The Other Wish List

Looking ahead into 2012 led me to creating a personal Resolutions List.  It can be summed up as this:

be healthier

be braver

be quieter

All that is well and good but sort of incomplete.  Those goals only encompassed what I wanted for myself but left off my little "to do list" for other things .. namely .. my house.

Mark and I live in a great house but have come to the conclusion that our little Five-Year-Starter-Home is going to end up being our Ten-Year-Establish-A-Family-Home.  I like my house so that doesn't completely disappoint me but there are some things that are missing.  It's the kinds of things you don't realize you need/want until living with it a while.

The whole house has four bedrooms and three full baths.  It goes something like this: 

~ Bedroom 1 + Bath 1:  Master Suite

~ Bedroom 2:  Office                        

~ Bedroom 3: Guest room                 

~ Bath 2: Hall Bath/Guest Bath         

~ Bedroom 4 + Bath 3: "Man Room"   

This configuration has worked well for us over the past four years but things are a-brewin' in 2012 which means changes are on the way.  Below, in no particular order, is the list of updates/changes/etc that we want to make to our house in 2012/2013.  It seems like a lot but we have been slowly preparing for this for a while now.  I will, of course, be telling you about each step of the process so let's see how much we will actually get done!!
*Note: the ones with (??) are the ones that we are still mulling over.

1. Build a shed
2. Landscape with mulch and a tree or two
3. Install a pantry
4. Install double sinks in the master bath (??)
5. Open up the wall between living room and stairs (??)
6. If #5 happens then: extend the hardwoods to the edge of the stairs. (??)
7. Move the office into "bedroom 3"
8. Temporarily make "bedroom 2" the guest room (until it becomes the permanent home of our first born)
9. Create a second closet in "bedroom 3"
10. Build better closet organization in "bedroom 2" and "bedroom 3"
11. Install a back splash in the kitchen
12. Build outdoor planter boxes/benches to line the patio

Whew!  Some of the items are easily completed (as in #7 and #8) and some will take a lot more planning (as in #1 and #11).  As we tackle each project I will get before, during, and after pics to share. I am sure many of you who are friends with me on pinterest are not surprised by the items on my list (given my pins lately).

I know some of those items might sound confusing but bare with me.  I simply wanted to get the list out there and I will explain as we go.  So that is our Wish List (on behalf of our dear house) for 2012 ..and perhaps a little of 2013. ;)

What's on your wishlist?  Do you have any planned project for the place you call home?  Have you done anything on the list and can give us any advice?  I would love to hear from you.

Let Us Keep to the Point

During dinner last night, Mark and I began discussing resolutions and the things we are looking forward to in 2012.  As it always does these days, starting a family entered into the conversation.  I mentioned in my New Years Resolutions 2012 post that we were waiting .. but it was unclear on what we were waiting for.  Well Mark announced that we would be ready once he got his new car ... which could happen any time although it probably won't be for another month or so.

Have you ever heard the saying "If you are unsure where you stand on an issue, just flip a coin.  You will then immediately know."?  I think there is a lot of truth in that.  The second that coin is in the air you will start wishing for either heads or tails.  Well with the declaration that the waiting would be over in a couple months, Mark flipped the proverbial coin.  I realized I was wishing for the opposite side.

He busted out laughing because, apparently, there may or may not have been a look of fear on my face.  It's true though.  The thought terrifies me.  I LOVE thinking about being pregnant and starting a family and I certainly have lots of theories that need testing .. but when it comes down to actually being in those shoes .. I'm all talk.  I just get this overwhelming fear of failing.  I've spent my whole life hedging my bets and "dipping my toe" into situations before diving in that blindly jumping is completely off my radar.  This goes to show there is a fundamental flaw in my walk with God.

I truly believe that we are never given more than we can handle.  I also believe that He has perfect timing.  But actions speak louder than words and my actions have proven I don't practice what I preach.  I've subconsciously known for a long time that pregnancy was going to be a make it or break it experience for me.  For a control freak like myself it is the ultimate in "giving it up".  I have to completely surrender.  I don't have a choice.  He will make me and it won't be pretty.  I would rather go of my own free will.  I have to get my head out of the sand.

Mark has a daily devotional book called My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.  When we got home from dinner he sat down to read it.  After he finished January 1st he came to find me and told me to read it.  It's crazy how blatant God can be when he meets us where we are. This is what the passage said:

"...my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death"  ~ Philippians 1:20

My Utmost for His Highest.  "...my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed..."  We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus the areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him.  It's as if Paul were saying, "My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest--my best for His glory."  To reach that level of determination is a matter of the will, not of debate or of reasoning.  It is absolute and irrevocable surrender of will at that point.  An undue amount of thought and consideration for ourselves is what keeps us from making that decision, although we cover it up with the pretense that it is others we are considering.  When we think seriously about what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He doesn't know what our obedience will mean.  Keep to the point--He does know.  Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only--my utmost for His highest.  I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for His and Him alone.


My  Unstoppable Determination for His Holiness.  "Whether it means life or death--it makes no difference!" (see1:21).  Paul was determined that nothing would stop him from doing exactly what God wanted.  But before we choose to follow God's will, a crisis must develop in our lives.  This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God's gentler nudges.  He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate.  He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide--for or against.  That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives.  If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.


Needless to say that left me a little speechless and gave me a LOT to think about.

New Years Resolutions 2012

There are those of us that make New Year's resolutions and there are those of us that don't.  Some take them very seriously and some don't.  I'm kind of in between.  I think that change can happen any day of the week and I don't believe that there is something overly special about January 1st that makes it 'life changing'.  On the other hand, there is a sense of getting a fresh start and that is the part that is intriguing.  It's that little push of motivation that can make all the difference.

So without further ado, here is my list of "things I will seriously consider" for 2012:

1.  Continue veggie living.  I became a vegetarian in 2011 and I love it.  It wasn't for any political or social reason.  I just wanted to be healthier and I never really cared for meat anyway.  In 2012, I hope to continue the lifestyle and possibly further adjust the parameters.  We will see how it goes.

2.  Get healthier.  I'm being vague about this for a reason. So many people make a resolution like "I'm going to lose 30 lbs" and although I certainly can stand to lose weight, I think "health" has to do with a lot more than just the number on the scale.  Although I do plan on losing some weight, I also plan on moving more, learning about organic/whole foods, sleeping more, laughing more, reducing stress, being outside/getting more fresh air and just becoming a better me.  Like I said.  It's more than just the number on the scale.

3.  Potentially .. maybe .. seriously consider starting a family.  Baby fever just isn't going away.  Mark and I are waiting .... but we don't quite know what we are waiting for any more.  This year will be the year where we really dig deep and find out what we want and if expanding our family is it.  We are young and there is no rush but we don't want to wait around forever.

4.  Seek balance.  See number two.  This is actually part of getting healthier.  I need to find balance and make sure I am spending my time wisely.  I need to be more relaxed and let go of some things.  On the flipside it wouldn't hurt to buckle down and be more diligent about others.

5.  Be a better wife.  I'm thankful to say that Mark and I have a great marriage.  That's not to say we are perfectly perfect all the time.  I want to strive in 2012 to always seek to be uplifting and supportive; to be respectful and listen.  This also applies to other family members and close friends.  The ones that love us unconditionally are usually the ones we badger the most.  Just because I have a stressful day doesn't mean I need to bombard Mark with it.  If Mark wants to talk then I need to quietly listen and not interrupt him a million times because I.have.something.to.say.and.I.have.to.say.it.right.this.second. 

What are your resolutions?  Do you believe in them whole-heartedly or do you just do it for fun?