I sat down and redid my menu for the month, the budget and my goals for the year of 2009.  I also have a list of sewing and crafting projects and a schedule for them so hopefully I will have all the presents done that I wish to give away for Christmas this year. I also have a weight loss calendar going as well.  (I would like to loose at least 50 pounds this year....but would like to push for 100.  Sounds like alot doesn't it???  But break it down and that is only 1-2 pounds per week!  Definately doable!)

  If you think that is crazy, well....so do I!! LOL  If you asked me a year ago if I would ever be this organized, I would laugh at you.....hysterically!  I can't guarantee everything will work out perfectly like I have planned, because things (like life in general) happen to throw us off balance.  But at least I have a plan!!  Most people don't start off with one, and then wonder why they didn't get anything accomplished for the year!!!

I am starting off this year with a clean slate.  No more beating myself up for not loosing weight last year (I did loose 20 pounds, but I should have been more diligent and lost more....oh well.  New year....NEW ME!!!), or for not saving more money, making more homemade Christmas presents, etc.  This is a new year, and the slate is clean.  Clean as we are from sin because Jesus died for us.  He tosses our sins as far as the east is from the west.  He wipes them from his book and his memory, as if they NEVER happened.  HOW WONDEFUL!

So this year, I plan on spending more time with my Heavenly Father in Bible Study, church, and devotions.   I plan to spend more time with hubby by planning monthly date nights (without Noah), and more playing with Noah and planning fun events with him.  (He is really getting into tumb ling around here at home.  Maybe I can look into tumbling things online and teach him, or enroll him in a class.  I think he would love it!)  I want to spend more time with friends and my extended family also!

And sometimes, it is the simple things in life that pleases myself and my family.  I want to stick to my cleaning schedule and bless my family with an organized home.  Bake more for my family, and friends.  Make more homemade, heart felt presents and cards for holidays, bdays, anniversaries, etc. (and actually remember to send the cards this year too!) 

I want to learnt o crochet this year.  I always wanted to in the past, but made every excuse in the book.  LOL My mom crocheted the most gorgeous things....and now that she is gone, I want to learn even more.  So, if I need to learn from a book, or a friend, etc.....it needs to happen this year.

I want to read more, travel more, sleep more (LOL), learn more.  I want to smile more this year.  The last few years have been hard loosing so many family members to death.  This is a year to celebrate what we DO HAVE, and not mourn what we don't.  No more whining about not having a new car, but smile and be ever so thankful for the OLD car we do have.  After all....IT IS PAID FOR!!!

This is the year, to pay off a personal debt we have, and become debt free except our mortgage.   Matthew is starting a new part time job this year doing electrical work.  He won't quit his current job until he can support the family, but we are both pouring time and effort and ALOT of prayer into this new endeavor. 

Yes, this year, is going to be a good year.  God has surely blessed us in the past (in our marriage, our finances, in our children, etc.) and he will do the same this year!!!!!!!