A New Start

I didn’t have a chance to sit down with my glass of champagne last night to write, only because I was sitting down with my glass of champagne and hanging out with R. I was 50/50 on if he was really going to end up hanging out with me – he typically loves New Year’s and we haven’t been together for one since Prayse was born. It was fabulous to me anyway, just my style. A good dinner, laughter as a family, relaxation, a double feature (with a pause to watch the ball drop and get my New Year’s kiss), and my best friend.

This morning R took Miss Prayse out shopping for awhile. I can only imagine what the two of them are doing – both strong willed, stubborn, and cute. It doesn’t even matter, because he did it to give me some time. Just some time for me. How awesome is that? Even more awesome because the laundry is done, only a few dishes in the sink (champagne glasses and a popcorn bowl) the house is clean AND picked up – so I get to relax with my cup of coffee and my computer. I never thought this would happen. Usually the few times those two are out I have been a mad woman, cleaning as much as I can. But this? This is nice.

So let’s talk about goals – resolutions I don’t like, but goals – those I can get into.

#1. Faith. I feel I have grown in the past year, but there is a desire to continue growing – building a relationship that is deeper than I can imagine. My life works better when this is an exciting and loving piece. When this is a focus I am a better wife, a better Mom, work goes more smoothly, I am more relaxed and happy – I keep things in perspective.  Reality tells me that in order to make this happen I need to be more organized so that’s #2.

#2. It’s the little things, pick up before going to bed, lay out my clothes and pack our lunches. See – this is probably boring to you but it’s the way I think. If I set a goal, I need to map out and think about how to get there. Lofty pie in the sky dreams are great and a necessity for some – but I immediately think about the current situation and what has to happen in order for that to get done. Something that drives Raymonn absolutely nuts, but I can’t NOT think that way – it’s me.

#3.Be more organized at work. Spend 20 minutes in the a.m. figuring out my priorities for the day. The past 5 months I would get there and be overwhelmed so just start my day off running. It’s the same at work as in my personal life, take the first few minutes to breathe and then tackle things one by one. Never stop while I’m there – keep pursuing what I need to get done. I need to make this a successful year – too much is riding on it. Failure is not an option.

#4. Work with R to declutter and downsize the “stuff.” I don’t need to tackle the whole house at once, but as I notice things either set them aside to take to the Mission Distribution Center or throw them away. We started doing this already with our closet and clothes and it has made a difference. I need to continue to do this. I know it is one of the things R has wanted for a long time and neither of us have made the move to do it. We are going to be making some upgrades to our house this year so we need the rest of it to feel similar and welcoming, relaxing. I want to make this our home – not what we just call our home, but one where we walk in and take a deep breath and relax. Because our family is here – but it is a space we have made, not thrown together. Thought out and made. R and I have discussed that we won’t be rushing out of this house – it has enough space for what we need right now (not so much later, but right now). We don’t want to take on more debt and so it is important that this be our H.O.M.E.

#5. Our original goal last year was to pay off 5 key debts. We beat that. Our new goal was by January 31, to be 100% debt free with the exception of the house. I am not sure if this will happen. I need one key contract to come in to help us out. If it can be accomplished then we’ll make it happen.  If not, it will suck – but not for lack of trying. I think we can make it by the end of February.

#6. Here’s my new challenge – which I haven’t talked with R yet so we’ll see how this goes. With some of the money that will be coming we are paying our house down so we don’t have to pay PMI monthly any longer. BUT after that – I want to have a goal to pay off 60% of our mortgage in 2010. Here’s the thing – I know that number, but I haven’t done the math to see if it is realistic. BUT – goals don’t always have to be realistic – you have to have one that seems impossible. Otherwise it will get boring.

So… what’s your “shoot for the stars” goal this year? I’d love to hear it.

Happy New Year friends – it’s all about a new start, a fresh new day, a chance to begin again, so it’s important that we stand our weary bodies up, take a deep breath and look forward to the future and away from the past.

Love you all.

Tiffany