UPDATE on My 2008 Goals

Updates (so far) on my goals:

1. To spend more time focusing in God's Word. I really need to do my daily devotions, I have let them fall by the wayside. I do try to read my Bible every morning, and I pray every day, but I need to get back into my devotions/studies. UPDATE: I have been trying to keep up with this daily.

2. To spend more quality & quantity time with my children. I want them to remember me as a mommy who loved them, not just because I tell them so. I want to try to do at least 1 fun thing with them each week, so they will remember their mommy time. UPDATE: So far have baked cookies with them a few times and took time to sit down and watch movies together and play games together as a family.

3. Don't nag so much at my family (dh included). Instead of nagging, if I will just do things myself, there won't be anything to nag about. Maybe then kids & dh won't be so reluctant to help out when asked. Especially if I ask less often. UPDATE: Have been trying to rely solely on myself to keep everything up by myself. I have made new lists on what I need to do & how often…spending less time on net to make it happen.

4. To make my house a "home". Not only would I like to take 2008 to try to decorate my home, I also would like it to become more of a place of bliss for my family, rather than a house we all reside in. UPDATE: Am currently working on decluttering the Master Bedroom. Once it is done, it will be decorated. Next will be Jacob’s bedroom.

5. Declutter/Organize my house and try to keep it clean so it maintains itself. This has been a long on-going goal for me:) I want to create routines/schedules that I can achieve, rather than feeling let down at the end of the day, for not finishing. Also a big part of this, and #4 is that I want my family to come home to a clean home daily. I don't want any machines (dishwasher, washer/dryer, etc) going when they come home. I want it all to be "done" when they get here. The only thing that should be running is the stove/oven (because kids get home 90 mins before dh & if dinner is already ready when they get home, it will be cold when he gets home). I think this would add to the relaxed atmosphere I am striving for (thanks for the tip Nichole). I also want to thank my dear friend Tami for challenging me & working with me on weekends:) UPDATE: I’ve been working on decluttering MBR for 2 days and have gotten about ½ way through. I have freecycled 9 trash bags of stuff, tossed 3 black trash bags of stuff, got 3 black trash bags of summer clothes out of the house. I am hoping to finish the decluttering by the end of tomorrow and then finish all the cleaning by Saturday. As far as the “machines” going, nothing has ran while dh & kids are home (except on weekends). I have also finally created master to-do lists that are “doable” and not so overwhelming. They finally make sense to me and everything is on one page, so I don’t have to hunt stuff down.

6. To take time at least once a week and do something I enjoy...whether it's scrapping, or watching a chick flick (rather than disney movies, lol). UPDATE: Haven’t quite gotten around to this goal, but I intend to once I get everything decluttered….the MBR is about the only room that really needs decluttering, the others just need straightening up or organizing.

7. To find a way to make more money from home, so I can feel like I am contributing something, and also to make things not so hard on dh and the kids. I already sell Pampered Chef, but don't make much money and I do bookkeeping/taxes, but that's seasonal. UPDATE: Haven’t yet figured out a way to do this.

8. To start saving money, instead of spending every penny that falls into our hands. I want to have money put aside for the future.
UPDATE: Haven't started saving yet, but have made sure the bills were paid on time, instead of letting any be late.

9. To become more self-sufficient. Like growing all of our produce for the year, except things that have to be fresh (like salad stuff, etc). To learn to can, to start raising our own meat/poultry.UPDATE: This will have to wait until it gets warmer.