Accounting.

Happy New Years, everyone.

This morning, I am sitting here gazing at my folder of resolutions for 2011. Thinking about what I want to do, try, fix, change, and be. But that requires some reflection on last year.

Which is why I'm sitting here looking at my original handwritten list of goals.
In so many ways, I don't feel like I accomplished anything in 2010. I am the same weight, give or take. I am still impatient, restless, and stubborn.
But I do have a couple checks to add to my list, bringing my completed total to 54.

In 2010, I became a beekeeper.
I visited Washington DC and the Smithsonian for the first time.
And I truly did improve my ability to take pictures with my point and shoot camera.

I feel blessed by those goals. I feel grateful for every check I get to add to my list, since none of them are a given.

So, what for 2011?
I don't think I'll be seeing the Himalayas this year. Tahiti isn't really realistic either. I pause over the "Have a lot of kids" goal. I'm glad I didn't specify a number. Like 9. But I don't feel like I can check it off, at 3.

I am training for Kilimanjaro, with a goal to save the money and make the climb in 2014. So that's something.

But for 2011???

My 17 year old self didn't think to add things like "Speak softly" or "Give vegetarianism a try."
Maybe this is the year to do something I haven't done and actually add some new numbers to my list...

My girls.

Yesterday, my two oldest kids requested powdered mini-donuts for breakfast on New Year's Day.

I thought, "That sounds easy. So, yes."

This morning, bright and early, Thing 1 came bounding in to our bedroom and declared "It's the great day!!!!!!" I can only hope that the same tone of "glory-be" applied to donuts for breakfast will be as evident on her own wedding day.

I got up as Thing 1 and Thing 2 danced around me in raptures and went to get the Munchkin out of her crib. She looked up at me, with her sweet eyes, and asked me if I "sleep good?" Scooping up my snuggly, bed-head baby girl, I asked her if she wanted a donut for breakfast.

She threw back her head and wailed "NOOOOOOOO! I WANT BANANA! I WANT GWAPE-FWUIT!"

And she wasn't even kidding.

This year, I wanna be more like my girls.

Good, Better, Best.

As I've mentioned, my theme for this year is "Good, Better, Best" based on THIS speech by Dallin H. Oaks. (It's a really good read.) Every day, I'm trying to weigh my choices, and take that split second to make a better or best choice. In my first few days, I've been amazed at how MANY chances I have to choose. This morning provides a perfect example.

The Spouse woke me up at the unholy hour of 6:30 so that I could get Thing 1 out the door to school on time. (I smile as I say that because he woke me up just as he was leaving for work, so I have NO room to complain, really.) I got my daughter up, dressed, fed, and ready to go. As I shut the door after putting her in carpool, I turned and faced my silent, dim house. The other two kids were, miraculously, still asleep. I shuffled towards my room thinking about how I might sneak in another 10 or 20 minutes of sleep, which sounded blissful. It's cold here in North Carolina right now, and our house is drafty, so I couldn't think of anything better than snuggling down in my warm covers.

Then I heard the little Jiminy Cricket in my head whispering "Is there something better you could do before the kids wake up?"

To which my instant reaction was "What could be better than sleep???" But my answer was already there:I could work out. If the kids slept 20 more minutes, I would have my weight lifting in for the day. I wouldn't have to try and do that while keeping kids happy. And that would be a better way to spend 20 minutes than sleeping.

Cue big sigh.

Then Jiminy Cricket piped up again "Come on, isn't there anything better than working out?"

At which point, Jiminy Cricket was becoming annoying. Because wasn't working out and giving up sleep ENOUGH already?? But there it was. If the kids slept 20 more minutes, I could have my Bible reading done for the day.

Trudging back to the bookshelf, I reached up and took down my Bible.

Choosing "Better" and "Best" isn't easy. Although it's easier if you think of things in those terms. Also interesting that, once I was done with my reading, I automatically went and did my workout while the two younger kids ate breakfast. Like that decision was already made. So I'm learning that, for me, being "good" is fairly easy. Coasting along and doing the basics is something I've gotten pretty good at. But taking it up even one, let alone two more notches? That's tough.

Especially when one of your choices is sleep.

Realistically Speaking...

I love New Year's Resolutions.

I get into the whole spirit of the thing, complete with a topic and themes and divisions.

But I'm thinking this year, the theme should be "Keeping it Real" and my resolutions would go something like this:

Spiritually:
Go to church.
Don't eat all the kid's fruit snacks, while at church.
Judge more.

Physically:
Consume your own weight in aspartame.
Be the same weight next year as you are right now.
Don't have to buy clothes in the next size up.

Mentally/Emotionally:
Read more books for avoid housework.
Find even more methods of escapism.
Avoid people.

Wife and Mother:
Make sure the TV is on by no later than 7:30 am.
Save the planet--use febreze rather than actually doing laundry.
Spend every penny of the Spouse's hard earned money.

*smug grin* I'm pretty sure I could follow through on THOSE resolutions. My. What a thrill that would be. (Ok. Fine. Real ones are in the works.)