Goals for 2014 - UPDATED 10-1-14

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 my focused on accomplishing these.  Here is the original post:  Goals for 2014 as posted on 1-4-14

1)  Replace Holy Mary Tree Topper:  Check

 

2) Create Heirloom Quality Christmas Stockings:
I know that I am running out of time.  Maybe someday I will not be this busy - ha ha - who am I kidding?

3) Improve Flexibility and Stamina:
 I started very late in the month but I did actually turn on the "exercise channel" on the Roku and tried out a stretching video.  I didn't even make in more than 5 minutes the first day (9-29).  It did feel good to stretch.  The plan is to start by just stretching the first week.  I hope I can keep it up. The next day I walked to a video on walking.  I was told I walked one mile and I was exhausted.  I hope I can keep it up.

4) Move Into a Home That Better Fits This Big Family Needs:
I still feel so stuck in this place.  I hate the house ugh.  I don't want to move local.  We are still moving forward with addressing all credit issues.  I had no idea that following Dave Ramsey's programs might negatively effect our credit as much as it did.  It does feel great to have little debt but I wonder if another approach might have been better for us.  We are trying to look into all possibilities with that as well.

5) Be Adventurous:
I feel very unadventurous right now. I am back to feeling overwhelmed with a desire to move but no able to make it happen. I want to travel but can't fit it in the budget or the calendar.  It is still hot and humid and the few days of relief just make we want to get the heck out of here.

Goals for 2014 - UPDATED 9-1-14

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 my focused on accomplishing these.  Here is the original post:  Goals for 2014 as posted on 1-4-14

I HATE THIS POST - Why did I set these up to just make me fail every month.  The only one I finished was the one that someone purchased for me.

1)  Replace Holy Mary Tree Topper:  Check

 

2) Create Heirloom Quality Christmas Stockings:
 I still have a stack of jeans and I have even collected more.  Maybe as the temperatures start to cool off I will feel more motivated.  with the start of this school year I just hope I can find the time.  Oh wait the temps never drop in Houston!  Crap.  Well I guess I will just disappoint the kids this Christmas by not having fun new stockings.  Actually they won't even notice, it is me that will be disappointed. 

3) Improve Flexibility and Stamina:
 I am moving more and more but not within any program.  For the first time ever I have noticed a little bit of a knee issue.  When I kneel for a long time my knee begins to ache.  So the opposite of my goal is happening.

4) Move Into a Home That Better Fits This Big Family Needs:
Still stuck  We have re-financed and are actively working on credit score and trying to tackle that aspect of things.  I still ache to move north and J is happy enough here.  Our neighborhood and area is so crowded and getting worse every day.  We have become even more committed to moving of some kind in the spring.  (I want north of the Mason- Dixon Line, Jason doesn't care but does want a newer neighborhood.) 

5) Be Adventurous:
I have been adventurous with our school year this year.  We have committed to a co-op.  Don't get too upset it is only for a few hours every other week.  I still teach the kids everything at home.  Meeting with friends who are kind of doing the same thing keeps me on track.  (At least that is the plan.) 

We are looking at next year and some travels.  I just hope we can pull our selves into being a little more organized and financially responsible so we can do a full family vacation maybe RV maybe not.

Goals for 2014 - UPDATED 8-1-14

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 my focused on accomplishing these.  Here is the original post:  Goals for 2014 as posted on 1-4-14

1)  Replace Holy Mary Tree Topper:  Check

 

2) Create Heirloom Quality Christmas Stockings:
 Have not even started.

3) Improve Flexibility and Stamina:
 I have been busy-busy-busy.  We have gone swimming and site seeing.  Nothing formal or official just still plugging away. 

4) Move Into a Home That Better Fits This Big Family Needs:
We refinanced the house this mouth.  We will save a little money.  It should help our credit rating in the long run.  It isn't a new house or a move yet, but I do feel we are moving in the right direction.

5) Be Adventurous:
When the older kids needed to go to St. Louis for a retreat, we knew that I would drive them.  That would mean a few days in St. Louis with my mom and time to visit a few friends.  In the end I felt that desire to share the adventure a little bit so Pickle came with us and stayed with me.  It was fun., I loved having one child to spend those adventures with.  I probably would have stayed at home a lot more but I wanted Pickle to have fun so we ventured all over town. 

Goals for 2014 - UPDATED 6-1-14

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 my focused on accomplishing these.  Here is the original post:  Goals for 2014 as posted on 1-4-14

1)  Replace Holy Mary Tree Topper:  Check

 

2) Create Heirloom Quality Christmas Stockings:
 At this point we are beginning summer and I see this as just a pipe dream.  I still have some great ideas but they lack the motivation to getting my hands dirty (as they say) to actually start this project.  We have made vague decisions about our home and will probably be here until next spring.  Now my motivation for a beautiful Holiday is a little stunted as I hate this house. 

3) Improve Flexibility and Stamina:
 Pools are open on the weekends.  We have gone a few times each weekend.  I look forward to the summer days where I can get in the water each day and enjoy walking in the water.  I like the resistance the water adds without the pain on the joints.  This old-fat-mamma enjoys hiding under water while still feeling the benefits of getting moving.  My friend Mrs. W and her hubby have been really trying to work out two times a week and it shows.  I hope I can continued to be inspired by her slow and steady progress. 

4) Move Into a Home That Better Fits This Big Family Needs:
I find this to be very ironic.  I have been praying to St. Joseph asking for a clear sign as to what we are supposed to do.  Well in one day we received a letter stating how we were bad members of the neighborhood because of a tire we set out by the trash can that very day they came around to inspect.  In the same mail delivery we received a note telling us why we should move from a realtor.  We hate it here in this home so why to we stay?  Where to go?   I am still wanting to move away completely but no job offers.  In the same breathe no job advancements seam to be here either.  I guess we maintain status quo for awhile longer.

Mothers day I became fixated on one particular home.  The children don't agree with which one we should purchase but I know what will work best for the family.  This is a new home to be constructed and costs about 100,000 more than J and I originally thought we would be spending to buy a new home.  It is also farther out than I really want to be. 

If we are spending that much, I want it all.  Not the forever home with tons of land but a few acres in an unrestricted neighborhood.  This will take us longer to achieve but I don't want to make another hasty move and end up again in a house I don't like.  My plan is buy land, work with a build your own home company, and build a one story that makes us all happy.  I know this sounds silly but I have a goal now to work toward. 

If God wants to throw a monkey in that plan and move us back to the mid-west - I would be most happy.  If not I hope we can make this happen.  I think we could be very happy in that house.

5) Be Adventurous:
I got my hair cut and cut short!  That is adventurous, right?  J and I talk about this all the time.  He is open to moving and open to even a new job.  That is huge for him.  I am going to just have to sit back and let God lead us the rest of the way.  My husband is not ever going to be the type that RVs all the time.  I am coming to realize this.  My first clue should be that while looking for an RV my mind was on the long term living arrangements and he was looking for a place to store it. That isn't exactly the same goal.  I know that this is not all that life has in story for me.  I just have to be a little more patient as God reveals what that adventure will be. 

Goals for 2014 - UPDATED 5-1-14

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 my focused on accomplishing these.  Here is the original post:  Goals for 2014 as posted on 1-4-14

1) Replace Holy Mary Tree Topper:  Check

 

2) Create Heirloom Quality Christmas Stockings:
 Still nothing.  UGH.  Come November I am going to be very mad that I have not done much yet.

3) Improve Flexibility and Stamina:
 This has been a month of being on the move.  No lost weight with not eating out and eating better with what we have made from scratch at home.  Less soda but no change.  Moving more and more with the twins but not in the exercise way.  Loved that the pools are open on the weekends soon.  I want to start walking in pool.  Years that we swim a lot have been when I have felt the best.  So since we live in Houston and the weather will soon make movement outside nasty to even think about I am looking to the pools.

4) Move Into a Home That Better Fits This Big Family Needs:
This is still such a big issue for us.  We can't decide what to do.  Our home needs a lot of work to get top dollar.  As we are beginning to do this we keep finding homes that we like.  Nothing stands out enough to make us move yet.  We are now looking pretty far outside of Houston limits just because of cost and the amount of traffic.  I hate living with 4 million other people.  Yuck!

5) Be Adventurous:
The more I focus on this the more I realize that this is more a frame of mind.  We are not the family that would do well on the road all the time.  I love having the structure of friends and church that I am familiar with.  Maybe it is because the oldest are rooted in college level classes but Jason and I are both trying to peel back the fear of doing the things we want to do.  I don't even know how it happens but just like our peers we have reached a point in our lives that we don't want new things.  That isn't a healthy frame of mind.  I do want more from life. 

What a boring month April was in regards to these goals.  What boring people we are!  Busy but boring!

Goals for 2014 - UPDATED 4-1-14

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 my focused on accomplishing these.  Here is the original post:  Goals for 2014 as posted on 1-4-14

1)  Replace Holy Mary Tree Topper:  Check

 

2) Create Heirloom Quality Christmas Stockings:
 At this point I don't have any progress on this one.  I am most excited about this goal and sadly I have worked on this very little.  I did snag another pair of jeans for the cause.

3) Improve Flexibility and Stamina:
Moving more and more.  Still  over weight, still love food and still not sure how to get moving.  I am not giving up just still plugging away slowly.  For Lent we have given up going out to eat all together. This has been so hard and yet so rewarding.  We are all feeling a little better and even though I weigh the same I now crave a big old salad from home.  So life is changing slowly but surely.

4) Move Into a Home That Better Fits This Big Family Needs:
I am more confused now than I was before.  I want a better home for our children and for our comfort.  I hate living in HOUSTON.  BUT  we are here with a good job, good friends, good healthcare, and good homeschool laws and homeschool support.  Do we work to move now while the houses are at a prime before even more people move in or do we wait one more year.  If we are to move where should we go.  Houston is so BIG that the choices are endless.  I end each weekend of house shopping with a headache and a heartache.  Please pray for me that I can do as God wishes and not as I wish, and that hopefully that can be made clear to us.

5) Be Adventurous:
We are living our life for us and not for others.  From the outside it doesn't look like anything has changed at all in our home.  I guess in our home nothing has changed but our hearts are changing.  We are stepping out of our comfort zones and trying new things.  I am personally trying to embrace the gifts that I have.  In trying to not be prideful but still be helpful I organized a group for a parenting book club.  We are only meeting a few times as we read through a parenting book but I am trying to share the wisdom that I have gained over the years while learning from my peers at the same time.  That was not an easy thing to do.   We have also made some plans for a small adventure this summer.  Still working on details but enjoying the thoughts of it non the less.

 

I do like having to revisit these ideas at the end of month.  It might not seam like it but we are making progress.  Our (MY) progress isn't the kind that will make the front page news.  It is slow but steady.  I know that at the end of the year I might not look different but I will be different.  Isn't that how we are supposed to live our lives!  I end this the same way I end my prayer.  This little reminder of why I do everything is important. 

ALL FOR YOU OH LORD!

Goals for 2014 - UPDATED 3-1-14

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 my focused on accomplishing these.  Here is the original post:  Goals for 2014 as posted on 1-4-14

1)  Replace Holy Mary Tree Topper:  Check
I never thought I would be able to replace this. Thanks to Mrs. W, at the very last day of the month - I have great news to report.  She gave me a new Mary and Jesus topper on the last day of February for my birthday.  I was so surprised and so very thankful.  She has been looking for one since we became friends.  She also wanted one for her tree.  When my Mary topper burned she decided to try to replace it for me before buying one for herself.  Now I suspect she and Jason have been bidding against each other.   That being said, I love my new (old) topper and I am very thankful for a good friend that has helped me reach my first goal - and so early in the year.

2) Create Heirloom Quality Christmas Stockings:
 No magic tricks on the rest of the goals.  I have yet to cut any of the fabric for our stockings.  March goal is to have the stockings cut, sewed, and prepared for decorations. 

3) Improve Flexibility and Stamina:
 No, not much to this goal at all, either.  Lent is coming so maybe I can tie the goal to my Lenten offering and get moving.

4) Move Into a Home That Better Fits This Big Family Needs:
We have been all over the board on this one.  J and I have found a new subdivision that is North of where we are now.  We like the location and have singled out one house that would be perfect.  The sad thing is that this neighborhood does not have a pool, and that might be a deal breaker.  I then pause and think that maybe we should just have our current house worked on .  I hate it but it would be a lot less stress, worry and change.  This leads to how I am failing at number 5.

5) Be Adventurous:
I don't know about this one either.  I have so many adventurous dreams but in reality getting the kids to Mass during the week without Dad and the big kids can be an adventure that I am not that good at.  We have had a few park days, and few walks.  Simple, little things.  I guess it is about baby steps.  I like finding comfort in the everyday.  Maybe I need to work at define "adventurous" for us.  Some would say that having 11 kids is already an adventure and I think I would have to agree with that.  Now how to have an adventurous heart within our already adventurous vocation of a big family.