Let's give this another try...

Ok, so I've been wanting to start blogging again, but always find an excuse not to - everything from no time to not having anything to write about. So, I'm going to give this another go and hope that it goes better and is more successful than it was the last time that I posted twice in April 2010. I don't know how often I'll get around to posting and can't guarantee that it will always be entertaining, but it is a journal and record for me after all, right?!

This year, I didn't make any New Year's resolutions because I have a hard time sticking to things and quite frankly, there are too many improvements that I need to be making to just choose one. I also don't really feel like waiting until the new year is always the best time to try and make a change in your life. So, instead, I've gradually been adding things to my "to-do" list that I either need to be doing or that I should do in order to make me an overall better person. Below, you will see a picture of all that I've been trying to juggle lately. Let me be honest, I know that everyone has their own "picture" of what they juggle, and I'm by no means trying to complain, just explain and document this phase in my life.

From top left clockwise, here are the things I'm working on lately:

1)Grading - this is not something that I necessarily WANT to be doing, but it's inevitable. I've really been trying to do more of this at school so I can spend my time at home doing other productive things, but it doesn't always work out that way. I do have to admit that grading is my least favorite part of the job - why is it that as little girls we love pretending to do this or helping teachers?

2)Bible study - Casey, her cousin Stacey, and I have been going to Austin Stone for the past month or so and I've really been led to start spending time in God's word. I've never been one to read the bible because I don't feel like I'm educated enough to always get the big-picture meaning, but I've been reading a book I bought a few years ago that I'm hoping will help me with this. It's called The Modern Girl's Guide to Bible Study and the author is hilarious. I'm hoping to learn some strategies that will give me confidence to start reading and understanding God's word and plan for me.

3)Bills & Mail - I hate mail, absolutely hate it. Katie will tell you how weird I am for this, but I tease her about her lack of trying on ANY clothing before buying it, so we call it even. I mean, let's be honest - except for the month of December, does anything good really come in the mail? All I have in my mailbox is bills, credit card statements, credit card applications, and the occasional coupon, which I don't use. I struggle with sorting, opening, and putting away all of the mess that I get in the mail. so I need to make an effort to work on this.

4)Working out - I struggle with this all the time and think I will for the rest of my life. With it getting dark so early, it makes it hard to get out and run. Also, without my accountability partner, Raina, running with me, I've been having a hard time running alltogether. So, I need to start doing SOMETHING, which I think for me right now will be Turbo Jam. I'd love to do a cardio video twice, maybe run twice, then do a strength video each week. I know that I feel better when I workout, so that is my goal in this department.

5)Reading - I've had that book checked out from the VHS library for over a month now and haven't cracked the cover. I would love to be a more avid reader, but when I try to read at night, it puts me to sleep. Casey inspires me to read and with all the hype surrounding the release of The Hunger Games I might trade in the book I have for that one. I think I can commit to finishing that by the end of March! I've heard it's SO great!

So that was a lot, but oh well right? Post coming soon about my attempt at a zebra cake...