Granola Mom 4 God

It is hard to put into words all of the thoughts that are running through my head.

However, there is one thought that feels like a migraine.

Vacation is over.  The Engineer returned to work this morning.  I quite honestly want to begin to wail, kick, and scream.  My thoughts are totally irrational.  And akin to a disgruntled 2-year old not getting her way.

Not that I know anything about what little 2-year old girls look like when they are upset.

Conforming

I didn’t want to conform.  I wanted to be different. 

But I read someone’s goals for 2013 yesterday, and I realized that this whole “planning” wasn’t a sin as I originally had deemed it. 

I’m kidding. 

I think I was just jealous. I thought, “How nice that you all have this clearly defined direction and plan.  I’m just trying to get the laundry to the washing machine.  You go save the world.  I have to pick up the dog’s poop.  Not that I do this on a regular basis either.”

But I read a blog post where the mom was brutally honest about her goals.  As I am being with you.  I don’t have it all together.  It looks like I get a lot done . . . but I don’t.  I just take pictures that look like we are busy. 

Anyhoodle, a fellow sojourner in the walk in the trenches of motherhood encouraged me.

There isn’t anything wrong with having a plan.  It is a tool.  A guideline.

For example, almost immediately upon crossing the state line into Florida last week, the Engineer said, “Let’s make a grocery list.”

A grocery what?

It was a painful task.  Arduous.  I felt like I was plucking my PCOS induced facial hairs out ten at a time. 

But when I took Sweet Pea to the grocery store in sunny Sarasota, I was so thankful.  Because everyone else and their brother was there shopping.  It was the day before Christmas. 

Thank you, Engineer.  Your list making and organizational strategies do make an impact in my disorganized world.

My 2013 Goals

My prayer is that my goals spur you on.  Not set you up for despondency.  Failure.  Feelings of inferiority.

The abridged version looks something like this:

• Create a joyful home, while living joyfully in it.
• Lose another 30 pounds.  (Remember, I have already lost 23 pounds.)
• Run a mini-marathon.  (I’ll have to pick up the practice of Pilates to do this though.  Wearing a diaper might create too much drag and give me a lower split time.)  Did you see this Pilates Reformer at Costco?  Drool.  Be quiet.  A girl can wish.
• Faithfully use the Motivated Moms planner to keep my house in order.  You can also get the Motivated Moms on your Android (phone or Kindle) or iPad/iPhone.
• Create a list of 1000 gifts.
• Meet with my Maker every morning . . . by getting up early.
• Less screen time.  More kid time. Blessing friends time.  Meeting with family time.
• Travel.  Like to Utah for the Young Living Grand Convention.
• Save money to purchase a kitchen table from IKEA.
• Support the amazing people in my Young Living Downline.
• Focus on ministering to readers and figuring out what you really want to read about.
• Get to know my neighbors better.
• Invest in a few sweet girls that frequently show up at my door. 

Growing Joy

I decided to be cheesy.  I picked a word to define my year.

Joyful. 

I struggle to be happy.  Hence the “happy day” routine that I am fairly religious about.

I want my home to be a happy place.  I desire my kids to be like little flowers that are consistently turning their faces towards the Son, because their mom does the same thing. 

Like Sarah Mae says in the book Desperate (with Sally Clarkson),

I want to be a safe place for my children.  I want them to see that my arms are open and I love them no matter what they do.  I want them to have confidence that their mama is on their team . . .

While I don’t have a trail map for this somewhat illusive fruit of the spirit, I have no doubt that it can be found.  It is after all, something that comes from knowing the Lord. 

Step One:  Begin memorizing Galatians 5.

Drop the I’m Eating to Control Something Baby Weight

I lost 23 pounds doing the hCG diet, this past Fall. 

This time around, I am also losing weight with the help of hCG but using liquid drops.  And it has proven just as effective.  I’ll tell you more about it later.

Step Two:  Use my hCG app and continue following the hCG diet.

I was Runnin’ . . .

I loathe running.  But I think the source of this was before kids.  When the Engineer and I both worked, he would drag me out of bed to run when it was pitch black out.

Not fun. 

But my dear college roommate and late night shopping buddy has asked me some three years now to run a race with her.

So we are.  Not just a little ‘ol race . . . a mini-marathon.  It will be my third time – but I was much younger when I ran it the last time.

Will you come cheer me on?

In order to do this though . . . I have to work on some core strength.  I’ll leave it at that. 

Step Three:  Utilize the Hal Higdon running plan and use the various yoga and Pilates videos in the basement . . . or actually go to a class at the YMCA.

Motivated Mom

Last night, I cleaned my kitchen sink and . . . get this . . . vacuumed the upstairs hallway and bedrooms. 

I even tackled the stairs.

Let that be enough of an endorsement of the Motivated Moms Planner.

What about you? 

Were you like me?  Grumbling with every blog post that you read featuring some woman’s lofty goals for 2013? 

How can I encourage you? 

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.