100 Goals for 2013

Today I am not posting a  Blast From the Past Post because I have something even more cool for you. This is my 100th post. Whoohoo! So I thought it fitting given our proximity to the new year to post 100 goals for 2013. I got the Idea from Money Saving Mom's 2012 Goals Update. This post was was my inspiration and also provided me some of my goals. If you haven't heard of Money Saving Mom you need to go over and check out her blog, she has all sorts of amazing information on ways to save money and earn extra money and just make sure you are in a good place financially. I also got some ideas for goals from 43 Things and Mind Tools.

Yes, I know that they are not all for 2013, but I thought it sounded better that way :)

By the way, I am not insane, I know that I will not be able to achieve all these goals. I just figured that it would help me know what I was working toward and keep me on a track that I want to be on and choose to be on, instead of one that just happened to me. I want to start happening to my life instead of letting it happen to me (or however that saying goes).

So anyways, here they are:

Long Term

1.      Pay Off House 

2.      Save up and either add on to current house or buy a new house with cash

3.      Have good relationships

4.      Have more children

5.      Serve the community and world

6.      Continue as a Stay at Home Mom

7.      Home school our children

8.      Be Organized

9.      Have book(s) published

10.  Express myself through Art

11.  Travel

12.  Be more positive

13.  Have better posture

14.  Be healthy

Personal

15.  Go to bed by 11 pm

16.  Get up by 9 am

17.  Only check email during email time

18.  Think about (and adjust) my posture twice a day

19.  Write down one good thing someone else did every day

20.  Listen to WBCL's midmorning program one day a week

21.  Enter at least 20 sweepstakes per week

22.  Make a To Do List

23.  Make my own laundry detergent

24.  Try at least 1 pin per month

25.  Make schedule cards or personal binder

26.  Find out how to publish a children's book

27.  Attempt to get the Children's books I have written published

28.  Write 1 more Children's book

29.  Learn how to publish ebook

30.  Write 1 ebook

31.  Read 2 books on parenting toddlers

32.  Read at least 1 relationship book

33.  Read at least 1 spiritual book

34.  Clean up email so I don't spend so much time in it

Family

35.  Do devotions as a family after supper every day

36.  Go to at least 1 Moms and Munchkins event every month

37.  Go on at least 1 family vacation

38.  Go away for the weekend at least 4 times

39.  Paint the back room in the basement

Marriage

40.  Have 2 date nights per month

41.  Go on at least one vacation without Little Man

42.  Go on a marriage retreat

43.  Read one book together with Mr. Random

44.  Do The Husband Project

45.  Go to at least 3 ballroom dances

Children

46.  Spend 15 minutes a day just playing with Little Man

47.  Read at least 1 book to Little Man every day

48.  Have Little Man try 1 new food every week

49.  Have at least one photo day per month

50.  Have one Mother/Son date night every other month with Little Man

51.  Let Mr. Random go on one Father/Son date night every other month with Little Man

52.  Write down a Little Man’s new schedule

53.  Begin preschool with Little Man

54.  Find information on home school groups for preschoolers

Extended Family/Friends

55.  Get together with each side of the family at least once a month

56.  Get together with aunts to scrapbook once a month

57.  Have people over 1-2 times a month

58.  Visit my Sister at least twice

Spiritual

59.  Do my devotions 4 days a week

60.  Go on time to BSF

61.  Finish this year's BSF lessons

62.  Sign up for BSF for next year

63.  Continue being involved in family group

Serving

64.  Write at least 1 note of encouragement every month

65.  Take in a Foster Child

66.  Volunteer outside of the home at least once

Health

67.  Maintain my weight through the holidays

68.  Exercise at least 3 times a week

69.  Fill out the Calorie Counter every day

70.  Lose 10 pounds in 2 months

71.  Lose 50 pounds in 1 year

Financial

72.  Work on budget 2 days every month

73.  Calculate how much extra we need to pay on the house to have it paid off in 3 years

74.  Go through the Dave Ramsey course again

75.  Pray and talk to other leaders about teaching a Dave Ramsey course

76.  Get the house on a mortgage from the bank

77.  Give generously as God prompts

78.  Continue to tithe 10% of gross income

79.  Continue to put at least 5% of income in God only knows fund

80.  Build up to 15% of our income going into our retirement funds

81.  Continue to pay extra on the house

82.  Save up and pay cash for a new air conditioner when it goes out

83.  Save up and go on a big vacation next year or the year after

Blogging

84.  Write 2-3 posts per week

85.  Apply at least 1 of the Six Sister’s ways to grow my blog every week

86.  Write posts at least 1 week in advance

87.  Plan out posts at least 1 weeks in advance

88.  Host a biweekly linky party

89.  Contact 1 company a month about sponsoring my blog

90.  Post 1 Let's Talk post a month

91.  Post at least 1 recipe per month

92.  Post 1 Swagbucks post a month

93.  Post at least 1 product review per month

94.  Write 1 guest post every other month

95.  Post a giveaway at least every other month

96.  Host a big linky/giveaway party for my 1 year blogiversary

97.  Make a Blog Binder

98.  Read the Six Sister's 10 ways to grow your blog book

99.  Find some sponsors for/Save up and go to a blog conference this year or next

100.                      Grow my blog to at least 200 pageviews per day

So there they are, my 100 goals. What goals do you have for 2013?

Linked Up To:
A Pinch of Joy, Cornerstone Confessions, Clean & Scentsible, The NY Melrose Family, Serendipity and Spice, The Frugal Girls, Monday Funday,

A Children's Book Review - Firebird by Brent McCorkle and Amy Parker

I was supplied the book in exchange for reviewing it.

I had the opportunity to review this wonderful book. It is super cute. It is a story about a little bird who loves the sun and doesn't understand why God takes the sun away when it rains. One day his mom has him fly through the storm clouds to find out why. After this rough perilous journey little Firebird sees that the sun is still there and God still loves him even when things look bad. This is a great story that teaches little ones that God is there no matter what the circumstances. The story is well written and touching. The illustrations are beautifully done. I have read this to Little Man several times and he really seems to enjoy it. He loves looking at the bright colors (of course he also tries to eat it, but then again he is only 1 :) This would make a great Christmas present too!

Here is an example of the illustrations.

Here are some pictures of Little Man and I enjoying the book together :)

I was provided the book in exchange for reviewing it

Blast from the Past 17 - Facebook Friends Fun

This series consists of notes that I wrote on facebook in the past. Enjoy reading my thoughts during my college years. Please comment but please be nice! Also please feel free to check out my other Blast from the Past Posts.


From March 2007

Ok, I decided that I will update this every once in a while, when I feel like it and delete the old one and put in a new one, so here is a new one:)

Go to your wall and list the last twelve people who have commented you. If someone has commented twice, skip to the next new commenter. Skip spam stuff. Then answer the questions!

[Names have been deleted for privacy. You wouldn't know them anyways so don't cry about it :) (I don't even know all of them anymore) I will tell you that #1 was Mr. Random]

Q: Have you ever kissed number 7?
A: no

Q: What's the best memory you have of 9?
A: umm, lets see, walking back in the woods and getting scared to death

Q: When's the next time you're gonna see 4?
A: umm, tomorrow in Mainstream and Lit

Q: Is number 8 pretty?
A: umm, he is a guy so I don’t think that pretty is a good word to describe him :)

Q: What was your first impression of number 10?
A: umm, I don't remember

Q: How did you meet 3?
A: I met him when I went to a movie with a group of friends that he was a part of

Q: Is 11 your best friend?
A. no, but he helped me plan my wedding :)

Q: Have you seen 5 in the last month?
A: yes, I see her every day, probably close to every hour :)

Q: When was the last time you saw 12?
A: umm, a few hours ago

Q: Have you ever been to 1's house?
A: no

Q: When's the next time you'll see 10?
A: probably never, but I suppose I might run into her sometime when visiting [#12]

Q: Are you really close to 3?
A: no, not really

Q: Have you ever been to the movies with 6?
A: nope

Q: Have you ever gotten in trouble with 2?
A: nope

Q: Would you ever go out with number 7?
A: umm, no

Q: What do you and number 3 talk about the most?
A: umm we talked about the colors of dresses the other day :)

Q: Do you even know 9?
A: yeah, he was a close friend until he abandoned us :)

Q: Would you give number 3 a hug?
A: hmm, probably not

Q: Would you ever go on a date with number 11?
A: probably not

Q: Are you in love with number 12?
A: oh definitely, we are getting married tomorrow :)

Q: Have you ever lied to number 6?
A: I don't think so

Q: Do you know a secret about number 8?
A: hmm, I don’t think so

Q: Describe the relationship between number 9 and number 5.
A: hmm, in one word, complicated

Q: What is the best thing about your friendship with number 4?
A: she is a great person!

Q: What is the worst thing about number 1
A: hmm, he is a weirdo :)

Q: Have you ever danced with number 7?
A: No

Q: How long have you known number 12?
A: since like first grade

Q: Have you ever been in a fight with number 8?
A: I don’t think so

Q: Does number 9 have a boyfriend/girlfriend?
A: not at the moment

Q: Have you ever been a co-worker with number 6?
A: no

Q: Have you ever wanted to punch number 2 in the face?
A: no, why would I?

Q: Has number 1 ever met your mother?
A: not yet

Q. How did you meet number 6?
A. At the IPFW ballroom dance

Q: Did you ever accidentally physically hurt number 5?
A: probably

Q: Has number 4 ever seen you naked?
A: no

Q: What is the best memory you have with number 8?
A: hmm, well taking econ together was fun :)

Q: Do you live close to 7?
A: no

Q: What is number 2's favorite food?
A: I haven't the slightest idea

Q: Out of your top 12, which one would you say is the funniest?
A: Either #1 or #5

Q: Who is the most flirtatious?
A: #12

Q: If you could change one thing about number 10, what would it be?
A:I don't know her well enough to answer this question

Q: Say something nice about number 11.
A: umm, he is a good wedding planner? :)

Q: Which one lives the farthest away?
A: i think....i don't know

Q: Which one do you hang out with the most?
A: #12

Q: Who is the loudest?
A: #5

Q: The quietest?
A: #8

Q: What kind of car does number 4 have?
A: i don't know

Q: Have you traveled anywhere with number 11?
A: no

Q: If you gave number 4 $100 dollars tonight, what would they spend it on?
A: probably computer or writing stuff or maybe sheep :)

Blast from the Past 16 - Distractability

This series consists of notes that I wrote on facebook in the past. Enjoy reading my thoughts during my college years. Please comment but please be nice! Also please feel free to check out my other Blast from the Past Posts.


From March 2007


OK, I am bored again, and I haven't written one of my oh so inspiringly uninspiring notes recently so I have decided that that is what I should do. Unfortunately I have again come to the keyboard without any real topic to discus in mind. Oh well, does anybody even read these? Hmm, I bet [Mr. Random] will, and it seems that [a friend] at least read my last post :) So what should I talk about? If you guys (who actually read my posts) have any particular topics that you would like me to randomize about let me know :)
I am really just trying to avoid doing homework right now :) I seem to be doing a lot of that lately. But since it is not actually due tomorrow, but rather a suggested assignment I do not seem to have enough motivation to continue, that and the fact that I can't play music right now. I always thought that playing music while studying was weird and didn't help concentration at all. But today while I was trying to motivate myself to do my homework I just happened to have some music on, and wonders of all wonders I was able to concentrate. I think that the reason for this is that my mind has been very easily distract-able lately. While staring at a page of text and thinking that I am actually reading it my mind will completely wander from whatever the subject is. Then when I finally realize that I am no longer thinking about History, Paradise Lost (well this one has its own problems, namely that it puts me to sleep every time I attempt to read it), the bible (yes, I read through the same chapter like four times yesterday), or whatever else I am reading, I quickly glance at the page and try to figure out where exactly my mind drifted, and unfortunately it is usually somewhere soon after the first sentence. So anyways I guess my mind drifted a little there, what was I talking about? Oh yeah music, so I figured out that if my mind is going to be distracted anyways maybe I should try distracting it only slightly with something that really wouldn't completely distract me, and that happened to be music. and it worked, my mind, trying to fight off the distraction of the music was finally able to concentrate on the History reading! But then my roommate asked me to turn off my music because she couldn't concentrate on her homework ([Roommate] if you read this I love you, and it is totally not your fault that I am not doing my homework :), so I was immediately steeped once again in distract-ability. So here I am wasting my time writing notes that you are wasting your time reading :) Oh, well.

Comments from original post:

Mr. Random - ok, wow, THAT was random. yes, i have found that music helps me concentrate better...but that is just me.
ok, topic...why did God create Lucifier if He knew that Lucifer would fall, tempt man, man would fall, and Jesus would have to die for us all? Why couldn't God have avoided all that and just not create Lucifer? have fun. 

Me - well I was thinking about that the other day and I have come up with a theory. I think that maybe God knew that there had to be sin in the world so that humans would have free choice whether to love him, but he couldn't just put sin into humans or we would constantly be blaming him for giving us these sin natures so he made Lucifer and put the temptation there so we can blame Satan and ourselves for our sin and not him. Now I am sure that this is not the whole story, and it may be a little heretical, but it is the only thought that I have had on the subject so far.

Friend Mentioned Above - I read your note! It just...took me a few days, that's all.

Concerning the whole music thing, it's a little strange, because I find that some music helps me to focus better while other music distracts me even more. Go figure.

And who needs to discuss the whole issue of why Lucifer was created? Just read Paradise Lost...'cause John Milton just has *all* the answers...

As far as topics to discuss go...hmm, that's a tough one. You could talk about how sometimes it seems as though the profs try to kill us by giving us an unreasonable amount of things to do. Or you could talk about all the reasons to *not* be a DMA major. Or, maybe, you could write about nothing...I've done that before, just to see how long I could go for. Is that strange? At any rate, anything would probably be fine, though I wouldn't recommend writing anything like, oh, say, an elaborate defense of the current movie policy on campus. Things of that nature tend to end up being more trouble then they're worth. 

Oh, and by the way, in case you haven't realized it...the reason my comment was so long is because I'm procrastinating on studying. Really, I should be writing an outline for the Mainstreams exam on Friday, but...yeah. Not sure if that will end up happening at all tonight or not.  

Me - yeah, Milton is incredibly smart (totally sarcastic and rolling eyes Don't even get me started on what an idiot I think he is for having apparently not read the bible before deciding to write an entire book about the creation story, hmm, maybe that should be my next note
hmm, interesting topics [Friend], although I have done the write about nothing one, haven't you read any of my notes, including this one
and I totally understand trying to avoid homework, that is probably what I should be doing now, but since it is not due tomorrow, it probably won't get done, but glad I could help w/ your avoidance  

Blast from the Past 15 - Sonnet 1

This series consists of notes that I wrote on facebook in the past. Enjoy reading my thoughts during my college years. Please comment but please be nice! Also please feel free to check out my other Blast from the Past Posts.


From March 2007


Ok, now I have another poem for Creative Writing, let me know what you think.

Sonnet 1 :)
Shall I compare you to a circus clown?
And talk about all the ways you make me smile
Whenever you’re around I never frown
I, knowing that you love me, all the while.
But circus clowns are goofy all the time
And maybe they would never speak at all
Maybe they would always speak in rhyme
With them it is like talking to a wall.
But I know that you will listen to me
And when I ask a question you’ll respond
And with me, yourself, you’ll always be
And of me I can tell you’re very fond.
So like a clown you are, and yet are not
And that is what has got me so besot.

What are you Thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving!

When you give thanks on Thanksgiving who do you give thanks to? I was thinking about this the other day as I was driving down the road seeing and hearing all the advertisements for Thanksgiving. I know exactly who I am giving thanks to. I am giving thanks to God. The vast majority of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving but most of them don't think about God in their daily lives. So who are they giving thanks to? Who else could possibly be responsible for all the good in our lives?

It also got me thinking about everything that I have to be thankful for in my life and I thought that this is as good a time as any to make a list. Making lists of the good things in your life is a good thing to do. They are great because it reminds you of what you have and you can look back at them when you are feeling down and not remembering everything great that you have! So here it is my thankful list.

What am I thankful for?

God
Salvation
Mr. Random
Little Man
All the extended family
Our house
Our cars
All the things we have
Mr. Random's income
That I can stay home with Little Man
That I was capable of having a child
That I could nurse Little Man for a year
That I have time to spend with family
This blog
That I live in America
All the freedom that we have
Our newly painted house
The new floor in the kitchen
Christmas
Christmas Music
Christmas Decorations
Everything that goes with Christmas
Every smile from Little Man
Electricity
My Laptop
Heat
Air Conditioning
Doctors
Books
Faith
A coat
Shoes
Friends
Food
Water
The simple pleasures of life
The Bible
Snow
Sleep


There is a lot more that I am thankful for. This is just a drop in the bucket of blessings that i have received from God, but that list could go on forever so I am going to stop it here.


But enough about me, what are you thankful for?

Linked Up To:
Cornerstone Confessions, Clean & Scentsible, The NY Melrose Family, Serendipity and Spice,

Blast from the Past 14 - No Footprints

This series consists of notes that I wrote on facebook in the past. Enjoy reading my thoughts during my college years. Please comment but please be nice! Also please feel free to check out my other Blast from the Past Posts.


From February 2007



I am taking a Creative Writing class and I will be writing all sorts of poems and short stories. I will probably be posting several of them on here. Anybody who cares to read them can tell me what they think, and if you have a useful critique post it too.
This was my first poem for the class


No Footprints

The waves call to me
beckoning me forward
I can feel them
lapping around my feet

I feel his hand in mine
strong and steady
supporting me

I share my heart with him
I know that he will cherish it
The promise has already been made
to Love and to Honor forever

I watch the delicate foam
dancing with the waves
My feet pound in the sand
as I run laughing down the beach
I pause to admire the sunset
and listen to the music of the waves

I look back on where we have walked
I see no footprints in the sand
Mine have washed away
His have not been made yet

Blast from the Past 13 - Bruce Almighty and Doing God's Job

This series consists of notes that I wrote on facebook in the past. Enjoy reading my thoughts during my college years. Please comment but please be nice! Also please feel free to check out my other Blast from the Past Posts.


From December 2006


Bruce Almighty and Doing God's Job

I watched Bruce Almighty this afternoon and it was interesting. I have seen it before but it was different this time. I saw more than just a movie this time, I saw a meaning behind the movie. The plot is about Bruce, who never seems to get what he wants. He works as a reporter, but he wants to be an anchor. He thinks that he gets all the wrong stories and he wants better ones. He wants more money and more things. Then another guy gets the job he wanted and his life seems to fall apart. Just as it seems that his life couldn’t get any worse he gets beeped. His beeper keeps going off until he finally gives in and calls the number. He is offered a job and told to go to a warehouse. At the warehouse he meets God. During his troubles Bruce gave up on God at asked why God wasn’t doing a better job. During the meeting God gives Bruce his powers. Bruce eventually discovers that he is not doing a good job at God’s job. He doesn’t know everything so when he didn’t know the consequences of his actions.

The part of the story that really made me think, though, is that Bruce thought that he would be better at being God than God is. This is a thought that probably most of us have had at some point. Of course we don’t just come right out and say it, but it is there deep inside. When we pray and think that what we pray for has to come true because we know that it is best for us, we are trying to do God’s job. When we see the troubles of the world and think that God should do something about them, we are thinking that God is not doing it right. I know that I have been guilty of these kinds of thoughts many times. This attitude is complete arrogance, we think that we know better than God does. God knows everything, including the future, he knows what is really best for us. Bruce Almighty convicted me of the fact that I have been arrogant. I never thought that I would learn a spiritual lesson from such a mainstream movie, but I did.

Blast from the Past 12 - Stranger Than Fiction

This series consists of notes that I wrote on facebook in the past. Enjoy reading my thoughts during my college years. Please comment but please be nice! Also please feel free to check out my other Blast from the Past Posts.


From November 2006


Stranger Than Fiction

I watched the movie Stranger than Fiction a couple of weeks ago. It was an interesting movie, but a little weird. The basic story is that this guy, who is a tax man, is going through his regular life, which is really boring because he is too organized; he even counts how many steps there are to the bus stop. Anyways, as he is going about his regular life he starts hearing a voice. It only comes every once in a while, and only when he is doing something completely normal for him. And the strangest thing is that no one else can hear it but him. As he starts listening to the voice, he realizes that it is narrating his life. He learns to live with the voice until he hears it foretell his imminent death. This of course freaks him out and he immediately starts trying to find a way to stop his death. Along the way he befriends a Literature teacher, who helps him find the author, and a woman named Ana whose bakery he is auditing.
One major issue that the movie brings up is the inevitability of death. Yes everybody is going to die at some point in their life, that is a given, I don’t think that anyone would dispute that. But if you knew how you were going to die and you had a chance to change it would you? He eventually finds out how the book is going to end and he has a chance to stop it from being written. He has a chance to stop himself from dying in that way. But the way he was going to die was very poetic and meaningful. Given this choice would you choose to allow yourself to die like that knowing your death would be meaningful? I don’t think that I would. I don’t want my death dictated by anyone but God. I think that we should live life to the fullest knowing that we could die at any moment, but not looking for or expecting it.




This next section is questions for people who have seen the movie. You can read them if you haven’t seen the movie, but they might give away the ending, and they probably wouldn’t make sense.
If the lady hadn’t been writing the book, would the events have happened to Harold anyways? I said no, because she changed the ending … or did she?
Could he have not gone to the bus stop? What would have happened if he didn’t? I mean if the lady kept writing the book, but he didn’t go to the bus stop. If he wasn’t there would the kid have gotten hit by the bus?
Were the people in her other stories real too? All the characters in this one were real.
After she wrote the ending, leaving him alive, she told the professor that she would go back and rewrite the book. When she rewrote the book would that have changed his life at all? Would it change his memories?
When he called her, the author wrote herself into the story. How could she do that? And who did she think that he was calling in the book?