A New Year

Tonight we stay up ridiculously late to celebrate the coming of the New Year.  I don't know why New Year's Eve always seems so late, I stayed up 'til one last night and it didn't phase me...
With the coming of the new year is the chance for everyone to start over.  To begin again on projects that they gave up as a lost cause the year before. To finally give up that favorite, yet sugary food.  To forgive and forget.  On New Year's Day, we all generally resolve to be a better person.  And like most humans we all generally fail.  Which is OK; as long as we keep trying!



So this year I have a few resolutions I've resolved upon:

1. Start a workout regime.  I am not a very active person, never have been.  Oh sure, I ran around outside when I was a kid, played soccer, played in the forest; but I never really enjoyed challenging myself physically.  When I was tired, I stopped.  If I started to sweat, it was time to stop and go cool down with a book. (Incidentally, I love books!) Nathan is totally different.  He doesn't feel like his day was worthwhile unless he has pushed himself in some sort of physical activity; be it soccer, rock climbing, or just lifting weights.  Physical activity and fitness of the body has never been something that mattered to me, but it matters to my husband.  I am notorious for saying I'll workout, trying to for a few days and then giving up.  This year I'd like to put a stop to that.  I love my husband, and one way I can show him that is to care about what he cares about. It will be challenging, but also rewarding.
2. Start everyday with God.  I want to spend every morning either reading Scripture or praying with God.  He is my everything and I feel so much better about life in general when I keep Him at the center.  It is easy to let the chaos of life get in the way or our relationship.  It is hard to have a relationship with a being you can't actually see or hear, so you have to make that much more of an effort to be still and listen.  I resolve to be a better listener.
3. Write at least 4 blogs a month.  That's at least 48, blogs in the year 2014. No, let's just make it an even 50.  The big Five-O. Fifty blogs in the year two thousand and fourteen. (This is going to really suck if it comes December and I only have 25 blogs or something...)
4. Create a budget and savings plan for my tiny little family.  My husband and I are not the best with money; really, who is?  This year we have resolved to be better about the way we spend the money God blesses us with.  It is true that we should live by faith and just trust God to provide, but He also told us to be wise.  That means not spending $100 at Starbucks every month. (that's only 3 dollars every day by the way) Which is hard. Because I work there.
5. Find a moment of joy in every. single. day. This year I really want to focus on the blessings the Lord gives us.  Me being me, I'm going to need to remind myself of this every day. So I have a plan. This year (2014) I will use Instagram to remind myself of the joy of God's blessings by creating a hashtag and then using that hashtag every day to document something in my life that fills me with joy. (If you don't know what a hashtag is, I'm sorry, but I am going to laugh at you.  It's this #example)  My hashtag for 2014 will be #365daysfilledwithjoy. BOOM. Just happened!  Look for it on my instagram, @nukajane.

Well, I think 5 is the most resolutions I can make and actually keep! Perhaps I'll try to eat healthier, but I won't make that a resolution so that I don't feel bad if it doesn't happen....... heehee, I'm devious. NOT.

What are your resolutions this year? I hope that whether you participate or not in the tradition, that you begin this new year with a spring in your step and joy in your heart! Cheers!

Oh and P.S.

 

Happy New Year from the Gerhardts!!