as the first week has already challenged me in ways I never knew it would. I have lots to learn about myself, especially the way I view myself. If I cannot love myself as God loves me, then loving others the way God does is impossible. I am trying to defeat the inner struggle that won't let me accept who I am and move forward to improve my self worth in Christ. I look forward to learning more about who I am in Christ, and redeveloping the love I have for myself and others.
I know that God has been waiting for me to come back to Him and understand that He is so in love with me and has a great plan for my life. It is just that I now have to remember that for all of the goals to be accomplished, I have to come to an acceptance of who I was created to be, as well as stay focused on Him, so "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." I am reclaiming that verse, so that I can stay focused on the prize that is set before me by God. He has such a mighty plan for my life, and I have let so much be robbed by doing anything and everything to please others instead of Christ.
So, all this to say...goals are there, and I am going to do all that I can to reclaim the person I am in Christ...the one who is so focused on Christ that nothing could stop me from doing anything He puts in my path. So here is to accomplishing all the things I desire from the first paragraph and all the lists I have written down in the past...
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