My New Years Resolutions

First of all, I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and have recovered from all the eggnog, turkey and candy that seems to been the culprit of weight gain in my household.

The year 2005 has been a rough one for me and my family, but it has also been one of healing. This past year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer but luckily it was caught very early and only required extensive surgery, no chemo or radiation. That diagnosis sparked many things in my life...

1. I realized that we are not promised tomorrow and that we should live each day to the fullest...like that song that says "Live like we are dying". Literally.

2. I realized that my strained relationship with my parents could be mended with a lot of forgiveness and a lot of love, acceptance and understanding. I thank God that we were all able to get past the painful place we were and forgive each other and be able to love each other the way a family should, the way our family always has. I could have lost my dad last month as he was very ill, but love and faith conquered in the end and we were blessed with a wonderful holiday with him right in the middle of it.

3. I also realized that in the big scheme of things, it is okay to not have the fanciest house, be the richest one on the block or to teach your children the meaning of no. I also learned that sometimes it is okay to say yes and not be so obsessive about a clean house and children having their chores done to perfection. Some things just matter more than those. Like love, family, laughter, joy and friendship.

I also lost two classmates this past fall which only reiterated the above three "revelations". So, with all that said... I have several New Year's resolutions this year. They will not be easy which is one reason why I am telling you them, so I can have someone to be accountable to.

Here they are in a nutshell:
1. To develop a healthy eating pattern for me and my family. That means setting a good example by eating foods that are good for me and exercising and cooking meals that are good for our bodies.
a. My personal goal is for me to lose 12 pounds and to tone up my body.

2. To strive towards financial independence: to pay off all credit card debts, to apply for loan forgiveness for my student loans, to stop making impulsive purchases and putting more money in savings. I do not mean that we will do without everything, just prioritize more.

3. To put God, my marriage and children first in my life: which means finding a church that we are all comfortable in, going and becoming involved in the ministry and setting a good example for my children.

4. To stay healthy and not have any surgeries. I don't know how long it has been since I have not had a whole year surgery free.

5. Finishing school and finding time for me. Period. After this graduation, I will not go back unless it is a mandatory part of my job. My life is consumed with school to the point where I have withdrawals. I must stop making that a priority and find something that interests me that will give me some kind of purpose in life.

See, I told you they were not going to be easy, but I do plan on keeping things simple so that I do not get overwhelmed. I plan on making small changes that will add up to the large ones.

I will need your help. I will use this blog as a sounding board. If I have support, I can make my goals a reality.

So what are your new year resolutions?
What are your plans for New Years Eve? I am going to ride along with my husband while he patrols that night. The kids will be spending the weekend with their grandparents so there is no since in me spending NYE by myself at home. I'll ring in the new year with my hubby, where I should be.


Happy New Year everybody.
May 2006 be a very blessed,prosperous and healthy year for you and yours.