As usual, I'm a little behind the curve. Most people did New Year's Resolutions long before they were a glimmer in my eye. In fact, most people did them YEARS ago.

I have never done New Year's Resolutions. Something about them has never appealed to me. This year though, with nothing "big" on the horizon, I feel like I ought to make some small, attainable goals. The last couple of years, I had some big milestones I was looking ahead to. I rang 2009 in in Amsterdam, doing a job I loved (but didn't appreciate fully!) knowing the upcoming year would bring with it lots of excitement (engagement, marriage!). When 2010 rolled around, I was looking forward to the first full year of marriage and figuring out what daily life together looked like. 2011 brought with it the knowledge that we were about to pack up our lives and move across the country to Colorado.

2012 thus far, holds no major milestone. Nothing life-altering is on the horizon, so this is the year, I think, to make small adjustments. Small habit changes make life changes, right?


Adjustment #1 - Work out one day a week in January. Up it to two days a week in February. (Adrian said if I keep going at this rate, but year's end I'll be up to 12 days a week. What an accomplishment.)

Adjustment #2 - Put my clothes away at bedtime. If I'm done wearing it, hang it up or throw it in the laundry.

Adjustment #3 - Spend more time in community. On Sunday, Bryan spoke about the early disciples truly getting community. We moved out here to be part of a community, but it's really hard to find the time. I'm starting to realize that in order to live life with others, it doesn't have to be hosting meals every night or calling a certain number of girls everyday. It's an adjustment, so I'm starting small by being more intentional with conversations, less structured with my "community" time and more open with relationships.

So, that's that. Start with small, manageable amounts and see what happens, right? I really just want to learn to be content and disciplined in this new year. I'm thankful for the upheavals in my life over the past several years, and I hope I can learn to be thankful and content without any upheavals this year!

What about you? Do you do resolutions, or goals, or adjustments? I'd love to know about them!

P.S. - Adjustment #4 is to get a cat ;)

Day 9: A photo you took

I took this photo years ago, while working at a medical clinic in Guatemala. The kids were supposed to be in class, learning, but since a bunch of what faces had set up a free clinic in the courtyard of their school - their attention went elsewhere. They were beautiful and hopeful and such a stark contrast to the hard life we saw and heard evidences of throughout the countryside.

In non-challenge news, you asked for "before" and "after" pictures of the table I refinished. I wish I could say I had the forethought to take pictures of it way back when I picked it up off the side of the road, but I didn't. Nor did I take pictures of it at any of the 12,000 points I took the plastic off to work on it. That was usually because I got frustrated so fast and went back inside angry at the table and angry at myself for grabbing it! Ha.

But, I will try to remember to take some good shots of it tonight (while there are some sunflowers Mom bought for us on it!) and post them tomorrow.

Speaking of sunflowers, which were our wedding flower, today is our 10-month anniversary! I can't believe it was 2 months ago that we were celebrating in South Carolina, and I can't believe 2 months from now will be a YEAR!! Crazy. We're trying to figure out exactly what to do for the anniversary (which A calls our honeymoon ;). Any suggestions?

Maybe I can't do this every-day thing. I'm more of an every-other-day kind of blogger. Does that mean I can never go pro?

Here are yesterday's and today's: Photo days. These should be easier.

Day 7: A photo that makes you happy

This picture was taken on our honeymoon at the Valentin Imperial Maya in Mexico. It was an awesome week. This is what we did most of the week - although, we usually had separate beach chairs :) Reading on the beach, swimming in the pool, dressing up for dinner....You know, honeymoon things ;) It was the most time we had ever been able to spend together since we were long-distance our whole relationship and it was GLORIOUS! I love being married to this man.

This was taken after our ill-fated, terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day at Disney. If the picture doesn't speak for itself, and if you don't already know the story, check it out here.

Day #2 of the "30 days of me" and I already forgot to update. FAIL. I totally thought about it yesterday and just forgot later! Whoops. And yes, Kristel and Amanda, you should definitely jump on board! I'd love to read it!

So anyways, here goes: Days #2 and #3, because I want to play catch-up!

Day 2: Your favorite movie
This is definitely a tie between two similar movies. I LOVE both Fried Green Tomatoes and Steel Magnolias equally. Call me a sap, but both movies still tug on my heartstrings and make me tear up when I watch them.

Come on, Idgie, Buddy and the train in Fried Green Tomatoes? Or in Steel Magnolias - Meline, "I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine...I'm FINE! I can jog all the way to Texas and back, but my daughter can't! She never could!"

Tell me those scenes don't make you weep a little. I love it. So cathartic. Plus, I've always respected the dual ideas of these strong women that know how to hold a family together, but yet remain ladies through it all.

And in Fried Green Tomatoes, I confess - the mystery of whether or not Mrs. Threadgoode is actually Idgie has always held me captive. I'm scared to research it and find out for sure. Theories?

Day 3: Your favorite television program
This one is easy. LOST. I am still SO sad at the fact that it is over, and still a little sad at the ending. I loved the show so much and wish they hadn't taken such a crappy worldview as the final escape route. Nonetheless, the characters were like good friends after six years of faithfully watching and I was sad to see them go. The mystery of it all, again, hooked me, for so long, and I'm still struggling to understand it and let it all go!

Thus, since LOST is over, I'm in search of a new favorite. We currently watch House, Chuck, 24, 30 Rock, Smallville and The Office - depending on our moods :) I've also been known to like reality trash such as Bachelor/Bachelorette, Hell's Kitchen, Biggest Loser, etc. Sue me :)

Alright friends, jump on board the 30-day train! I won't judge if you forget some days, too. It'll just be fun to read your answers!

Today is the day. Our little man-child is about to sprout his wings and fly into the dorms.

Thanks for the offers of stuff to give him and encouragement about the situation. We had a successful day of yard-saleing and Share Shopping on Saturday and John walked away with a lot of good stuff for his new dorm room. I'm waiting to hear from A that they have his keys, and then I'm going to go be a good little Mom and take my camera and document the moving-in festivities.

Don't be fooled - I'm not planning on hauling stuff into the dorm, just documenting it :) I'm on day #3 of migraines/period headaches that make me sick to my stomach and just want to sleep, so unless my (unfortunately, still-sick) husband really needs me to help carry things, I think I may sit this one out.

After John is all moved in, I'd like to say we'll be empty-nesters, but alas, we won't be. Roommate and wife and baby are in town all week, then my mom comes in this weekend. I'm hoping my mother is game to help me refinish a table I found that has been sitting on our porch since LAST time she visited! That time, there was snow on the ground. Don't judge me for how long it takes me to get to projects. Anyways, I don't know how Mom will feel about that, but we shall see. Also on the docket? Some golf. It's been a while, and I'm excited!

Anyways, I swiped this idea from a friend's blog and wanted to see if I could do it. Thirty days of me. Sounds scintillating, right? I know. Anyways, I think it will be a good personal challenge to see if I can blog for 30 days straight, since, as my blog manager Kristel will tell you, all the good bloggers blog daily! Haha.

So, here goes with day #1!

30 Days of ME
Day 1: Your favorite song: Painting Pictures of Egypt by Sara Groves
I don't know if I can honestly say I have ONE favorite song, but this one would be darn near the top of the list. Not only do I love Sara Groves' music, but I love this song for the myriad of times it has reminded me that, like the Israelites who wandered in the desert, longing for Egypt, I have a tendency to romanticize the past rather than running confidently and with faith toward the future the Lord has promised me. I too often yearn for the mediocre and the comfortable, rather than trusting God's promises to bring me into sweeter fellowship with Him and to do good for me. Sometimes the current situation seems so rough, and the unknown future seems even more bleak, and this song is a much-needed reminder that the Father in Heaven desires to bring me into a land of milk and honey, if only I'll let him lead me into the inheritance he has prepared for me.

Day 2: Your favorite movie
Day 3: Your favorite television program
Day 4: Your favorite book
Day 5: Your favorite quote
Day 6: Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 7: A photo that makes you happy
Day 8: A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 9: A photo you took
Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11: A photo of you taken recently
Day 12: Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13: A fictional book
Day 14: A non-fictional book
Day 15: A fanfic
Day 16: A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17: An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18: Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19: A talent of yours
Day 20: A hobby of yours
Day 21: A recipe
Day 22: A website
Day 23: A YouTube video
Day 24: Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25: Your day, in great detail
Day 26: Your week, in great detail
Day 27: This month, in great detail
Day 28: This year, in great detail
Day 29: Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30: Whatever tickles your fancy