Resolutions for a (Chinese) New Year

So I wanted to mix it up a little. Instead of setting resolutions at the beginning of the new year like most, I decided I would set my resolutions on the Chinese New Year. Believable? No? Eh, it was worth a shot!

Actually, the fact that my slow, blog writing self decided to FINALLY post something on the same day as the Chinese New Year is a complete coincidence. Man, I am really behind! Missed the New Year and resolutions, a couple of birthdays, and lots of yummy meals to share! Oh well, no use thinking of the past. I am hear right now, loving my crazy life everyday, trying to accomplish all the things I wish I had time for, and loving my family! Please excuse me for this long post tonight, but I got a little catching up to do...

Lets start with some resolutions! Now, this year I am going to make some very realistic ones, and try my hardest to reach these goals......however, I am also not going to beat myself up for set backs. Really, it is just a dream "To Do" list, and we will just see what I can get checked off.

1. Learn to crochet! A friend of mine is trying with all her might to get me hot on this one! I am so good at "I'll get to it later...". There is always some one who needs something, something that needs to be done, or I am just tired or lacking motivation. I am determined to check this one off. Thank goodness for friends who accept me for my flaws!

2. Lose weight and have a healthier lifestyle. Now, a lot will fall into this one. My husband and I are going to try and follow a 51% raw diet, as well as juice. We will periodically do a juice fast, as well as drink juice daily. There will be a separate post on this when we get things going. Second, we are going to continue with getting the processed foods out of our diets as close to 100% as we can get (I do not expect perfection!). We have been and will continue to research information, find new recipes, and buy as fresh and local as possible.

3. MOVE!! So, my husband will be done with culinary school at the end of August. Right now (and subject to change. Maybe even a few times. Or a lot.) we have a place in mind here on the coast. It is a perfect location, a short drive to the VA hospital and big city, loads of local farms and a year round farmer's market. It is one of our favorite towns, so I really hope this is one that we can check off! If not, wherever our new home will be, it will be wonderful as long as we are together.

4. Take a family vacation. We have been talking lately, and really trying to decide our next major steps. Should we try and buy a home? Should we wait and get ourselves better to get the house we really want? Should we get an RV and travel a little? Home school our oldest? Inland or coast? Continue school? Start a business? Ahh! A lot of crazy (wonderful) things lie ahead, and it can get a little heavy. So we have talked about starting this next chapter off with a bang, and having the best vacation. Maybe to kind of make up for not moving to Hawaii (we have decided to postpone this for a bit, or possibly looking into a vacation condo there). We have a lot of crazy ideas, so I hope we can give the girls a memorable trip.

5. Home school. Start this for our 4 year old, and possibly for our 13 year old. This is something we think will benefit our children the greatest, and we are very lucky to be able to have the time to dedicate to this.

6. Get reacquainted with my blog. You know, even if all I get out is a quick thought and one person sees it, that is enough! It feels great, even in the littlest ways, to be creative. I feel good when I write, and I want to be better about posting.

7. Age gracefully. A lot of reality has been hitting me hard lately, and I have been feeling a little lost. Lost with my self, spiritually, and with what lies ahead. I am not fully where I want to be, but I am getting there. It really is hard getting older and growing up, you know. I am turning 30 this month, and all kidding aside, I am kind of struggling with it a little. All I think about is how fast the last 10 years went by, all the things I try so hard to remember but fade a little each day, all the things I thought I would have done by now. I want to make everyday count, recognize every blessed moment I am given with the people I love, realize all the amazing things I have experienced, and be the person I ultimately want to be. I want to make 30 the beginning of the best years to come!

8. Love my music. Music is in me, part of me, moves me. It makes me happy when I am sad. Music makes me feel truly alive. Yet lately I have seemed to forget how healing, how soothing music can be for me. I want to make music a big part of my life again.

9. Love more. I don't want to be angry anymore. I want to love and be loved. I want to show my girls how much they are truly loved, how powerful love can be. I want to live love and never forget to tell the ones I love how amazing they are.

10. Write down my bucket list. I have all these wonderful things I want to do while I am blessed to be here, and some stuff to check off!

11. Grow something to feed my family. Exactly that. Something I grew with my hands, healthy and beautiful, to give nourishment to my family.

Well, I tried for ten. If you made it to the end, I truly thank you. It feels good to accomplish this, even if I am over a month late. Until later, my friends. May this New Year bring you all the love, joy, and happiness you deserve!