Happy New Year, 2008!

Well, it's the New Year. Have you spent the day planning, inspiring vision in your kids, serving your family or sitting around watching TV all day? Well, I have done a combination of all of all of these today and that's OK, but tomorrow, it'll be a back to business day and I will be planning and focusing on where we will be going in the New Year. I will be assessing my strengths and weakness and see where I can improve in a few areas. Some coming into focus already are


Homemaking-I plan on continuing to serve healthy meals to my family. That takes planning. What I find the hardest about planning ahead is balancing what my family wants (husband in particular) and what is practical, cost efficient and healthy. (All three don't ways compute in my family) Books to use are Nourishing Traditions, Raw-volution and Cooking free (just ordered from Amazon) I plan on Reading the following books Homemaking by J. R. Miller and rereading Don Aslatt's books on housekeeping. Anyway, I will try again at meal planning. My goal is 1/3 - 1/2 raw, mostly vegetables, sprouts and salads, and an increase of cultured foods, such as daily- Raw yogurt, kefir, sour cream and cream cheese. I plan on making these myself so there will be a learning curve. I also need to find a source of clean raw milk that is NOT $10.00 a gallon (which is what it is in our local Health Food store) I also plan on including some cultured vegetables. (I've tried them before and enjoyed them but my family turned up their noses. I'll try again.
I want to use my microwave less, plan more and cut down on our grocery budget without compromising taste or satisfaction (is that possible)- I'll be doing more sprouting and making some delicious salad dressings.
I also plan on getting my recipes organized- in one spot and findable when needed.
I plan on improving on getting dinner o the table at a more reasonable hour. 6:30pm if possible. I'd like to plan on 5:00pm but there is no way of knowing when my husband will be home. I plan on being tidier and neater and to inspire my children to do the same. I will be using Don Aslat's clutter free living.

Spiritual growth- I will be including in my reading journal for spiritual growth a book by Hannah Whitehall, The secrets to a Happy Christian and using this for meditation this coming year. I have a prayer goals of certain issues that I need direction on, I will plow on till I receive his will on these issues. I want to reimplemented a daily quiet time focusing in the Lord and his direction in my life. I want to get personal, and have Him dig deep in my heart. It hurts but it is so good to be clean and in His care. I will be doing some word studies and hopefully some character sketches from the Word. I want do a comparative study on David, an example of the spirit controlled life (with a few hiccups) and Saul an example of the flesh) Home Education- I plan on reading 1 book per week, of history, classics etc. I resolve to move along in history moving up to the modern age by the end of this school year.

Parenting- To be more proactive with my children's character training. I have such precious time left and so much more I feel I need to cover and work in them. I will be re reading Keeping their Hearts by the Maxwells

Physical- I do regularly exercise but in the last few months,,,.... OK almost a year good habits have gone the way of the fire engine approach. do what is urgent first. So again be proactive in my intent. And maybe tighten up a little and loose 5 lbs! (That would be great) I will be continuing with Jane Fonda's complete work outs And walking daily as well I hope with my sons.
Business-I want to open up a few more areas of product sourcing for our online book sales. adding a new book inventory and perhaps a website to market them as well (Not sure) I am looking to increasing sales by 10 percent and stabilizing fluctuating monthly income.

Personal Growth-I plan on learning to type. (gasp she can't type?) Nope, I'm the fastest look at your keyboard typist around but it isn't as good as seeing at all your mistakes happeing s you make them so I plan to attack this weak area.
I plan on organizing the files on my computer so I can find things when I need them most. I really really do want to understand why this ....blessing of a computer does all these wacky things when I try to direct it.
Most of all I want to focus on relationships this year; relationships with my two sons, who are still in our home. Time is short and I want to instill a deeper relationship and foster deeper trust.
With my husband to enter into prayer on his behalf for his job and a few other important issues and to not let discouragements get me down.
With my grown children and their spouses, I love them all so much. How can I serve them? and with my grandchildren. I want to be a Grandma to be remembered, one with a multi generational goal of spiritual influence. That takes a life a sacrifice, of prayer and of commitment.
OK, so off with the TV and get to work. (actually it's not just plain old TV, it's Hogans Heroes 2nd and 3th season collection that my youngest got for Christmas. Hilarious!)
I've got another year to live with gusto. In a nutshell, I need to get organized and get focused.