From my eyes…

1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.
2. A resolving to do something.
3. A course of action determined or decided on.
4. A formal statement of a decision or expression of opinion put before or adopted by an assembly such as the U.S. Congress.

These are the first four definitions as posted on dictionary.com

I really like the statement of firm determination in definition 1, and definition 3.
With those ideas in mind, I present to you the things that I am determined to accomplish in 2008. 

GOAL 1: Lose 5 lbs per month January - May.      
     PLAN OF ACTION: Eat healthier, starting off with South Beach Diet, exercise.

GOAL 2: Get 2nd job to start saving money for a Hybrid Escape.    
     PLAN OF ACTION: After volleyball season, begin applying.

GOAL 3: Blog more - at least 3 times /week         
     PLAN OF ACTION: Designate 3 days per week to blog.

GOAL 4: Take more pictures.                                
     PLAN OF ACTION: Plan specific time to photograph specific things. Read about photography techniques.

GOAL 5: Complete teaching endorsements           
     PLAN OF ACTION: Wait for deficiency letter. Register for classes this spring.

GOAL 6: Be prepared for next school year.           
     PLAN OF ACTION: Prepare ALL lessons for the year during the summer. Complete items on the “For Next Year” list  I’ve been making throughout this school year.

GOAL 7: Make a budget & stick to it.                     
     PLAN OF ACTION: Use cash (People still do this I’m learning) or don’t buy it.

GOAL 8: Make crafts & art to decorate the house 
     PLAN OF ACTION: Take those pics from Goal 4 and frame them. Also add creative touches to frames and such. Paint
                                 canvas, like Bec, for master bedroom.

GOAL 9: Research family tree                                
     PLAN OF ACTION: Contact cousin who has been working on Mom’s side. Contact Dad’s cousin who did his side. 
                                  Gather their info and go from there. Visit Dad’s Aunt Mary to help her label and organize pics of us “youngsters”. Visit a mormon temple for help. Register for a family tree online service.

GOAL 10: Go to church                                          
     PLAN OF ACTION: Try Channahon UMC (didn’t like Christmas Eve), then other UMCs in the area. If none I like, try Luthern

GOAL 11: Join HOA
     PLAN OF ACTION: Contact lawyer about rights to join HOA (also rights to fight tripling our HOA fees for the year!) since the builder pulled out of here before building half of the homes and said that they would turn the HOA over to the H once we were at 1/2. Mmmmmm, something seems fishy. Plus, if I’m on the HOA I can help change the ridiculous fence requirements and we can get what we want (the premade panel slab things). YAHOO!

GOAL 12: Be more knowledgable of policitcs, including local!
     PLAN OF ACTION: Watch debates. Watch/read the news. Possibly volunteer to help a campaign. Figure out where I’m supposed to go to vote.

GOAL 13: Have plans every weekend (mostly). 
     PLAN OF ACTION: Make plans with people, or at least with Mike, to have game night, go to the city, go on a walk, go on a hike, go see a movie at the cheap theater, meet for a drink or bite to eat (though I try really hard not to eat out), go camping, etc.

So, those are my 13 goals. I’ve decided that some of the things I want to do, like coach a softball team, can wait for a little later. The 13 goals I wrote down are plenty to keep my focused and productive for the new year. And I didn’t even include the piddly ones like “keep the dishes and laundry caught up”.

In our house, 2008 will not be the year of the rat like for everyone else, but the year of CASH (using it that is) & ACCOMPLISHMENT

What will you strive for in the upcoming year?

14) What concerts/shows did you go to?
              www.ThenAgain.org

29) What do you look forward to most about 2008?
               Accomplishing goals I’ve set for myself.

The last week of teaching was a whirlwind! It was a blast finishing up projects with my kids and celebrating with the staff. I was showered with gifts, something that is always quite a surprise. For the past two years I worked with students who couldn’t give gifts. This year, I work with older kids, who I thought wouldn’t give gifts since they have so many teacher. So, I was surprised this year when the gift cards and goodies started trickling in. My very favorite student gift this year was a homemade poster with Internet pictures of Bon Jovi printed on it with the saying “Miss Bennett ROX just like Bon Jovi” Awe! Isn’t that sweet? All the love my students have poured on my during this school year and especially this week was just overwhelming. I got teary-eyed when they left for our break!

Everyone who knows me, knows the Bon Jovi is my ultimate favorite. I have a wide range of good music I enjoy, but it always comes back to a little JBJ. One of my best friends, knows this all too well. She managed to find Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora figurines. I’m guessing they were supposed to stay in the box as collectibles, but I ripped them from their cardboard home and moved them onto the counter in my classroom. I think they are happier there giving me a silent concert each and every day.

Today, I set out to make a gift for others. My plan was to create gifts for some wonderful people in my life. In doing so, they unknowingly blessed me again with a day of special memories.

I know the my friends who will receive the Chex Mix this week don’t know the memories it holds for me, and that’s ok. Hopefully, they’ll make memories of their own while they enjoy it. 

Click here to hear a silly holiday song.

It seems that this has been my busiest December ever. I am notorious for making to-do lists. It’s the best way for me to get everything done as it needs to be done. I noticed a few days ago that my purse contained 5 or 6 index cards - my favorite place to write a to do list, on an index card with a pretty colored Sharpe marker. I couldn’t believe it! FIVE, maybe it was SIX, index cards all bearing tasks that I needed to accomplish. I instantly felt overwhelmed!! The worst part was that not everything I actually needed to get done was even on the index cards. AHH! 

Do you ever feel entirely overwhelmed? Especially around the holidays? Isn’t life hard enough to stay on top of without all of the extras, fun as they may be (the gift buying, wrapping, giving, cards, baking, parites, decorating, extra cleaning for guests, etc)?

My lists did help in the long run. Once I realized that I needed to calm down about it all and not freak so much. I’ve gotten the Chex Mix made and ready to give out to friends here. I’ve gotten my gifts wrapped, packaged and shipped. I’ve gotten the house clean enough to live in (until Winter Break when I can clean and start fresh for the new year).  I’ll get the other things done as I get to them, but for now, I’m going to enjoy the end of 2007 and celebrate Christmas with a stress-free smile

I had the most glorious drive on the way to work last week. It was on a morning after a night of snow. We’d already had snow, but it hadn’t stuck. I was amazed when I woke up and ……AAHHHHHHHH!!!!

While I type I’m watching a Bon Jovi Unplugged. I thought I’d seen them all, but this must be one I fell asleep on… He’s singing an acoustic version of one of my favorite songs that isn’t his. Hallelujiah by Leonard Cohen. And Bon Jovi just described exactly as I would “sometimes a songs that take over you”. Sigh. LOVE THIS! And so grateful we have the ability to rewind on our TV!!!! WEEE!!!

Back to my story.

I tried to take some pictures to capture the beauty of my drive. And of the site out of the windows in my classroom. I got squat. Below are a few shots I snapped out the window as I drove. There were people behind me though, so I didn’t have the opportunity to slow down. I’m really disappointed in them, but maybe you’ll see something more in them than I do. It just doesn’t seem to catch my breath in my throat as it did in person. Sigh.

My favorite sight of the day was from my classroom. I put my purse in my drawer, and my bag in my chair and as I looked up while I took off my jacket, I glanced out the four windows across my room. It was surreal. It looked as if someone had hung four winter scene posters over the window. I brought my camera with me the next day to school, but it wasn’t even close to the same thing.

So, I know that it takes a great deal of talent by the photographer, and even some luck to get the perfect shot, but is that also the key to showing the depth? I mean, how would I have taken that picture of the windows and made it look like it did when I looked at it. How would I move the focus to the windows and not the wall?

I think it may be time to sign up for a class, and add photo time back into my schedule.

What are you favorite holiday carols? Are they your favorite just because you like the music &/or words? Or do you have special memories they bring about?

I also rocked the kitchen so much that while I was cooking all of this stuff I ALSO unloaded the dishwasher and reloaded the dishes even the ones I used tonight. Yessss!