Plan.

However, one of the first quotes that came to mind when I picked this word was:

If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.

Woody Allen

I don’t know much about Woody Allen.  One thing I do know is that a long time ago I went to see one of his movies and I remember thinking – and you can quote me on this – “this is the worst movie I have ever seen in my entire life; watching this is torture“.  I wish I could remember the name of the film, but I must have blocked it out.  If you are a Woody Allen fan, perhaps you know something I do not.  However, I do love this quote attributed to him: “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans“.

My goal this year is to be a better planner. I need to plan better in every life category – so I’m giving God plenty of material to work with!

 I’m going to plan more educational activities for my son and I to enjoy at home.

I’m going to plan my days better and hopefully get more house work done.

I’m going to develop a better writing and working plan . . . and I am going to create new plans to meet new (and old goals).

I’m also planning on writing a list of other things I need to plan better.

Will everything go as planned?  Of course not!  Will God laugh?  I hope so – I love to laugh, I imagine He loves it too!

Hey, maybe God will send us a newborn . . . that will certainly challenge a lot of plans!  But at the same time, we have been planning on adding to the family – so we shall see!

However, just because everything will not go as planned, that certainly isn’t a good reason not to plan!

One of the most practical skills I learned in college was how to write a lesson plan.

I was a Psychology major. I learned a lot of wonderful lessons at my liberal arts school – but, most I felt, I could not bring directly into the job market.

As a teacher, a good plan allowed me to have better classroom management, create a positive atmosphere and permitted me to enjoy my role as an educator.

Walking into school without a plan made the day feel longer, had me feeling more anxious and didn’t exactly excite anyone about learning that day.

A good plan can make a huge difference in a day, a week, a month and so on.  Or, as the writer H. Stanely Judd put it so much better:

A good plan is like a road map: it shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there.

Ultimately, I hope my final destination is heaven.  About a year ago I started praying, “God, help me be who you want me to be and set the world on fire“.  I prayed that over and over again.  That prayer, I believe, has brought me so many blessings, so much excitement and so much joy.  I firmly believe I am exactly where God wants me.

But, where do I go from here?

I need the map.  I need direction.  I need some sort of plan.

And honestly, as my son’s first teacher, he needs me to have a plan.

I am so happy and grateful that God creates all of us to love and serve Him in a unique way. I’m excited to serve Him in the way He has planned for me!  I hope and pray the goals I set and the ways I choose to attain them are guided by the Holy Spirit.

And if on the way to attain them I make God laugh . . . awesome!

Do you pick a word for the year?  If you had to pick one, what word would you choose?

The post This Year, I’m Planning on Making God Laugh! appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

However, I do want to improve my life, health, soul, marriage, skill as a mother, and so on and so forth.  In an attempt to do so, I’m going to make some January resolutions.  We’ll see if I make February ones . . . I will make no commitment on that now.  This perpetually disorganized girl is trying this as a baby step.  I need to make sure that this list is attainable, so I am only putting four “resolutions” on it.  They are:

1. Go to adoration. I was about to type once a week, but again, baby steps.  Before we were a family of three, my husband and I (or at least one of us) went once a week.  When our son finally came home, we needed to adjust, so we gave that up.  I feel like I’m strongly being pulled back.  Not only for my spiritual well-being, but my mental health.  As a teacher of Psychology, I stressed how important meditation is for people.  I need to listen to my own advice.  Wish me luck!
2. Make “Playtime with Xavier” the first thing on my to do list every day.  I ask my mom friends all the time “how do you do it?” Meaning, how is there household clean and organized and how do they balance all the chores with children.  Several have told me that they get all their chores done in the morning, then they have the rest of the day with their children/family.  I tried.  It doesn’t work.  I’m never done, ever.  I don’t why I even bother trying to clean anything, ever.  So, with that, I have decided that playing a board game or building with blocks, or whatever I find on Pinterest to do with my 3 year old, will come first.  Then I will do chores.  This is going to be a challenge for me, because everywhere I look I see things that need to get done, but, I know that Xavier needs that time, love and attention.  I also know these days will not last, and I always think of that country song, “You’re going to miss this”.  So here I come hide and seek, chutes and ladders, puzzles and paint!
3. Make healthier choices – See what I did there.  I always say I’m going to run more . . . and I usually wait until the warmer weather to say it.  So I’m making this broad in the hopes that I do SOMETHING healthier.  Like eat some fruit and vegetables every day.  Tonight I ate some cucumbers.  I think that’s a win.  Again, baby steps.
4. Go on at least one date with my husband – Before I was married, I was all,”when I have a husband he’ll take me on at least one date a month”.  Make sure you read that really sassy and with my chin up in the air being quite a “know it all”.  Well, I’m married . . . *insert hysterical laughter here.  My husband is an amazing man and probably a saint for putting up with me.  But, he’s not a planner. After almost ten years I think I am just accepting it.  I’ll plan the date, and we’ll go on it, and we’ll both be very happy to do so!

And that’s it for January.  Of course I can think of a ton of other areas in my life that need improvement, but I don’t want to overwhelm myself. What do you think?  Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?  Monthly Resolutions?  None at all?  Do tell!

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