so, a while back i started to feel like my life was out of control. (now as a quick aside, please know that i believe with all of my being that God is sovereign, and in complete control.) i have been excited about making a change, even though i usually do not like change. i had decided that once 2009 came around, things were going to look a lot different around the parker house, and in my life in particular. i can't remember really making any new years resolutions in the past, but i had to change some things. while i was talking to joel about some of my frustrations, he said it really sounds like some stuff really has control over us (or you, meaning me, angie, the blog writer, not you, the blog reader) i never had thought of it that way, but he was so right. there are a few things that i have allowed much too important a place in my life and in the life of my family. a lot of my 'resolutions' have come out of some things that the Lord has shown me. a lot of things about me are undesirable, yet He chooses me and lifts me up so that i can be productive and bear fruit in order that i might glorify Him.
so, here go your changes:
LESS TV
2008- (and many years prior) i am a tv junkie! this is how i veg. i have turned my children into tv junkies. the tv is on almost all day until joel gets home. after the kids go to bed, i turn the tv back on and watch until i go to bed, which is late here in the eastern time zone. we have a tivo and i inadvertently try to rewind the radio and hotel tv's, etc. love my tivo! love my tv shows!
2009- joel unhooked the tivo and the direct tv last night and hooked up our cute little digital converter box. i have to be honest, my chest tightened a bit and i had to take deep breaths. this is big, peeps! i don't know how many channels we get now, or the quality of said channels we might get, but i look forward to sweet times like this:
SPEND LESS
2008 (and many years prior) hey, we don't spend money left and right, but i do spend on needless things for me and the kids.
2009- magazine subscriptions cancelled, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for sunday lunch (which just goes against all rational thought- i mean my body needs salsaritas for lunch every sunday we can swing it), little changes that will help us be better stewards. the no direct tv bill will be nice, too.
EXERCISE MORE
um, i am waiting for my workout videos to come any day now, seriously. and i used christmas money to purchase them, so there. i will say that this will be my most difficult one to follow through on. let it be known that i am going on a sa-weet vacation with my husband this summer for our 10 year anniversary. i will be in better shape by then. amen and amen.
EAT LESS
2008 (and many years prior) i have been pregnant or nursing for the last 5 ish years of my life. i eat whatever i want when i am pregnant or nursing. this is not the best idea. this is truly an area that i have lost control. i eat especially when i am depressed or frustrated or when i am happy and want to celebrate. uh oh, i just realized that that is almost all of the time. yikes. (you get the picture)
2009- i am currently very hungry. would someone please bring by some raisinettes? or mail them, because chances are, i will be hungry when the package arrives.
READ THE BIBLE
2008 (and many years prior) i have not had a consistent personal time in the Word since i was pregnant with davis. peeps, he is 4 1/2. i am just being gut level here. i have done Bible study homework, and or prepared for times that i have taught, but quiet times and Bible reading have been sporadic at best. this has caused my heart much grief and there has been much guilt. but that was angie version 2008.
2009- i must report that i have done better with this and enjoyed every moment. my wunnerful husband bought me a ipod touch for christmas. i click the screen three times and my daily Bible reading is right there on the screen. i have so enjoyed this time. i have also been able to listen to cool sermons on my ipod. i am excited about knowing my God more and giving him control on a daily basis. joel suggested that getting an ipod doesn't guarantee a spiritual boost, so fair warning, i guess.
ENGAGE MORE AS A PARENT
2008 (and many years prior) a friend told me that she learned along the way that screaming at your kids means you have lost control. oops! i am very good at parenting from the couch. and i tend to check out and need 'me' time when i am frustrated. our chore chart/responsibility chart is so lame and i have slacked in my homeschooling davis.
2009- i am so enjoying homeschooling! the kids are, too. we are rethinking how we do things with the kids, really seeking the Lord on how to best parent them as individuals (you know, that ellen is a real discipline problem) too much to type here. look out parker kids.
READ MORE
2008 (and many years prior) i can't remember the last time i started and finished a book. i am a book collector. i buy them, put them on the nightstand with every intention of reading, then move them to the bookshelf.
2008 (and many years prior) i can't remember the last time i started and finished a book. i am a book collector. i buy them, put them on the nightstand with every intention of reading, then move them to the bookshelf.
2009 i have read 10 books already. just kidding- is anyone still reading this? i am reading don't waste your life with my friend alisha. this will be the first book of many that i will complete this year. goodness knows i won't be watching top chef, so this should help with the reading.
DECLUTTER OUR HOUSE
2008 (and many years prior) we were on the verge of our stuff overtaking us and our house. i really don't do well with clutter, but over the years, i haven't taken the time to really get rid of the stuff we don't use.
2009 joel took a truck load of stuff to the goodwill on saturday. this process will take longer than i would like, but we are on the right track.
SHUT UP MORE, LISTEN MORE
if you are around me at all this needs no explanation. i am a verbal processor and i tend to dominate conversations. this will be the second hardest one to follow through on.
if you are around me at all this needs no explanation. i am a verbal processor and i tend to dominate conversations. this will be the second hardest one to follow through on.
now there is a church sign here in town that says something like this...
"Goals for 2008: Save money, lose weight. How's that working for you?" it made me chuckle. it made me think this time next year (because we can guess that they will put the same thing on there) i will be able to say in your face, tacky lighted church sign. in. your. face.
so there you have it. i have had a great 2009 so far and i am hopeful about what is to come.
6 comments:
Girl......go get 'em! You crack me up but only because I can so relate to your honesty. Except about the kids part...but still. I have some reading suggestions for you when you have exhausted your nightstand pile up. And the book you mentioned sounds interesting especially since the way it's written it sounds like "with my friend alicia" is part of the title. :) So good luck sticking it to the church sign. I'm all about taking down the stupid church signs. :)
nice to meet you, 2009 ang. :)
Angie-I just discovered your blog and I've been reading through it and seriously laughing my hinny off! I guess it's been so long since I've seen you that I forgot how funny you are (how could I forget?) I sure do miss you!
Thanks for sharing Angie, I have alot of the same goals this year so I'll try to encourage you!
I can relate to so many of those! well, except for the ones involving children - but all the other ones, I'm there with you!
I miss you, Ang! There are so many people I wish i could just sit down and talk to and say, "hey, remember that person you met back in college, well, she no longer exists" And you are one of those people! so much has transpired in these last several years and so many of you, I wish could have shared the journey with me. Thank the Lord for the web, blogs and facebook.
Anyway, your post encouraged me; you are so transparent. I appreciate your vulnerability, too.
Also, I will find this link to a website that I have, it is a valid 'rewards' site. I got over 5 FREE magazine subscriptions (even to Martha Stewart, Wonder Time, Women's day, Forbes, etc.). I am a magazine junkie, but have not purchased a magazine subsription, except for one professional music journal, in about 3 years. So, I will get that to you.
We, too, are watching far less TV. In Aug. we will be canceling cabel completely, even though it means our phone and internet will be the same price as when we had cable. It is just too tempting to sit in front of it whenever I am home. Next year, when we are homeschooling, I just don't want to be tempted to have it on 24/7. i love my TLC, HGTV and Food Network...A LOT!
We joined the Y by our house, too. So, I am so with you re: exercise.
And the WORD....hear ya! When your job is telling others about Jesus and assisting in facilitiating their spiritual lives, it is easy to forget that you must fuel your own before you can be any good to others. Or that sermon prep doesn't equal personal time with God; it can, but not always.
Anyway, thanks for your post. For sharing and for letting me peer into your life 1000s of miles away.
Love ya, my friend!
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