New Year, New Me?

I know that the title should probably have an exclamation point after it, to proclaim my determination. But knowing myself, the question mark seemed like a better choice. Those that know me well know that I have a problem with following through with my goals. For instance, it has been a New Year's Resolution every single year for the past eight years to run the Peachtree, to be a runner. And once, I even completed the Couch to 5K program. I felt good, even though it took me much longer to complete, I thought...OK, just improve my time and I, too, can be the proud wearer of a t-shirt at the Fourth of July fireworks. Then my dad burst my bubble by proclaiming..."You do know that the Peachtree is a 10K don't you?" Then I got pregnant and my running went by the wayside.

I have, for the past um, 30 years, vowed to lose weight. And just the fact that I am still resolving to lose weight gives you an idea of how well that has worked. I have wanted, for the past ten years or so, to become more organized. Ditto to the weight loss thing. We still live our lives in chaos and at times, to quote my dear husband when he was cleaning the living room, "like pigs." (To his credit, he had just found 19 pens, countless fingernail clippers, assorted toy pieces, and enough stray food to feed a small country under our couch.)

In fact, the only New Year's Resolution I have ever kept is this blog...and really not so much. As the title so aptly explains, it was to be a daily thing. Not a "whenever you have the time and some cute pictures you want to share" thing. I think the reason that I have even kept this up is that it incorporates two of my favorite things--writing and my kids. But I do need to change the title. Suggestions???

So in thinking about my new year's resolutions, I thought I would look to God's word to see not what I wanted for myself, but what HE does. And I haqppened to fin, among other things, this. The bolded is my interpretation--may be wrong or misguided, but it is how I felt it speak to me and my life.

The Proverbs 31 Woman is
Rare and Precious
10An excellent wife, who can find?For her worth is far above jewels.
Trustworthy
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,And he will have no lack of gain.
Kind
12She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
A Joyful Worker
13She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight.
Careful to go the extra mile to get the finest for her family
14She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar.
Disciplined
15She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.
Enterprising and Prudent with her money
16She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
Energetic
17She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
Good steward
18She senses that her gain is good;Her lamp does not go out at night.
Diligent
19She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle.
Compassionate and generous
20She extends her hand to the poor,And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
Provident
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Elegant
22She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Influential
23Her husband is known in the gates,When he sits among the elders of the land.
Industrious
24She makes linen garments and sells them,And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Poised
25Strength and dignity are her clothing,And she smiles at the future.
Wise
26She opens her mouth in wisdom,And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
A good manager of her home
27She looks well to the ways of her household,And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Praiseworthy
28Her children rise up and bless her;Her husband also, and he praises her, saying
Distinguished
29"Many daughters have done nobly,But you excel them all."
God-fearing
30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Honored
31Give her the product of her hands,And let her works praise her in the gates.


wow. a tough bill to fill. some big expectations. much more than a yearly goal, but a lifetime of work in progress.

I think it is safe to say that this is not a goal I will accomplish by next December 31. I think it is safe to say that this is not a goal I can accomplish by myself, but by walking hand in hand with the Lord. And I think it is safe to say that this blog is going to get a new focus (co-focus...there will still be lots of cute kid pictures).

Now...onto a new name....