How are those New Year's Resolutions working out?

I'm probably very similar to other people in that I make big plans and goals on January 1st, only to let them fade and be forgotten. This year, I have a public record of my 5 New Year's Resolutions. Three months of this year have already passed. It's time to check in on my progress and see if my goals are being met. I've decided to give myself a report card.

1. Write a weekly blog. I'm going to give myself an A on the blogging! I set the goal to blog once a week, even said I'd post them on Tuesdays, and I've done a pretty good job of sticking to that! Only once did I miss my deadline when I had a post wiped out because of computer problems. I still got that one posted the next day that I was on the computer. The only problem I have with the blog is my nasty habit of procrastination. Sometimes I feel like I'm back in college with a paper due at my 8:30am class on Friday. I tend to wait and whip something out Thursday night. (Back in my day, we had to have the thing printed and neatly presented for class. We didn't have the luxury of emailing it to our professor by a midnight deadline!) You can often find me right here, typing away on a Tuesday night to meet my self-imposed deadline. I very well know that if I had started earlier, with more time to rethink, revise, and edit, the end quality would be better. Still, I'm satisfied with the work I'm putting out and think I should pass the class. =)

2. I'm going to give myself a C on my health goal. I wanted to lose weight, exercise more, and eat better. I haven't really lost any weight, just maintained. I do exercise pretty consistently, and better now that the weather is warmer. My diet is my weak point. I love yummy food. I don't do well with portion control, especially when it comes to my favorite yummy foods. Probably my biggest weakness would be my love for sweets. I love desserts, especially chocolate. My best strategy is to record the foods I eat. As long as I have to write down everything I eat, and how much, I feel more accountable and better able to resist temptation. I started out the year writing everything down, but haven't continued with that. I prefer to just eat whatever I want. I do realize that's not best for my body and will try to improve in this area.

3. Bible Study. I'm going to be honest and give myself a D on Bible Study. While we've done pretty well with Church attendance this year, and we uphold our daily prayers and walk with God, I've been pretty bad about reading my Bible! I'm going to move the Bible to the top of my pile of books by the bed and try to improve on this. This goal only takes a few minutes a day to achieve and certainly shouldn't be the area where I'm failing!

4. Organization. I get a B on this on! I've actually made some improvements in my life to get things in order. Paperwork has been my big nemesis. I have piles of paperwork everywhere. You name it: bills, papers from school, 4-H stuff, ASCA club stuff, and tons of dog papers. I went and bought 4 portable file boxes. One is for 4-H, divided up by the different projects the girls do. Another is for the dogs, one folder per dog. I already had a file system for them, but this one is updated and easier to keep handy. Another file is for each litter and the breeding program. I have a folder for the paperwork involved from each litter, as well as for my stud dogs, and one file for all of the paperwork that goes into the puppy binders. The last file box is just mine. It's a miscellaneous collection of all of the paperwork that sits around and has nowhere to go. School papers, club papers, bills, and on and on. I'm very happy with my new system. I also made up new dog binders, organizing all of their registrations, health clearances, titles, etc. That makes it so much easier to find everything. I still have a long way to go in getting my life and house organized, but I am happy with the progress.

5. Goals with dogs. I get a B+ on this one! I have several goals in training and certain titles I want this year. The main four titles I'm after are 4 big ones! I want a MACH, ATCH, ASCA CH., and AKC CH. It's the first of April and while I haven't achieved any of those titles yet, I have made some good progress!! Ryder got a major in AKC, meaning he just needs a 4 point major to finish his CH. Quinn picked up a major in ASCA, meaning he just needs 2 point to finish his CH. I'd have to look, but I know Glory has earned at least two QQ's so far this year towards her MACH. We haven't had any ASCA agility trials yet, so no progress on the ATCH yet. I'm always happy with progress, it takes me a step closer to the goal!

We're only a fourth of the way through this year. I've already seen great things happen and am in no hurry to see this year rush by. My goals are just that, things that I strive to achieve. If I reach the end of the year and haven't accomplished them, they can be next year's goals! For now, I'll continue to work on my resolutions, they give me focus and bring me joy, peace, and satisfaction. They cover many different areas of my life and can only help me become a better person. I'll check back in a few months and see how things are going at the halfway mark. Until then, carry on and keep reaching for those goals!

Let's give blogging a try...

Today is January 1st, 2012. It's a day of New Year's Resolutions. Like many people, I've been thinking about what I need to do to make this a good year, reach my goals, and be a better person. The idea of a blog came from many friends that write blogs. Sometimes I drop in and read them and get a little insight into their lives. I've always had mixed feelings about blogs. Why would someone want to read about what I do, feel, think? Everyone has his or her own life to live. One of the reasons I decided to try a blog this year was for the purpose of documentation. I would love for my kids to have our memories written down to look over some day. I've tried a journal, I'm years behind on photo albums, and I'm not much of a scrapbooker. This year I'll try a blog and see how it goes. I keep a website for our show dogs and update that every Monday. My goal is to add a post to the blog every Tuesday.

It wouldn't be a proper New Year's Day without some resolutions:
1. Blog. I want to give this an honest, one-year attempt.
2. Health.. I want to lose weight, exercise consistently, and improve my diet. I have some health issues that I would love to overcome and I know diet would help. After having four babies in the last ten years, my body could certainly use some toning. As I'm now in my mid 30's, it is time take care of this body so that I can be around for a long time! Ironically, I do plan to keep a food/exercise diary for accountability.
3. Bible study. I would like to spend some time in God's word every day, even if I only get to read one verse. God did give us an instruction book for life, and it's foolish that we try to muddle our way through life without reading it.
4. Organization. This one is rather generic. I would love to get my life in order, get all closets clean, files in order, and just generally de-clutter my house and life.
5. Goals with my dogs. I do have a full list of goals for each dog that will be competing this year. The big ones are a MACH, ATCH, AKC CH. and ASCA CH. I don't worry too much if I don't reach all of my goals, but they are good to acknowledge. They motivate me in my training and help me get out of bed on those early dog show mornings. (especially the cold,dark mornings!)

I have an English degree that I seldom get to use as a stay-at-home mom. I do hope this blog will help me stretch my writing muscles now and then. Here's a poem to start off the new year:

A New Year

Life is filled with loss and gain,
May your year have joy and little pain.
May your outlook be optimistic and fair,
What you gain is what you share.
Each step towards a goal is closer to the End,
Be mindful how each day you spend.
Look forward with hope, live today with love,
Give thanks for each blessing you receive from above.
Live for no regrets, hold your loved ones near,
With head held high, charge into this new year!

DW