New Year 2012

Today, we celebrated the first day of 2012.  The Christmas lights and decorations were taken down and boxed up.  We ate black-eyed peas, barbecue chicken, rice, and cornbread.  We did some after-Christmas bargain shopping.  We have only one more day of the winter break before Sarah and Camille return to school on Tuesday.  It’s been a nice break.

With 2010 and 2011 being so consumed with cancer treatments and surgeries, I’ve gotta tell you, I’m overwhelmed with the wonderful things I want to do this year.  I see this year as the year of my return to “normal”.  I don’t like making “New Year’s resolutions”, but this year I’m very tempted…if only I could keep it realistic.  This year, I want to do several things:

1. Daily bible readings with the girls.  Since we stopped home schooling, this has fallen by the wayside.  Our schedules are hectic.  We’re up and out at different times of the morning and evening.  There just doesn’t seem to be a regular time of day that we’re all up and home.  However, this must be done.  It’s important for me and for the kids.  I hope Terry will join in too.
2. Private bible study time.  I’ve tried this from time to time and have not been faithful for more than a few weeks.  This is something I need to do this year too.  I wonder though, if I do bible time with the kids, will that be enough?  I know… shame on me!
3. Regular exercise.  This one is a must, but I have to do it correctly and do it slowly.  I know myself, and I MUST have a schedule.  I live by lists, and I’m foolish to think I can stick to any plan without a schedule.  Period.  I bought a book while I was undergoing chemotherapy titled The Breast Cancer Survivor’s Guide to Fitness.  It seems to be the best resource for me now.  The doctors know the importance of strength training and exercise as it relates to mastectomy, radiation, and reconstruction.  There are many do’s and don’ts for us survivors, and this book carefully lays it out there for me.  Two mistakes I’d probably make without a guide are: (1) set rigid goals that get me going, but I cannot sustain and (2) skipping days due to busyness, weather, laziness, etc.  Also, I tend to push myself when I set a goal, and with my high risk for lymph edema, I can’t afford to do that. 
4. Get an additional job.  This one is more of a necessity than a desire, but it is a desire nonetheless.  I’d like to bring more income into the household.  I can’t decide though what I want to do or what I need to do.  I will continue teaching at PTC, but I want to also do something part-time here in Collierville.  Work days and schedules would be very limited since I have so many responsibilities with the kids and Terry works 75+ hours per week.  My family really is my top priority.  However, I have considered working full-time for the right agency…like Agape.  :-)  How I’d manage that though, I have NO idea.  So for now, I scan the online job sites and try see if anything jumps out at me.  I wish I could text God for an immediate answer.
5. Get to bed earlier each night (by 10:00pm).  LOL!  How embarrassing to be writing this at almost 2am.

So, see… I have several areas that I want to improve in 2012.  Realistically speaking, I can’t try to commit to them all.  For now, as I write this, I think #1 and #3 are the most pressing.  We’ll see how it pans out.