A Quarterly Evaluation of New Year's Goals

Reaching my goals ... one step at a time.



Three months have passed since New Year's Day, so I've decided to do a self-assessment regarding my goals for 2009.

Let's see how I'm doing so far:


Spiritual:
1. Do continue to make "one on one" time for God each and everyday.- Always!
2. To assist with a Young Life group at my church once a month.- I changed my mind on this one. I'm already committed to a few ministries at the church.
3. To daily light a candle I purchased at the cathedral in San Antonio each day of my son's deployment.- I think I missed one day. I even take it with me when I travel.
4. To add two ministries (besides my church) to my monthly financial giving.- I've added one so far.
5. To walk the walk and not just give it lip service.- I'm trying.


Family:
1. To join the local chapter of Blue Star Mothers to show support for my son and to have the support of other military moms.- Accomplished!
2. To send my granddaughter a special gift each month.- Bad, bad, bad ... I have failed here.
3. To phone my daughter in law twice a week.- Yes.
4. To take a vacation with my younger son.- It's in the works.
5. To call my father daily (which I do now, but will continue to do).- Yes.


Work:
1. To be an understanding, yet expectant director to my staff.- Sometimes I'm too expectant and not understanding enough!
2. To accept that these next couple of months require working at home, as I'll be steeped in grant writing.- The big grants are DONE!
3. To secure all sponsorships for the 2010 Maurice Sendak exhibition by June 1.- Yikes- SOS!
4. To mindfully and sincerely thank and honor my sponsors on a regular basis.- I'm pretty darn good and sincere about this!
5. To not take myself too seriously.-That's a work in progress.
6. To master Excel!- Ahem ...

Friends:
1. To phone two long-distance friends each week.- Does my dad count?
2. To return friends' phone calls within two days of receiving them.- I'm trying.
3. To personally meet Gail (a blogging friend).- There's hope in 2009!


Other goals:
1. To take a class in digital photography.- Not done yet.
2. To write on my blog three times per week.- I get bad grades here.
3. To incorporate more yoga into my fitness regimen.- Yes, especially in the evening.


Household:
1. Get a new roof.- DONE!
2. Replace drywall in the garage.
3. Paint my bedroom and bathroom.
4. Mop my laminate floors every other week.
5. Pressure wash my house.
6. Get a new cover for the hot tub.
7. Purchase some nice matching furniture for my screened porch.
8. Buy blackout shades for my bedroom (or the streetlight has to go!)
9. To seriously explore my future living situation.- Thinking about it a lot.

Note: Numbers 2-8 WILL get done by the end of the year. Confidence is high!

Okay, we're only one-fourth of the way into the year. I think I'm doing okay.

And how are your goals for the year coming along?

My Sweet Boy

He's nineteen years old.

He's growing his hair until his brother returns from Iraq in December (an excuse to grow his hair!).

He planned his own European adventure last summer and traveled to the land of the midnight sun without his mommy.

He's a dean's list student who doesn't care what anyone thinks about him and who's considering doing humanitarian work in a third world country.

He loves soccer, skateboards, surfboards, and snowboards and has received numerous injuries from each.

And the above objects are what he took the time to create for his mommy for Valentine's Day this year: Nacho, Chaz, and an "I love you" in between.

I am so blessed (and extremely lazy for taking over a month to upload the photo!).

My Dream Vacation ... Six Weeks and Counting

I have lots of dream vacations.

I want to go back to the Florida Keys and just be a bum and lounge by a pool. I want to be a more upscale bum and lounge by a pool in Palm Springs. I want to rent a villa in the Eastern Caribbean and ... yes, relax by a pool.

In six weeks, though, I'll be lounging by the pool in the above photo. It's my granddaughter's latest acquisition, and her Gigi here is heading back to Texas in early May to play in this little pool and in the Rose Petal Cottage.

I can't wait.

It's amazing how different grandparenting is from parenting (for most people, anyway). Being a grandparent makes me want to start over with my own parenting and not make mistakes. I want to take care of myself and stay young, because the name "Gigi" does not fit with the stereotypical granny in the rocker (although I DO love my rocking chair!).

And those dream vacations? They'll come. I am privileged to live in a coastal resort city, so I see big water a lot.

But right now, central Texas and that little pool can't be beat.

I can't wait.

The Cycles of Life

Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf of springtime.

- Martin Luther



Life cycles ...

Birth and death

Spring and fall

Summer and winter

Azaleas

New leaves

... I find it all pretty amazing.

I work with three women who will give birth next month. I've watched their babies grown and move.

I myself gave birth to two children. Watching their development in the womb in a brief nine months and seeing these living beings emerge from my body ... well, you parents know how emotionally overwhelming it is.

And after witnessing all of these events, I am still intrigued and perplexed by agnostics and atheists. They don't get my faith.
I don't get them.

One can only hope they have some type of spiritual awakening ... in whatever form it comes.

Thought/Counter Thought

A Juicy Couture box is a better bed than many people have ... believe it.



Thought:

My house needs some work. I had a new roof put on a few weeks ago, but I need to hang new drywall in the garage, update my baths, install a new front door, and paint a few rooms. Oh, yes ... there are a few cracks in the ceiling. Oh, woe is me.

Counter thought:

There are two counter thoughts here:

1. My home is mine, not the bank's. It's paid in full and not subject to foreclosure. I am immensely blessed.

2. I have a roof over my head. The majority of the world's people should be so lucky. Those of you reading this post from your nice computers in your comfy digs can't comprehend this fact ... neither can I.


Thought:

My hair wasn't cooperating the other day, due to severely split ends. I got a trim, and all is well now. I still wish I had pin straight hair.

Counter Thought:

At least I have hair. Some women experience balding and thinning hair, due to hormonal changes. Others lose their hair following cancer treatments. Thank you, God, for my hair.

Get the picture?

A Reminder to Surrender

Originally downloaded by sladegibbs on flickr.com



We've all had those days when things sort of fall apart, and we're left wondering and pondering and angry at ourselves.

Rather than wallowing in self-pity or self-loathing or anger, you step back, assess the situation (s), and decide to simply surrender to the day and to the moments.

How appropriate that I happened upon a favorite Thomas Merton piece while I was doing some long overdue drawer cleaning this afternoon. It's worth reading, re-reading, and holding close on days like this. The peace of surrender ...



My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going,
I do not see the road ahead of me,
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe
that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire
in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.

Samosas, Anyone?

Originally uploaded by fsamuels@flicker.com



What Girl Scout Cookie Are You?
You Are Caramel deLites / Samosas

You are blessed with a brilliant, dynamic mind. It's sometimes hard to figure out what your focus should be.
You're the type of person who does almost everything well. You are very competent but also unfocused.

You're not an easy person to pin down. You are vibrantly complex.
You have many facets to your personality, and they're often in competition with one another.


Yes, the above declaration is the result of a quiz on my friend Jes's blog, The Curranicles. Jes works for the Girl Scout Council in Houston (she used to be my colleague here in Virginia).

Honestly, this is a really good description of me. Check out Jes's blog, and find out which cookie represents you.

I may have a pretty keen mind, be a bit unfocused, and can certainly be complex, but ... Samosas? Caramel Delites?

No way ... I'm more of a Thin Mint woman.

With an empty nest and a flourless diet, though, the Girl Scouts aren't getting money from me this year. Sorry, Jes!