Everything is a choice

     That's it. That is the word I have chosen to guide my 2013. It wasn't an easy choice. I didn't have any great revelations about what it should be. It didn't appear in my coffee as I sipping it gingerly. No, ironically, I had a tough time choosing my word. It had come down to two words and after debating between the two, I had chosen the other word (Focus). I thought it was perfect and had been posting it around my house for a few weeks. But whenever it I would remind myself to focus, I would think about the choices I was making when I focus on one thing over another. In the end, I decided to change my word.
     In the past, I haven't done anything grand with my word. No necklaces or scrapbooks (although I would love to-just haven't). This year, though, I'm going to work hard to use it to guide my actions and outcomes. I have a choice. I can choose to say yes, or I can choose to say no. I can choose to walk past the pile of laundry, or I can choose to put it in the washing machine. When I think of how many choices make throughout the day, it is very overwhelming:

• get up or sleep in
• cold breakfast or hot breakfast
• Bible study or check my email
• take a walk or stay in
• let Baylee watch t.v or read her a book
• chicken or beef for dinner

 I want Christ to be at the center of all of my choices, so I need to be very intentional about the choices I make. Because of this, one of the first intentional choices I have made this year, is to join a discipleship study with some ladies at my church. I will let you know how this choice impacts the other choices I make and hope to be able to look back at this blog at the end of the year and see how my year was influenced by the choices I make.

Happy New Ye...oh, wait,...

I spent the month of January preparing for February.
Huh??????
You see, it's all about the resolutions and goals we all tend to set at the beginning of the year. I love the excitement and promise a new year brings. I hate the disappointment and feeling of failure that unmet expectations bring. So, I started something a few years ago that has revolutionized the way I start my year. Well, maybe not revolutionized, but definitely taken the pressure off.  Want to know what it is?

My new year doesn't officially start until February 1st.         Simple.As.That.

 I realized that December is so full of Holiday happenings that I don't have the time to invest in making reasonable goals that are attainable. Plus, I would rather be focusing on the beauty of Christmas than thinking about "the future" that is January. I then spend all of January working on my goals and plans for the new year. By February 1st, everything is ready to put into practice, and I am much more likely to be successful.

Some of the things I worked on during January:

• I chose my One Little Word for the year (hint, hint)
• I designed a layout for my notebook that will be useful in keeping me on track
• I listed 3 goals for each month of the year. I will not get behind, I will not work ahead. 
• Cleaned and purged in order to simplify

I think my plan is doable. Of course, I know I have to be adaptable, but I will not use that as a crutch. 

So, what about you? How are you doing on your resolutions?

Making snow ice cream.