Renaming my blog

I renamed my blog today. It just hit me, as I looked at Peyton's quote about Fourth Quarter Comebacks, that this is exactly where I am. I am working hard to overcome mistakes in the past. I have overcome a lot of them already. Some still need work (finances, home organization, parenting, physical health)

I had a lot I wanted to say in the title, but it wouldn't fit. So, here is my description of what my blog is about. I have work to do. Lots of work. And I'm going to use my blog to hold me accountable for doing it. That last post, with all the goals? Well, those are just a few of the things that I need to do. And I need your help (if anyone is reading this) to keep me accountable.

I have considered doing the "before and after" photo to encourage myself to lose weight. However, the thought of standing before a camera right now, fully dressed, is nauseating...let alone doing so in a bathing suit or shorts. That might change my tomorrow. We'll see. :) At the least, I think I'll post weight, measurements, etc. and update every month or two.

Resolutions (um, er, Goals)

I figure there is accountability in doing this publicly, even if I am the only one who reads this blog. Just having them "out there" makes me feel more responsible to fulfill them. I read a blog this week where the author broke down her resolutions into several categories. And called them goals. Being a bit type-A, and voted Most Organized of EHS Class of '90, I liked the idea. So, here goes. I'm sure I'll be updating (and lowering the bar) as time goes on.

Books to Read (this is a tough one...I don't usually plan my reading this far in advance)

• The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis: I started this one and enjoyed it, but it's definitely a "thinker" so I abandoned it in favor of some Tudor England historical fiction fluff.
• The Shack: I keep hearing that I need to read it. Can't imagine that it's something I'll enjoy, but I am feeling drawn to it.
• More Tudor England historical fiction. I am addicted. It's sad, really. But if I only read on the elliptical machine, then it's a great motivation to work out.
  

Family Goals

• Involve the kids more in ministry activities. I want them to see Faith in Action, and not just our annual charity project of the same name. I want to get them involved in serving somewhere, in some way.
• Continue, even after 10 years, to build a cohesive family and not allow actions of others to interfere in that.
  

Financial Goals

• Follow our monthly cash budget and increase savings
• Build our 6-8 month living expenses savings account
• Find a way to contribute to our income by working from home
• Continue to shop bargains and save as much of our cash budget as I can.
  

Homemaking Goals

• Organize and declutter. Constantly. Without ceasing.
  
• Get storage furniture for gameroom and our bedroom.
• Add shelving to closets and laundry room
• Repaint kitchen, hall, half bath, homeschool room and office. Maybe the game room, too. I'm gonna need a power roller. Better add that to the budget category. :)
  

Homeschool Goals

• Do a better job of documenting our days
• Decide on a curriculum, whether to build my own or go with Sonlight again
• If we go with Sonlight, I need to dedicate to trying to follow their schedule at least closely enough to keep my type-A tendencies from causing me a breakdown.
• Increase O's writing fluency and comfort level. She has made huge strides in handwriting and spelling, continue same approach with writing.
• Keep Olivia involved in extras: drums, swim, maybe co-op again?
• More field trips
  

Personal Goals

• Lose 50 lbs. May be a little too ambitious, but that's the reality of it.
• Cardio exercise 3x weekly.
• Watch my diet and plan healthier meals, not comfort foods
• Go to bed and get up at a consistent time. Wake earlier.
• Make a habit of taking time for myself, including my "planning weekend" at the lake before school starts in the Fall.
  

Places to Visit

• Family, as always
• Dealey Plaza museum in Dallas
• Tut exhibit in Dallas in Spring, and Indianapolis in Summer
• Ideally, Disney. Or a cruise. Or a Disney cruise. Realistically, save money toward that in '10 or '11.
  

Spiritual Goals

• Spend time daily studying my Bible
• Focus on fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. The less time I spend with God, the less those qualities are apparent in me.
• Avoid people who are negative and try to bring a positive light to the negative people that I have to be around
• Commit to Bible study with my group, completing each lesson.
• Do a better job of teaching the kids, and talking through their spiritual questions.
  

A few of my favorite things

It's that time of year for assessment, making resolutions, etc. I am feeling particularly blessed (more on that to come) and thought I'd share a few of my favorite things. Here they are, in no particular order...

• Watching the Colts win (well, OK, that one might be at the top for a reason)
  
• Days when my Max works from home
• Dove Cream Oil lotion and Olay Regenerist (daily keeping me from shriveling into a prune)
• An awesome bargain
• Watching Olivia eat crab legs (it's a thing of beauty, really)
  
• Folding out the sofa bed and watching movies on the big screen with Max
  
• Leaving the tree up well into January so I can sit in the dark and look at the lights
• My kitties
• A tall vanilla latte or, better yet, a coffee with Baileys
  
• Playing Rock Band with Max and the kids (I stink, but Christian and Olivia are really good!)
• A Sonic coke break with Gretchen
• Singing and praising God at church, especially when the band is really rocking
• Disney World!
• Being a Wife and Mom
• Getting to spend time with my family, laughing at Tory until my sides hurt
  
• Cooking (if only I could list exercising as another of my favorites!)
• That great feeling that comes from knowing I've helped someone, even in a small way
• Olivia's new knock-knock joke (that she made up herself): Knock Knock -- Who's There? -- Police. -- Police Who? -- Police Navidad!
  
• Days spent in PJs, working on projects
• Homeschooling Olivia and getting to study cool stuff, like Ancient Egypt, with her.
• Days where I wake up feeling well. :)
  

Peyton, the Philosopher

"Pressure is something you feel when you don't know what the hell you're doing." -
-- Peyton Manning

Why I love Texas in the Winter

It's 81 degrees today. I went after-Christmas shopping in shorts and flip flops. aaahhhh.....

Our Christmas eCard

I give up. There is no hope for me to get Christmas cards out by Christmas. So, I have created a family eCard! Without further ado...the Casa De La Garza eCard!

Drum roll please....

Make a Smilebox greeting

Peyton for MVP!

I love the quote about Peyton's status as MVP candidate: "If he's been knocking on the door....last night he just kicked the door down!"

Indy-Jacksonville game last night

I missed the Jacksonville game because we don't have NFL Network. I personally think it *stinks* that one game a week is now unavailable for people without premium channel packages. Monday Night Football has moved to ESPN, so my friends with basic cable can't even see that! (Not that most of them care about football, but I am outraged on their behalf)

This brings up the annual question of "is it worth it to change to Dish so that we can get NFL Sunday ticket" to be sure that we can see the Colts when they play? Methinks it is. I always think that until I analyze just how much it will cost us to see the games, and then I change my mind. I change my mind until a night like last night were I am stuck watching the scores refresh on NFL.com, biting my nails, hoping for a miracle (like a Freeney sack with 17 seconds left).

At that moment, I would have given NFL network my first-born child to see the game. (does Christian count as my first-born?)