love actually is all around us

Note my new sidebar. I am going to try to post about these goals once a week and pick one to focus on. Where to start? Where to start?

Incidentally, the very day after I had this dream, JT came home from skiing and surprised me with a candlelight dinner including homemade lettuce wraps, sushi, sparkling cider, beautiful callalilies, and a card.

This affirms that a) I love this man, and b) I am still psychic. I did dream he'd surprise me, you know.

K, picture time.

I love this picture for some reason.

Name this place.
(No cheating, ACE!)

"What can make me feel this way...

my GOALS. "

Ha. At least I make myself laugh.

These are NOT resolutions.

Physical –

• Stretch/crunches/pushups every morning
• Drink more water
• Run 8-10 miles a week
• Have vegetarian weeks
• Run a marathon
• Floss my teeth every day
• Fix my hair and get dressed up at least 3x/week
• Run more road races
• Do free weights and Pilates regularly

Spiritual -

• Read Bible and journal daily
• Memorize scripture
• Daily surrender
• Ask God to reveal ways I can serve Him and others
• Get involved in music ministry
• Plug into a church ministry & Bible study
• Transform my life by:
  
• watching my words
• guarding my heart
• assuming the best about people
• not worrying about what’s fair
• thinking of others first
• encouraging people
• giving my time and money without an afterthought
• Find a Paul, Barnabas & Timothy.
  

Activities -

• Write something every week
• Read one book a week
• Spend less time on the internet
• Play indoor soccer
• Learn to play the piano
• Spend more time outside
• Practice my Spanish so I don’t forget

say it with resolution!

I am not waiting until New Year's to begin my resolutions.

Stay tuned for a more detailed list.

1110

Planning a wedding has been crazy, to say the least.

But it's been a little over three weeks and we have a church, a reception place, pastors, a caterer, a photographer, a dress, bridesmaids dresses, a florist, a band, musicians for the ceremony, candelabras, a place to make our cake, centerpieces almost figured out, and probably more.

And we have each other.

I am incredibly blessed every day to have JT in my life. He's kind and spontaneous and considerate and strong and passionate and bold and smart. He's a student of life, an artist, an athlete, a wonderful friend, and he's mine. He's not the man I have always dreamed of; he's proof that God knows our hearts and has better for us than ever could have imagined.

I can't wait to be his wife.

Until then, it will be busy busy busy as we try to merge our family traditions and tastes and opinions on everything. Our alone time has become more precious. Moments seem stolen and that much more sweet.

My mother, on the other hand, is full speed and million miles a minute as far as wedding talk goes. I don't think I've had a conversation with her that doesn't revolve around the wedding. That can be exhausting. We did find the most amazing candelabras today at a little florist shop. They are wrought iron, very reminiscent of the medieval/gothic period, and have intentional flaws that give them character.

Alone time and girl time has been lacking. I am kicking Project LGN into full force again. I am going to be one hott, buff bride if I have anything to say about it. My abs are certainly saying something about it today. Ughh!

So I am hanging on. Things at work have been crazy, but we're hiring two new people on Monday, so my job will get a lot easier. I'll have a more appropriate workload, anyway. You have no idea how relieved I am.

My goal, sometime in the near future, is to make it a habit to get up at least an hour early. That way I can exercise and pray and write and spend time by myself to gather my wits and strength to face another day. One thing I have learned is that sometimes being awake in a leisurely, relaxed frame of mind can be loads better than sleep for the sake of energy and sanity and peace.

Busy Bee

I have a burst of productive energy. I've cleaned and rearranged my room, run 5 miles, made my brother a midnight snack, and read a couple of articles. It's nights like this that my best creativity comes out to play, but not tonight. Normally, sleep would play second fiddle, but I am much too old and have too much work. I miss naptime :(

New Goals:

31) Read more literature. Not books, but literature.
32) Start fulfilling my goals.

self-help

Tack these on to the birthday goals:

24) Have vegetarian Wednesdays, or something like that.
25) Start TONING
26) Opera lessons
27) Get back into indoor soccer, even if I have to embarrass myself.
28) Wear dresses just for fun, even if it's not a special occasion.
29) Do fun and different things with jewelry and hair.

It seems I only post if I feel guilty about something, have cute pictures, or JT does something sweet.

30) Post about meaningful things.

I've opened up the Blogger browser several times with intentions of writing. Work has been tiring. My favorite post-work activities involve being brain-dead. I'll work on that, as part of goal number 23.

SO. Tired. I am about to drop dead.

22

It's officially my birthday and I seem to be doing better. My outlook is brighter. I have recognized Satan and refuse to give him footholds in my life.

22 goals for 22:

1) Run a few races. 5K, Tulsa Run. Sign up.
2) Get freelance work just for fun.
3) More me time.
4) More writing time.
5) Life of constant prayer.
6) Be better with budgeting time and money.
7) Look for ways I can serve people, even if they don't ask for it.
8) More creative time for painting, sketching, making, creating.
9) Look for ways I can capitalize on little things and be excited about them.
10) Read 20 books.
11) Learn how to cook more.
12) Move.
13) Simplify my life and assets. Goodbye, old clothes!
14) Get published in a magazine.
15) Advance in my career. Work on being the best in my career.
16) Be a better friend, girlfriend, sister, and daughter.
17) Write more letters.
18) Talk to strangers.
19) Learn about new subjects like French language, stem cell research, and sheep-herding.
20) Lose all concept of self and therefore find myself in Christ.
21) Get back into singing, possibly in a worship band.
22) Be more organized.

...and one to grow on...

23) Forget "The Man" and live my life anyway. Defy him. Prove him WRONG!