2012 Goals: Monthly Checkup - Part 2

A couple of days ago, I posted how my first 3 goals were going.  Verdict: mixed results.  I'm happy to report more progress on the remaining two.

Priority #4: Kaplan (where I teach math online)

One part of this goal was to be more focused on my tasks so that it didn't take up so much of my time.  For the most part, I've been successful with this.  Of course, it helps that I'm just teaching one class this term.  I've also improved a great deal on student outreach and cleaning out an overwhelming e-mail inbox.  I still need to do a bit more to adequately prepare some discussion board posts for classes that I teach frequently.  (This would help with the "not taking up as much of my time" goal, too, in future terms.)

Priority #5: Personal growth  (Remember that these were in no particular order - just as I thought of them the day I made my goal list.)

Read more: Success

Since the middle of December, I have read Grace for the Good Girl (highly recommend!), Hope for the Weary Mom, Eat That Frog!, and The Five Love Languages of Children.  I just recently started Captivating.

Make more friends: Success in progress.

I have ventured out into some new-ish territory at our church by attending Women's events and Bible studies and am happily making some new connections and friendships.  Also, next week we go for the orientation meeting for our new homeschool group followed by a roller skating party at the end of the week.  (You might want to add that to your prayer calendar....)

Blog regularly: Um, yes.  :)

Pursue an interest: Success, maybe?

I'm not sure what interest I actually want to pursue, but I am getting the opportunity to write an article for The Old Schoolhouse magazine about online learning.  We'll see where that leads!

So that's The State of the Mama at the end of the first month of the year.  Here's hoping for more progress by March 1st!



This post is linked up to one or more of the following blog parties.  Check them out! Monday: Menu Plan Monday on I'm an Organizing Junkie Wednesday: Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family Friday: 5 Minute Friday at The Gypsy Mama, Company Girl Coffee at Home Sanctuary Other days: A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

2012 Goals: Monthly Checkup - Part 1

At the beginning of the year, I posted about my goals for 2012.  You can see them here.  Since it's the beginning of February, I thought this would be a good time to do a goals "check-up."

Priority 1: Have a more welcoming home.

This one is actually going the worst, I'm afraid.  I started out pretty strong, but quickly fizzled, especially in the "develop a reasonable home-keeping schedule" department.  Beginning today (February 1st), I'm going to try something new.  It starts out VERY SLOWLY.  In fact, my first thought was, "Even I am more organized than this."  But then I looked around my house and realized that, no, I'm really not.

One blog that I enjoy reading is A Slob Comes Clean, and she has recently published a new e-book called 28 Days to Hope for Your Home.  For the month of February it's on sale for $4.00 (50% off the regular price of $7.99).  Want to join me?

Now moving on to better news....

Priority 2: Improve my health and well-being.

As of this morning, I have lost 5 pounds.  (For me, the most exciting part was that the middle number of my weight is now back to what it was a year ago.  I'm in a new weight decade!)  Verdict: Weight Watchers does work, but it can be excruciatingly slow.  This should have come as no surprise to me.  Five years ago (has it really been that long?), I lost 26 pounds on WW, but it took me 8 months.  I got pregnant 3.4 days later...

Other parts of this goal were to exercise regularly (nothing happening here yet - and yes, I see the connection to the above paragraph, but 5 years ago I WAS exercising regularly and still had those results), visit the doctor and dentist on a regular basis (doctor appointment made for March; still too chicken about the dentist), and go to bed/get out of bed earlier (progress being made on the bedtime end).

Priority 3: Continue to improve in homeschooling.

I'm happy to say that I am back to more detailed planning of our weekly schedule.  I'm hoping to extend that to a monthly schedule soon.  Megan is becoming more involved, but there's still work to be done here.  I have ordered Nathan's math books for next year (since he'll be finished with the Kindergarten ones in a couple of weeks), but I'm still pondering what to use for Phonics/Reading/Spelling.  Anyone have any experience with The Phonics Road?

Well, there are 3 more goals, but this post is already plenty long.  If you're still reading, Thank You!!  If you want to read about my other goals, you can do that here.

How are your new years' goals going so far?  I'd love to hear.



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This post is linked up to one or more of the following blog parties.  Check them out! Monday: Menu Plan Monday on I'm an Organizing Junkie Wednesday: Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family Friday: 5 Minute Friday at The Gypsy Mama, Company Girl Coffee at Home Sanctuary Other days: A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

Dear 16-Year-Old Me

Dear 16-year-old Laura,

Ah, young love!  You're in the thick of it right now, and there's a lot that's really great about it.  He has just enough of a wild streak to satisfy that inner rebellion that you keep so well hidden.  But he's basically a pretty good guy who never tries to take advantage of you or pressure you.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), he's going to break your heart before the year is over.  The two of you will stay friends for a while, but eventually you'll drift back to your group and he'll drift back to his.  You'll feel kind of lost for a while, but you'll be fine.  In fact, 19 years from now, you'll be in contact with him again through your computer.  (I know that probably boggles your mind, but computers will be MUCH different.  Not a DOS prompt in sight!  Tip: buy stock in Apple and Microsoft.)

Warning: he will break your heart again when you're 22.  But it won't take nearly as long, and it will have an unexpected, very positive, result.  That experience at 22 will cause you to have a much greater appreciation for the man who will become your husband.

But enough about that.

I'm tempted to tell you that you should dress differently - not feel like you have to stay hidden all the time.  But truthfully, dressing so modestly is probably keeping you out of some trouble and away from some people with less-than-honorable motives.  I guess I just wish you could have more confidence, even under all of those clothes.  You are more than just a brain!  You have a cute figure and a great sense of humor, but only a few people get to ever see glimpses of either.  Your future husband will recognize both of these qualities and know how to appreciate them.  :)

Twenty-two years from now, you'll be amazed at how some people have changed (and be even more amazed that you are still in contact with them!).  Some of your high school classmates have developed a real spiritual depth, and it's a shame that they either don't have that, or aren't willing to show that, at 16.  Sadly, some others will just be worse versions of their 16-year-old selves.  I won't spoil it for you, but I think you'll be surprised who matures and who doesn't.

So enjoy your first love.  It won't last forever, but it will be great for a while, and you will survive the aftermath.



P.S. Remember that Senior you had a crush on last year?  Even at 38 you still won't have the guts to contact him ... but that's definitely for the best.  :)

P.P.S.  See?  I was right about the acne getting much better.  :) And girl, you are rockin' the big hair!  (Enjoy that, too, while it lasts.)

If you are at all curious, you can read other letters to my younger self here.

This post is linked up to one or more of the following blog parties.  Check them out! Monday: Menu Plan Monday on I'm an Organizing Junkie Wednesday: Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family Friday: 5 Minute Friday at The Gypsy Mama, Company Girl Coffee at Home Sanctuary Other days: A Wise Woman Builds Her Home