New Year's Resolutions

It's that time again, when we all determine to be better people.

So here are my resolutions - feel free to hold me accountable, tell me off when I'm not doing well, etc.

It's enough! There will be no more pets... (especially little
dogs who decide to play in the mud and then refuse to go where they're
told when I'm wearing a white dress.)

1. There will be no new pets in my household under any circumstances, no matter how much my offspring believe they need more animals.
2. I will encourage my offspring to become independent adults, by doing less things for them. (In the same process I will save more energy for me.) The youngest will be old enough to vote in March - if they can be responsible for electing the government, they can be responsible for getting themselves out of bed in the morning. 
3. I will get myself organised so that I'm not overdoing things, putting energy on the "credit card", and then crashing and getting really sick later. I will plan more, pray more, and waste my personal energy less.
4. I will ask for help when I need it. (OK - that's a really hard one!)
5. I will break big jobs down into smaller, more manageable ones, and will pay attention when my body needs rest. 
6. I will eat a healthy diet, and do the exercise my body needs, whether or not I see any encouragement in the numbers on the scales or the tape measure.
7. I will do things I love (like arts and crafts, writing and even baking), simply because I love them.
8. I will put a high priority on spending quality time with the people I love.
9. I will shift the focus of my ministry work from getting established in the congregation and getting to know people - to helping people develop their own faith, and their own gifts.
10. I will stop complaining about my pills and just take the damn things.
11. I will write a book to help people understand what it means when they ask to have their baby baptized. 
12. I will be more energy conscious - drive my car less, turn off lights and power more.
13. I will be more money conscious - recycle things, and make things rather than buy them.
14. I will be more nutrition-conscious - avoid fast food, and cook with ingredients that have the least possible amount of processing. 
15. I will spend time in the quiet on the patio.

Whatever your resolutions, I hope and pray 2012 will be a great year for you.