This one week anniversary of 2008 resolutions, is real good in fact.
Rate for Resolutions:
Financial: Thumbs up! Next weeks goal: Create an Emergency Savings Account
All bills for the month of January have been paid with at least the minimum balance. We were in dispute with one doctor’s office (turns out they were right, and they get their monies tomorrow). The savings and extra payment portion of my goals will come out of the next paycheck. The balance remaining, after gas and groceries, will be transferred to our savings. We’ll be on our way to our first thousand!
Weight: Thumbs up! Next weeks goal: Walking three days for 15 minutes (45 minute minimum)
It’s all about exercise for me this month. Diets come next month. I did what was required by the plan I’m following, plus a little extra. It is important to me that I here take note that no change in diet was made…in fact, I managed to consume nearly half a box of Christmas chocolate covered cherries…and managed to loose three pounds. Now…that is just from being less dormant than usual…and only taking on four days worth of walking for 15 minutes a piece.
I won’t lie. The first night out I selected a lovely park down by the river with a large circular path. The nights had dropped in temperature, so I didn’t have to contend with sweat/heat as part of my discomfort (yes, in FL winter exercise can still result in sweat/heat at night). However, I think we were round half way and I was already ready to stop. Pride kept me going. I made this walk many times before – sometimes even at a quick pace – and never had a problem. But because now it was “exercise” I was hurting. My back felt stiff, and a sensation was had of every muscles between my shoulder blades turning into cement. I asked my husband how long we were at it – it’s a large park and we were half way around. When he replied I had walked the whole of three minutes…well let me tell you, I was willing to chuck the whole thing right there. Honestly, if I had been walking alone that evening, I might have convinced myself that a walk back to the parking lot could be counted as part of my allotted minutes. But, yea!!! I’m down three pounds!
Follow Through: Thumbs down. Next Weeks Goals: Continue current successes, end HS meeting on time, meet with mom
I’ve been so tired this week. I managed to be at all appointments on time, paid bills ahead of schedule…and put out some pretty good meals. But everything else has been by the wayside. I’ve even left myself without gas in the car and I know I have an appointment to get to tomorrow. In fact, I shouldn’t even be blogging!
Activities: Eh. Next Weeks Goals: Find and sign up for a new class.
Last week I signed up for a Knitting I class at Joann’s. I’ll save you the story of the customer-unfriendly service during registration, and the customer-unfriendly service I received today when I showed up for what should have been my first class. After $50 in registration fees and class supplies, after a week of waiting for the class, and fifteen minutes waiting (alone) in the class with two requests to find out why no-one else was there – well, I made them call the instructor. The Joann’s rep and I were both shocked to find that the instructor quit in December…yes, before I registered. There was a slight scuffle over how to reimburse me because I had written a check less than the obligatory 10-day wait period. I did get my money, though. So, no. No activities. I have to find another class somewhere. So the poor self-rating for the week in review truly isn’t reflective of circumstances within my control.
Scripture Memorization: Thumbs down. Next Weeks Goals: Memorize John 1:1-13 and prayer
At least I’m honest and not claiming to have memorized John 11:35 (in it’s entirety: “Jesus wept.” trivia…shortest verse in the Bible). Nope, I haven’t even cracked open my bible this week…which was exactly the problem before. I also need to be more accountable with prayer.
Investing in my Children: Lukewarm. Next Weeks Goals: Provide a family board game night
Grading this is difficult. E17 has been mad at DH and I all week. Basically, she’s started dual enrollment this week and it was a bit nerve wracking leading up to the first class, though she won’t articulate why. We’re the bad guys because we sent her and she really didn’t have a choice. I did buy her a few shirts that she needed, though I realize that isn’t investing time. It was using my personal allowance as we didn’t have wardrobe stuff set aside. She did excellent driving this week – something else she loathes doing – and I tried to build her confidence by pointing out all the things she did correct. O16 was hot and cold with interest. She is both her brother and sister’s biggest advocate, and of course with E17 feeling off and M15 depressed and recovering from surgery, and all three still mourning, well…hot and cold is better than I could have given at her age. I’ve let her drive as much as possible this week – something she loves. Today she accompanied me on an unexpected errand across town at a home-school book store. I tried to encourage her to purchase some literature for personal reading – and she was upset claiming no time to add more books to her pile. She did find a very reasonably priced French language program – and asked if the kids could have this since we are Canada bound this spring. So, my pocket full of knitting refund money was splurged. She also, timidly came to me in the cashier’s line with a personal bible study based on the theme of The Hobbit. I dipped into the grocery money – I’ll make pancakes or something to make up for the meal. M15 is more difficult. I have made sure that he had more Dad time. He’s not needing his mom just now. Does that count?
Investing in Charity: N/A Next Weeks Goal: Investigate time into something that directly affects my world
I’ll build up to larger circles of community. Not everything will be dire straights…I just want to find something that goes outside my family.
Invest in Church: Thumbs Down Next Weeks Goal: Attend both services
I did speak with one father from our church. I told him that I was looking forward to returning, but that it is difficult with Max just now (I don’t want Max exposed to germs this soon after surgery). I didn’t go this week honestly, because I just didn’t feel like going by myself. And that was the problem last year, too.
