Well here we are...

How can it possibly be 2012?   I don't know if I was ready.  I am not one to make resolutions, but I am continually in a state of making goals and revamping them.  I will say 2011 in hindsight ended up being a year with many challenges.
*  I changed jobs in nursing to one where I feel very fulfilled and it also has a scheduled that allows me to be a better mom.  It still requires complex scheduling and help from others, but ultimately I have been less tired and overextended which makes for a better me.  Learning a new job and new way of doing things have been a challenge.  Thankfully I finally am starting to feel settled. 
*  I have been very conflicted about returning to school and even though I keep wanting to God seems to have other purposes for me and it hasn't panned out yet. 
* I decided on a dare really from my husband to take up running again.  He actually started with me and lasted a whole three weeks.  I really think he just tapped into my competitive nature and got me started and he really knew once I lit the fire I would go.  I am still not fast, but I completed my first 5k after not running in many, many years.  I started around Labor day and have run 3 days per week most every single week since then.  I actually started my 12 week program over at a faster speed to try to improve.  I really, really want to completed a marathon.  Shhh...don't tell anybody, but I really think I can do it.  I have my mind set on a target date/time and I will keep it posted if if comes up in the near decade.  I think running is a difficult thing to do even when done slowly.  I have been somewhat disappointed that I have not lost "one red pound" as I like to say, but really that is my own fault because I have not changed my eating habits - at all.   I know if I get serious about doing distance running I must change my fuel.  That just may work if i start really training.  Time will tell.
* My FIL and very dear neighbor had bypass surgery in the fall.  Reality of taking care of the importance of taking care of my health.
* This paying off debt thing is really hard.  We have really been on lock down and done without so many things.  I am hoping 2012 is the year of a positive turn around because I am so very tired of not having any money to do anything.  We are blessed to have a roof over our head and electricity, but some time you work and work and want to just do more than get by.  I hope this will be our year.  We have sacrificed for a long time to get here.
*Family is the ultimate most important thing on earth.  I want to keep making memories and cherish time together.
* My spiritual life is a bit of a work in progress.  I am able to do my devotions of most days and pray continually, but I want us to have a permanent church home.  I pray we will find our place and build relationships and be involved in more activities.  If you read this please consider praying for all these things for our family.
* I tried to take even the smallest opportunities to take care of myself.  It is hard for me.  I like to take care of others and honestly I am pretty low maintenance and have low self confidence.  I have tried to paint my nails more.  It seems like a little thing, but I am a nervous nellie and I will pick and pick if they are not painted and I have never had long nails.  Simple things like this and burning candles that I enjoy are just a couple of ways I have tried to take care of myself with a limited budget.
*Blogging has not been as easy for me.  I have been in a rut with meals and trying to be healthy, quick, cost effective, and pleasing to everyone is hard.  I have had hard time trying to manage my time and keeping the house going. I really wish I could hire a housekeeper so I could come home and just be off, but it is as likely as winning the lottery at this point.  My standards have had to be lowered somewhat and hopefully I will improve in this area this year.

I wanted to get my thoughts written down in hopes it will help me establish my goals for 2012.  Wish me luck!

P.S. Remember time FLIES!!!! Make the most of it!!!

Goal Post

Since the Taking Care of ME is going rather well at motivating me I thought I would try posting what I plan to get accomplished BEFORE I do it and see if I can have one of those super-duper productive set of days off that make me feel happy and less stressed.

1. Friday - special day with son before school starts- get glasses, see The Zookeeper movie ( which we now have to drive 50 miles for since we waited so late), eat at his favorite Chick Fil A and visit Target for a small Lego thing he needs and Michael's for some paint for said legos.  As far as he is concerned this is a perfect day!  (I have to have a little buttered popcorn to make it complete for me, but otherwise I think he chose some of my favorite things too.)
2.  While out of special day sneak in Lowes Hardware and buy two (yes that is 2) toilet seats to replace the two that need it at our house. 
3. Clean house - the good kind with all the bathrooms all the floors and get it back to it's original starting point that does not include boy scout camping gear in my bedroom. 
4. Laundry - again get back to point zero before school starts with all clean clothe and sheets and everything -not just most- put in it's place.
5. Purge - get rid of all the extra junk (goodwill, dump stuff, etc.) that keeps accumulating and making me crazy.  I like organization and I am convinced I live with two farm animals.
6. Clean car - again the silver queen needs a bath in bad way and she would really like it if I could find time to get the diet coke out of the carpet on the passenger's side that has been there too long to admit.  Clean out trunk, try to remember to place an old set of my uniform in my bag in the trunk to have for an extra.
7. Straighten and possibly reorganize garage a little...nothing major, but at least make dog food and recycling easier to get to since I am the once that is climbing to get to where my husband thought they should be- funny huh.
8. Actually plan meals and maybe even post about food again.  Sorry I have been so busy that I have not been able to even cook for us much less share any new and exciting recipes...I will try to do better.
9. Strip wallpaper border in son's room - I know this probably won't make the cut of what gets really done but a girl has to stay ahead on her list right?
10. Exercise and listen to music and read...or take a little day trip with the family on Sunday after church.

Taking Care of ME

Okay so Charlie hadn't been on an official walk in a couple of weeks due to the heat so tonight he took me for a walk.  It's probably better that way because I probably got more of a calorie burn with him pulling me along.  Every little bit helps.  I have also consumed two bananas and two bottled waters in the last couple of days and just so you know that is a record because I am not a huge fan of either....but I am taking baby steps.

Basketweaving - Taking Care of ME

Once upon a time I made baskets - various types, colors, shapes and sizes....even a snowman basket that is packed away until winter.  I have decided that it is time for me to get back to doing things I love and this is one of them.  I use them in various places in my home and have given them as gifts.  Stay tuned and I will show you if I whip out a new one anytime soon.  I plan to at least inventory my supplies over the weekend.

Taking Care of ME

New short and sassy hairdo!  Easy and simple.

Taking Care of Me

First post in my new Taking Care of Me series. Today I took a nice long walk and did some ab exercises (crunches, flutter kicks, and bicycles).  I plan to paint my fingernails next. Woohoo.

Where I've Been and Where to go from here

I planned to post today on where I have been and all the reasons I have been too overwhelmed to post.  Life has been busy as summers generally are, but there were a few other things that came up that made the time get away from us.  We were fortunate to take a vacation although two of the three of us were sick most of the trip, but still very thankful that we had time away. Rather than rant on and on about all the other STUFF that came up I decided to focus on where to go from here. I was searching for a picture to post that showed how crazy I have felt and somehow I stumbled onto this photo and it spoke to me because it shouted to me what I need to do now.  So here goes....

First - school starts back for my son in about 3 weeks and with that comes a routine - I like routines and that will make things better.  It will be a rough start helping him get organized and started, but in the end our family does better when we are back on autopilot.

Second - the house - due to chaos beyond my control things have gotten way off base.  Shoes being left out, laundry being left in baskets for longer than I can stand and clutter that has multiplied like fruit flies or something. I did start by clearing out all the clothes that my son can no longer wear (3 large trash bags full) and now I just have to do more purging and simplifying in the other rooms of the house.

Third- LEGO star wars are invading part of my house.....I need to continue to find ways to control the ever expanding world that is evolving in the game room. (aka his sister's old room)

Fourth - The garage has been a storage area for a relative and landing strip for endless Boy Scout camping trips.  I must regain control of my parking space!

Fifth - I was planning to take Statistics to work towards my BSN but God kept making it clear that now was not the time - I am hard headed so he had to thump me on the forehead a couple of times before I got it, but I finally did.

Sixth  I must get us back into church.  We have not made time this summer and it shows.  I have found myself slipping into old habits and I must get back into a fellowship with others.  I need that!  I have been doing my prayer time and devotions, but I need to get my family back in church - no excuses.

Seventh- My stress level has been through the roof with the new job, family dynamics, bills, illness, etc. and I had to start medication for my blood pressure today.  It makes me really sad that I have allow myself to gain weight, become less active and worst of all allowed stress to get to this point.  I absolutely MUST take care of myself above all else.  I always take care of everyone and everything else that needs to be done, but I must make exercise and healthy habits, i.e. bible study group, crafts, blog, cook, have friend time, etc. regular parts of my life.  Again the theme is simplify - I have to keep it simple and take care of me first and then I will be a better mother, daughter, friend, employee....

I think as of today I will make a category in my blog entitled "Taking Care of Me" and I am going to try at least weekly to post a title of the same name with at least one thing (hopefully more) that I have made a point to do to take better care of myself.  Time will tell if I keep it up but I have you to keep me in check.