Can you believe it's 2010?

So here's the scoop in no particular order.

First, I'm going to loose weight. I'm trying to loose almost 50 pounds, but I'd be really happy at 42 lbs :) I lost five lbs between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I've lost 5.5 more since Christmas. YEAH! Of course, that leaves me with nearly 40 more pounds to go! It sounds impossible, but I was going for a lb a week and my original goal was set for 9/4- my anniversary, as that was a lb/week + 1 week. At this stage I'm ahead of schedule- we'll see if it gets harder as I go.

Second, which is kinda part of loosing weight- I'm trying to exercise daily. I just don't like it. I don't like doing stuff alone and it seems like exercising is just one of those things that you have to do by yourself. We tried the gym thing, it just doesn't work out when your children are too old for the preschool childcare and too young to be left alone. So... we moved the tread mill in the living room, and it's working. I'm 10x more likely to use it at least. It IS very ugly and takes up lots of usefull space, but hey, at 2.75 lbs a week who can complain? Also, we got a Wii and a Wii Fit for Christmas from my Dad. I love the Fit; all the little Mii's running around (like the kids and our parents and friends) psych me into thinking I'm not realing playing by myself. Yes, I've always needed a lot of attention :) And it really does make me work- well some of them make me work.

Third, school is getting done and I'm focusing on the 'Big Rocks' as De'etta calls them. We're having fun, and I've got two boys reading well enough to read primers with some help. Micaela took a two month break from her current most hated subject- spelling ;) - and we retested for the year in the first week of January. She placed solidly in the middle of third grade, so we're skipping the last 3 lists of second grade (which was getting to be torture two months ago) and starting with the first list in third grade (which is a lot easier). Hopefully by the time she hits the more difficult spelling rules this year, she'll have matured a little more. I'm very excited about a Charlotte Mason style extracurr. class that Micaela and Nathaniel will get to do this year- artist study, composer study, nature study, and recitation as a group of 6 and 7 yos following the Ambelside Online schedule. It's FREE! It's at the home of a very godly homeschool mentor mom! And it's only every other week! All these things make me sooo happy, and I really think Nathaniel will enjoy it. I hope it goes well because this is the first time they'll be doing this and maybe it could continue in the fall and Gabriel could participate.

Fourth, adoption. Ian and I want to adopt and have always wanted to adopt. We are currently pursuing a homestudy, and are prayerfully considering opening up our home to four children in foster care. They are 3 brothers and a sister, and they look beautiful and have happy, hopefull expressions. There are many things for and against such a decision, and only God knows the correct path, so we're leaving it in his hands.

Fifth, spiritual fitness- I'm trying to be more intentional in my study of God's word and in seeking relationship with God. As a family we are reading through the whole Bible this year. Pray for us as we seek to cultivate a love of God's word in our children and ourselves. And as we read about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah tonight. Ian's in charge so I don't know if we'll read every word or not...

Sixth, work. Everyone should help, and I've give every child a job- something I read when skimming through a MOTH book at the curriculum fair. They'll work at it till they master it. It has been SUCH a blessing. Micaela does laundry- and seriously, she knows more about it now at seven than I did at 17 in college! Nathaniel does dishes, and it takes him about 45 minutes to do what takes me 15, but he's getting better. Gabriel is supposed to sweep, but he mostly complains- so we'll keeping working till he learns to be a cheerful worker. Asher cleans off and washes the table, and makes Gabriel's job 10X harder- hehe, but then he's only three so I let him. Elizabeth's job is to take regular naps. I need them :) Btw, I've done only four loads of laundry since the week before Christmas. I think that's how I lost 5 lbs- it was such a load off my back- now I'm really feeling De'ettaish ::SNORT::