Jan. 3, 2008
January Goals & Habits
The power of habits is very important, and there are some I would like to implement for myself and my sweet children. Knowing that just a few introduced at a time and mastered well are far better than trying to accomplish everything at once -- and ending up in failure (because it was just too overwhelming) -- I'm breaking it down, especially for the kids. We will be working on just a few habits, etc each month. I will also be breaking down my larger goals into more easily accomplished "bite-sized pieces."
First, for "the mama":
(I'm using God's Word, especially Proverbs 31, etc to help focus my goals-- not just for "a year" but for a lifetime. See verses below to see which ones I'm focusing on this month.)
1. Make Fridays my "Crafts & Creativity" Day. Will be working on making the top of Little Man's quilt.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; (In this case, my son's bed.)
2. During any free minutes (like while eating my breakfast or lunch, or those quiet moments after the kids are in bed) "peruse, then purge" some magazines from my overflowing magazine basket, and then set them aside to give to our local nursing home. (I have a terrible "back-log" as you can see, as I got a stack this summer from a friend that she passed along, and I also recieve Better Homes & Gardens, The Old Schoolhouse, homeschool catalogs, etc. I've decided to not renew my subscription to BH&G. There are magazines at the libraries for free, if I ever want to look at any in the "home, garden & recipes" catagories.)
20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
3. Have a cup or 2 of hot tea every day. I've gotten away from this and miss it. The nutritional goodness of it with the different herbal teas in my stash, how it warms me up in the cold weather, and how it slows me down and soothes my very spirit -- I enjoy & benefit from it all. I've promised myself that when I've finished my current tea stash, I'll treat myself to some from The Bulk Herb Store.
4. Wake up an hour earlier. Over the holidays, my body lapsed into sleeping in with all of the late nights and "no school" to do. I get so much more accomplished when I'm up before my household. Eventually, I'll get back to where I was in November (5am-ish somedays, which was wonderful!). In Feb, I'll see about adding in working out some mornings, but hey..... I'm working up to it. 
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
5. Start on my reading list. (see side bar for titles) I have a stack that I went through over the holidays of "would like to read this year." This month I'll start my reading/study of Created to Be His HelpMeet again this year (will be my 3rd time through, as I read it once a year). I bought the journal and just want to soak it all in and study the verses, etc again that Debi points out. The other book I'll be reading is "Captivating" as DH got that for me and wants to know what I think (he has enjoyed Eldridge's books for men).
10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
5. "Gentle voice, gentle heart." I was convicted of this while reading something on the NGJ site:
"Never yell unless they (your children) are about to step in front of a moving vehicle. Yellers are never trainers; they are competitors, the other side of the street fight. Parents are cool, confident, poised, always in control. Kids yell at each other if they are not trained. But then if a parent is not trained…."
A friend once said, "I never hear you yell at your children." (She isn't in my house day in and day out.  ) I know I can be impatient, irrated, etc and while I may not always "yell", those things do come out in my voice and actions; hence I'm not always "gentle and self-controlled." So since the Spirit convicted, I thank the Lord for revealing my lack in this area, and am asking for Him to train me in it.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Gal. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
2 Pet 1:5-6 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
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For Darling Daughter:
1. We will keep working on mastering her December habit/training of putting the dishes away. (She's doing really well on this and pretty much has it down.)
2. I'm adding "cleaning toilets" to her training list. We worked on it today and she will become responsible for cleaning the one in the bathroom she shares with her brother.
3. I also want to really nail down her "pre-breakfast" routine with her, as I know if we master that, it will help make our days fall into place better. (Again, it kind of went by the way-side with Grandma & Grandpa visiting, etc.)
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For Little Man:
1. He loves to empty the bathroom trash cans into the main one, so I'm adding learning how to put a new liner in the kitchen trash can. (which DD takes out for us).
2. He will also start learning how to set the table by himself (before, he was "kind of" doing it with DD) AND to take his dishes to the sink without needing reminding. I want to really focus on this the next couple of weeks to make sure he gets these things "down pat."
3. Will be working on "first-time obedience."
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