Oh those New Years resolutions, they sound like such good and lofty ideas in January and such “Really, do I have to?” commitments in July.
I make fun of Dale and his New Years resolutions every year, and each year declare myself resolution free. However, I read some book somewhere claiming goals written down were more likely accomplished than “someday I will” thoughts.
At the beginning of the year I wrote down 5 personal goals.
1. Read the chronological bible in one year.
(I am currently reading Job and am a few weeks ahead of the yearly schedule, but days behind Dale who keeps reading more than the assignment. Gabe, listening to me harangue Dale about reading more than me commented, “So, now it’s a crime to read the bible?” Thirteen year old boys: Aren’t they wonderful?)
2. Use smaller dishes.
(This is a health oriented goal to eat less. It is a good goal. I’ve made miniscule progress.)
3. Walk every day.
(This second health oriented goal has only been accomplished if I could reword it as “walk around the garden every day.”)
4. Write.
(The 8 people who read this blog know quite certainly that this goal has been missed more than hit.)
5. Organize all parts of the house.
This goal I am making progress on. I took my friend’s advice of “Do the worst, first” at the beginning of the year. I organized my photos (this task had been sitting unaccomplished for 9 years) which motivated me to make, with the help of my siblings, a 50th wedding anniversary book for my parents and helped Abby create Josiah’s grad party slide show.
Next, I organized the dreaded office paperwork which allows me to tell Dale “I probably shredded it” whenever he asks me for information he needs.
Third, for Dale’s father’s day present, I cleaned out the garage. When Dale came home from work that day, he came inside and asked, “Am I allowed to pull my car in there?”
Fourth was the “clear out the basement” task. I did this task last week. It was not fun for me or my children. Character camp: I can never escape.
Josiah sorted, stacked, and discarded camping gear, luggage, and boxes. Abby sorted, counted, and discarded games, puzzles, and gift wrap. Gabe sorted, stacked, and kept all tools and miscellaneous electronics. In his room, Gabe now displays a 13 year old handspring visor, a 16 year old laptop computer, and a giant cell phone with a retractable antenna. Zeke dumped out the dress up box, looked at the various costumes, and put them all back in. (Zeke’s siblings complain that because he is the baby of the family he never has to do any hard jobs. Seriously, I don’t know what they are talking about.)
I sorted the clothes, knickknacks, dishware, and toys for donation. I hauled off the carpet remnants to the dump. I organized, stacked, and swept.
Some may think I was the supervisor for this event, but in our house, someone else oversees the work and makes sure it is completed to an acceptable standard.
