Goals for 2014 - UPDATED 2-1-14

As the New Year rolled in I set aside 5 basic things that I wanted to focus on for the year 2014. I promised monthly updates in hope that it will keep me focused on accomplishing these.  Here is the original post:  Goals for 2014 as posted on 1-4-14

1)  Replace Holy Mary Tree Topper:
This one is going to be harder than I thought originally.  While putting away this years Christmas mess it was brought to my attention that the original broken topper that you see here was thrown away last year.  I was extremely upset as it has always been my intention to fix it. As we clean out closets we might run into the pieces but it is unlikely.  I guess I am now starting from scratch.  I am now looking for a beautiful Mary face, hands and Baby.  I might be better off just buying one next season knowing that I will be paying top dollar. 

2) Create Heirloom Quality Christmas Stockings:
I have decided on denim (you know, jean material) as the base.  I don't yet have the pattern worked out for the size of the stockings.  I do have several pairs of old jeans that I set aside.  I plan to start with that as our base material.  I can't decide if I should line them or not.  I think they need the lining to add shape and make them softer.  Any thoughts?

3) Improve Flexibility and Stamina:
 Not much on this one at all.  I have been parking farther away on purpose.  This has been very hard considering we have had the first real winter since moving here.  Even Houston has had winter this year.  Three (yes I said 3) snow storms so far.  Well they had ice.  Notice how I did that, I changed topics.  I do that when it comes to exercise of any kind.  Family goal after January is to attend the March for Life 2015 together - all of us.  I need to be in be able to walk quit a bit for that trip.  The goal is to walk 20 miles in an hour.  Not hard for many who exercise but very specific for me.

4) Move Into a Home That Better Fits This Big Family Needs:
We have spent weekends looking at new homes.  We have looked at "build your own" designs on lots and toured several newer subdivision builds.  Where should we go, how should we do this, what can we afford? The hold up on this on is me.  I just can't admit that we are here in Houston long term. 

5) Be Adventurous:
We are ninny butts.  I have realized that this month, as I paid more attention to everything.  Right now I deactivated my Facebook account and have taken on a new attitude.  We have changed our internet and unplugged the cable. That was so hard.  I know it sounds silly but any change is difficult.  I have grown very complacent as well. I don't like our lives but I don't know how I want it to change.  My kids did the math and I am one year older than I thought I was. I can't picture the perfect result.  I don't know why but 45 is a big deal to me. At 25 I had two children and knew that we were on our way to our own life.  We got our first house that year and I liked where I thought we were headed.  20 years later I feel trapped by the choices we have made and I want to be a stronger and more adventurous person at 65.  I am finished looking back to the previous generations.  I realized that we have been so restricted in trying to please and live up to perceived expectations of others.   (There are probable no expectations that exist anywhere but in our own creation.)  I watched my aunt pass away and I realized that I don't need to live up to the person I thought she wanted me to be.  She loved me for me and not for what I did or how much money I made.  I need to stop carrying about what we think the last generation thinks or us or wants of us.  If they truly love us they will be happy if we are true to ourselves and to God.  If they are not happy with us then we need to let it go.  I need to live for God and his expectations, and no one else.  J and I have done a great job at this in the major things but we still get hung up and upset when we hear that someone is not happy with our choices.  "Let it go!" is easier said than done.  That is the hard part for us.  So in adopting a new attitude the plan is to focus more on becoming better versions of who God wants us to be and letting go of the earthly expectations.  So general, I know, but it does mean something to us.  Our goals are becoming more about forming ourselves for the next season in our lives.  We will be the in-laws and the grandparents within the next few years.  We are leaving the last 20 years in the past and concentrating on the next 20 years.  We hope to have children, children-in-laws, and grandchildren that admire us for being who God called us to be.  For me it is very adventurous to live for God and no one else.  I hope that I become more authentic as I become more adventurous.