Update: Goals for 2013

Personal
1--Get up early, even on weekends.
This is going so, so.  I sleep until 5:40 most mornings, but I have quiet time and I'm not cranky or frazzled with my kids so I'm calling it a win.  I would like to start getting up at 5 so I have some time to work on quiet projects.

2--Spend daily time in the Word.
Working hard on this.  The rule I made for myself is to spend time in the word before any blog reading or social media checking.

3--Read at least one book a month.
Here's the list.  

1. Bringing Up Boys
2. Bringing Up Girls
3. Unplanned
4. Loved By Choice
5. The Ministry of Motherhood
6. The Cost of Discipleship
7. Loving the Little Years
8. Eat that Frog
9. Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
10. The Year We Disappeared
11. What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast
12. Let It Go
13. Taking Care of the Me in Mommy

I haven't read any books probably since the fall.  Oh, how I miss it.  Once school is out...

4--Use your planner.
Working on it.  This is making a difference.  I bought stick on pockets so I can keep my bills in my planner.  I *try* to write down everything I need to remember and then a weekly to-do list.

5--Develop one habit per month.
 I did make a list so that is a little bit of progress... 

Marriage & Family
1--Go on at least one date per month.
We have done this once in the last 4 months.  Sad.  My husband works second shift and then a second job on Friday and Saturday nights.  We really need to work on this.

2--Communicate an I respect to Hubs every week.
Not yet.  I think of things I want to write/say and then I forget.  Going to be much more intentional about this.

3--Read to my children more.  Here's the list
Jesus Story Book Bible - almost done!
The Little House Series - getting ready to order them
I am also trying hard to make it a habit to read to them every night before putting them to bed.  Even if we're late on the bedtime routine, one or two books do not take that much time.

4--Play more.
Trying so hard to to say yes and I'll... or to give them a definite time frame.  

5--Plan at least 2 special family events per month.
Zilch.  In this season of life the most special family event is just being together. We relish and guard our Saturdays.

6--Spend special time with each child each week.
Since Hubs' work schedule changed, it's just me and the kids every week night.  On the weekends, I try to take each one with me for a different errant/outing.

7--Help Mister K and Miss G connect with grandma C every week.
Working on drawing pictures to send to her and trying to talk Grandma into getting Skype.

8--Host a S cousins get together.
This makes me so nervous, but I really want to do it.  

Friendship
1--Write one note of encouragement each month.
Nope.

2--Re-connect with KH.
Currently still trying to find her :(  

3--Be intentional about making plans with Dport area friends when we visit.
Yes.

4--Re-connect with BT.
BT teaches too so we're waiting for summer.

5--Participate in (fruit appropriate) staff activities at school.
Yes.  

6--Host a couple/family for dinner at least once a month.
Not yet, but we have met some people we would like to invite ;)


Faith & Ministry

1--Get plugged in to a Sunday School class.
Summer?

2--Join a small group.
Love them!

3--Find a way to serve as a family.
 Hmm?

4--Join a ministry
My idea of ministry is to register as a foster family.  Hubs - not so much.  We need to pray about this.

4--Go to a women's conference or retreat.

5--Reach out to our new neighbors.
We've met three of the four closest neighbors and we invited the kids from the apartments behind us to come and play a couple of times.

6--Do at least 3 Bible Studies (either independently or corporately)
The Frazzled Female
Unglued
?Mothering?
Summer?

Work

1--Remember this year for what it is.
Switching jobs is hard.  Moving is hard.  Leaving your colleagues whom you love behind stinks.  Everyone tells you that.  This is not the year to change everything.  You are in survival mode.  Let the other things go.
Changing my thinking in this area has lifted a HUGE weight.  I don't feel as overwhelmed.  I enjoy my days much more and I feel like I can breathe.  Much more manageable.  Every time I think of something I want to change or improve, I add it to a list for the summer.

2--Return assignments within one week of student's handing them in.
Having massive amounts of things to grade is the worst and it makes it hard to maintain accurate grades and then students start to grumble and then you feel like a bad teacher...which you're not.  Chunk out large projects/papers so they can be returned on time.
Well, I haven't consistently made the 1 week deadline, but I am doing MUCH better and I feel like a much better teacher.

3--Leave ready for the next day.
  If you plan ahead, you can make better use of the time you do have at school.  Plus, you have been doing this long enough...you have things to use.  
This makes a huge difference.  I've been staying 30min later than I used to at my old school, but that hour and ten minutes at the end of the day allows me to take very little home.

4--Stick to a set schedule for my student association.
Plan meetings for every other Tuesday.  Plan officer meetings.  Plan chapter events each month.  Do what you say you will do.
We elected new officers, held our end of the year potluck and are winding down.  I have learned so much about what I want to do differently next year and by re-structuring leadership positions have delegated more responsibility to the students.

5--Do two things each week to improve classroom management.
Being an organized teacher is essential for successful teaching.  
See #1 - There are so many things on "the list".  New programs, new classrooms, new schools all have my head spinning.  Things I do daily:  grade something, clean off my desk, and clean/organize the foods lab.

Confessions of a Working Mom

I'm having one of those weeks.  You know the ones where you feel like you're on a rapidly spinning merry go round and you just can't get off or maybe it's more like an escalator that never ends.  What?  You've never had that feeling?

 Truth be told, being a working mom is H.A.R.D.  I know being a stay at home is really hard too.  I'm not trying to compare the two.

I'm just saying that I am trying really hard to embrace that this is where God has me for the moment and try and be content and enjoy each day for what it is.  When I think about all of things I would like to do or maybe even should be doing, I get overwhelmed and feel guilty.  Then, I just give up and it all gets worse and I feel worse.  Terrible cycle.  I also find myself making comparisons between myself and other moms  (thank you Facebook, Pinterest, and dare I say, even church).  When I make those comparisons, I feel like I'm the only person who just can't get it together.  It's not good for me.

For example, last night at my daughter's dance recital parent meeting I was reminded that I have to get the required tights for her dance pictures on Saturday.  I've known this since last week.  I had time last weekend to get them and guess what I completely spaced off getting that done.  Ugh.

I constantly tell myself, "You work nine hours a day, your husband works second shift, and you have two preschoolers.  You get done what you get done and that's okay."

My mom (who was also a working mom) once told me after our son joined our family, "Some days you'll get a lot done.  Other days you won't get anything done and that's okay."

Biggest lesson I've learned the last five years of mommyhood:  there is no such thing as a Supermom or having it all.  It is one big balancing act.

Take this week for example:

• Today is Thursday and I have already worked 36 hours.  More like 39 if you count the 3 hours I have  spent at the grocery store getting supplies for my culinary classes.  More like 42 if you count the 2 hours of lesson plans I did on Monday night and the other hour last night.  Typical.  
• The kids and I ate dinner on the deck two nights in a row it was so nice outside.  I should tell you that we do not have deck/patio furniture so this required a little creativity on my part.    
• I swung on the swingset alongside my kiddos two nights in a row and loved every minute of it.
• We read six stories from the Jesus Storybook Bible.  My kids are cracking up at the story of David and Goliath.  They are in love with Goliath.  Well, mostly in love with the things Goliath says in the storybook version.  
• I helped both kiddos pick up their rooms...cleanest rooms in the house right now.  The intent was to do two rooms/night, but we didn't make much progress.
• I did enough laundry to keep everyone clothed, but the piles of laundry still need some serious attention.

I have not:

• Gotten up any earlier than 5:40 all week which means I haven't done my hair all week or last week now that I think about it.  
• Cleaned my kitchen all week.  I think Hubs got tired of it and ran the dishwasher earlier this week, but things are really piling up again.  I assure you nothing nasty is growing in there.  Mostly just things that need to be put away or go in the dishwasher.
• Cleaned bathrooms.  I did clean them last week so they are not terrible.  I promise.
• Picked up the downstairs.  It really looks like a bomb went off.  A bomb full of Easter eggs.  Is my daughter the only one who is obsessed with Easter eggs?  I thought I hid them all, but I swear she has secret stashes of them.
• Unpacked/organized the master bedroom/bathroom/closet since we moved in January.  I'm thinking at this point, I should just wait for the school year to be over.
• Fed my son breakfast at home once.  I do feed him, I promise.  One of the perks of being a FACS teacher is I keep a stash of breakfast stuff for him in my classroom for rushed mornings.
• Begun to sort/organize for the garage sale I am having with my sister next weekend.  

It's just one of those weeks.

Midweek Confessions

1--I am seriously much more organized during the school year.  I am behind on dishes, laundry, school work, my to do list.  I am, however, thankful for the laid back pace of summer.

2--I may have shoved all of the random items I didn't have time to put away under my son's bed Sunday before the scheduled open house.  It worked really well.  She assured me no one ever looks under the bed.

3--It is so blazing hot here that yesterday I purchased a slip and slide and placed said slip and slide in the front yard (the only place there is an incline) and wore my swimsuit (white legs and all) into the front yard.  I know it's tacky, but it is so hot there are very few outdoor play options.

4--I have to start inservice at my new school August 10.  Our house is still on the market and the apartment search is not going well at all.  The house search is much more promising, but it's hard to look when our current house has not sold.  I'm thinking we could be living in a hotel...seriously.

Controlling Chaos

Well, it is literally over 100 degrees outside.  Yesterday it was so blazing hot and I had such a bad headache we did not leave the house all day.  I was starting to feel pretty claustrophobic.  I don't know how all those pioneer families went for months on end in the house together without a glimpse of another person or civilization.  Being shut in about does me in after ONE day....but, I digress.

So today we went on a Target outing.  Normally, I like to do this particular errand by myself.  I can buy a little Starbucks and take my time perusing almost every aisle and it feels a little bit like a mini vacation.  This vacation is slightly ruined when I have to stop in every aisle to remind young children to use quiet voices and look with their eyes, not with their hands.  Anywho...I have gained enough experience in this department to give the speech in the car before entering the store.

1--We are going into a store.  What type of voice do you use?
2--You may walk close to me.  If you do not walk close to me you will have to ride in the cart.
3--If you have trouble listening, you will have to go to the bathroom for timeout.

I'm thinking that last part is probably not the best association for an almost three year old who is trying to potty train...

We did pretty well the first ten feet of the store and then there was running/pulling little sister along behind.  After a quick stop to repeat the speech all was well and it was somewhat like a little vacation.

On the way out, I saw something though that I just can't make up my mind about.  A mom had her two (probably school age) boys strapped into a cart with headphones and a gaming system.  I truly just don't know what to think.  Seems a little over the top.  But, hey whatever works I guess.

Packing Pressure

 I have known for well over a month that I had to attend a meeting 2 1/2 hours away from home tomorrow.  I asked my mom to watch my kiddos overnight and my sister to come with me to look at new houses.  All of those details were planned out but as usual I just kept letting all the little things go. 

Every day for the last week I have said to myself, "I need to do laundry so it's all done for Thursday and pack as much as I can earlier in the week so I don't lose it on Thursday morning."  Because I ALWAYS lose it when I am trying to get ready to be gone. 

Guess what happened today....

-I was up at 5:40am to shower and have a little me time.  You know, a little quiet time with God, a little coffee, a little Facebooking, Pinteresting, and blog reading.  This is the only time of day any of this is possible.

-Guess who else was up at 6am?  Little Mr. K was so excited to go see Grandma that he just couldn't stay in bed.  Mr. K who usually sleeps until at least 7 or 8...oh. dear. goodness.  I knew we were in for a rough day.  I did however do my Bible study while Mr. K watched a video.  Should I feel bad about that?

-Miss G woke up about an hour later as crabby as could be (so not like her) and stayed that way most of the morning.  I'm thinking she was annoyed with Mr. K's excitement.

-I did 5 loads of laundry this morning so we could pack.  While folding said laundry, Miss G proceeded to empy two containers of paint onto her paper.  I knew I should have checked on her when she was just so quietly engrossed in what she was doing.  HUGE mess to clean up.

-About three major fairly minor mommy meltdowns later, we left on time.  But the house is a total disaster.  It always amazes me how quickly that happens.  It looked so good last night.  Oh, and I forgot the very important paperwork that I have to hand in to my new school.  So five minutes into our 2.5 hour drive, I turn around to go back and get the paperwork.

-Then there was the stop at a rest stop to use the free WiFi to look up numbers of apartment complexes and realtors because Verizon 411 connect cannot locate these people.  I'm thinking they need Google and should refund me the fee that will show up on my monthly bill.

-My kiddos ate chicken nuggets and french fries in the car (don't tell the real food people) and napped happily ever after.

This is how this always goes.  Every time we leave to go out of town I am like a crazy person.   I don't know why I can't get it together when I know we have to be gone.  Seriously, Jenny just do the laundry and pack the kid stuff ahead of time.  

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