In spite of his apparently reckless existance, Vronsky was a man who hated disorder. . . .To keep things straight he was in the habit, some five or six times a year according to circumstances, of secluding himself and clearing up all of his affairs.  He called it having a clean up or faire la lessive (doing the washing).  - from Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

The new year is such a wonderful time to have a clean up.  The new year beckons shiny and clean full of promise and hope.  The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is the perfect time to sit and contemplate the previous year and make resolutions for the year to come.  After settling my old affairs as much as possible, I have formulated the following resolutions for 2008:

1.  In regards to finances -
     I resolve to stop nagging my husband.  He is a capable, responsible man and can make good financial decisions.  I will focus on my spending habits and leave his alone.  I feel like the person in the Bible who was so busy pointing out the splinter in someone else's eye that he couldn't see the beam in his own eye. 

2.  In regards to my relationship with God -
     I resolve to spend time alone with God every day.  I want to acquire a desire to know God in a real and personal way.  I have found a wonderful Bible study that I am doing, and I am also going to start reading through my Bible.  I also resolve to start attending church regularly.  There are too many excuses that we use for not going.  We have simply fallen out of the habit of going to church.  Starting this year, I am going to make it a priority to be in church.

3.  In regards to my children -
     I resolve to pray for children every single day in a focused way.  My mother gave me a calendar that has specific Biblical virtues to pray every day for my children.  I resolve to listen more to my oldest son (he talks a lot!).  I resolve to work with my daughter on self-control of her emotions.  I resolve to wean my youngest, potty-train my youngest, and get my youngest to sleep in his own bed!  I also resolve to write my children more letters and notes.

4.  In regards to my husband -
     I resolve to pray earnestly for him every single day.  I have claimed Psalm 37:23-24 for my husband.  I will pray every day that my husband will find the joy that comes from serving the Lord. 

5.  In regards to homeschooling -
     I resolve to be self-disciplined and provide my children with the best education that I can possibly give them.  I resolve to be more confindent in my methods and teaching style.  I resolve to start including Bible as a regular subject every single day.

6.  In regards to blogging -
     I resolve to write on a more regular basis.  To help me meet this goal, I am going to create a list of topics that can be regularly covered.  I might have themed days, but I am still uncertain on that one.

My family's resolution this year is to be lean, mean and green in 2008!  We are going to exercise more as a family, eat out less, be aggressive in our frugality and saving, and be more earth friendly in our living habits.  The kids are enjoying our motto; plus, they love getting to tell mom that sodas are neither lean, mean, nor green!  I am slowly kicking the habit. 

2007 was a year full of physical changes for us.  We moved across country to a climate that is dry and hot.  My husband and I lost weight.  My husband is working with new co-workers in a new environment.  My children have met new friends.  We have met new friends and chosen a new church. 

It is my desire that 2008 will be a year of spiritual changes for our family.  God is working in our hearts and lives.  Every day I am realizing more and more how undeserving of a Savior I really am and how wonderful God is to me. 

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.