Can You Hear The Crickets?

Goodness but it's been a long time since I've posted anywhere close to regularly.  Not that I had many readers anyway, but I'm sure those I did have since quit checking in here.  Note to self: Make New Year's Resolution about posting on the ol' blog at least twice a week. (ha. haha. ha.)

Since we are on the subject of New Year's Resolutions I thought I'd talk about that today.  I just checked and saw I didn't actually post anything about resolutions last year, and since I don't remember what they were...well I guess I didn't fail anything.  I've done the words of the year thing before, which was actually pretty helpful, mostly because it's hard to forget something so simple.  One year my word was JOY.  Another year it was PEACE.

This year I'm doing something a bit different.  During morning prayers the other day I had the inspiration to look up the verse where us women are told something about keeping a quiet, gentle spirit.  Here's the actual verse:

Your adornment should not be an external one: braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or dressing in fine clothes, but rather the hidden character of the heart, expressed in the imperishable beauty of a gentle and calm disposition, which is precious in the sight of God. - 1 Peter 3:3-4

This is what I plan to ponder in this new year.  How can I become a little gentler?  A little calmer?  What is the hidden character of my heart like?  Lots to think about here.  I suppose I could use the word GENTLE for this year. 

As a family, we are focusing on the basics.  Helping each other become healthy.  Not so much in the physical sense (although that is a consideration) but more so in the mental and spiritual sense.  Sort of going back to the basics.  Are we getting enough sleep?  Enough (quantity AND quality) food?  How are our family relationships?  That sort of thing.

To help implement these thoughts into more of a concrete action, I am going to start making a new resolution each month.  Michelle used to post her new months resolution on her old blog and I love the idea of focusing on something each month in order to stay focused and stay current with whatever happens with our lives this year (I hope you don't mind me borrowing it Michelle!) . 

January's new month resolution is simply focusing on sleep.  How much am I getting?  Am I waking up on time (which around here means by 5:45 so I can have time to myself for prayer and getting dressed and making my husband's lunch before the house explodes at 7)?  What is our sleeping environments like?  Are our rooms comfortable and relaxing and mostly clean?  Are those who need them getting naps?  Are those who don't need them still getting rest during the day?

And I will hopefully be back to post a little more regularly soon!  Happy New Year!