Happy New Year 2008

Yes indeed, happy new year. Lots of snow in this new year that's for sure... I've been pretty busy this new year and I haven't even set any "resolutions." So here are my resolutions for 2008. I am a month late. So now I only have eleven months to achieve this. I have to do some annual goals for my career at work, so I have realized how important this is on a personal level. I'm putting myself out there, exposing myself to all of you. Here it goes. No regrets right?

Resolution #1: Make more time for important things...like this blog! How else is everyone supposed to know what's going on? ;) I mean hello! Seriously though, I will make more time for my wife, my kids, and my house. I've already started. We just remodeled the office. Well it was mostly Martha, and Arianna our new "intern" but...hey I'll take some credit there. I approved it, and I helped a little bit. Arianna will help us quite a bit and we'll be able to get more done and help us have more time for more important things. Thanks ARI! More to come...

Resolution #2: Lose weight. Yes, that's a classic new years resolution, I know. But, I could sure lose this baby fat. Stop your heckling, I know I have a belly. It's heredetary! I swear! But seriously, I need to do some exersize and stop fluctuating so much.

Resolution #3: Be more organized. I feel like I need to get a handle on things so that I'm not so busy all the time. I want to have more time to do the things I love (as in #1). I also want to have the time to go play with my boys, plant flowers with my daughter, go on dates with my wife, go on more family trips and vacations, etc. Isn't that what life is all about? Be more organized so that I can live more.

Resolution #4: Make a difference. This is a more nebulous one, but I think you'll understand me better when I attempt to explain it. I want to be able to make a difference in someone's life. Whether it's by being an example, or changing for the better, or by giving, or teaching.... I want to be that person that at least one person this year says...thanks to him, I am different. I'm going to start by going back to my roots and teaching the old Royal Ranger program to my boys. This is really important to me, and hopefully it will make a difference in their lives.

Resolution #5: Be happier. Lots of people say they don't know me very well, or think that I'm always mad because of my countenance. I don't like this perception of me. I try to be humble and modest in my outward facial appearance as well as quiet, and sometimes that comes across as being mad. This saddens me greatly. I'm not that kind of person. If you know me, you know that I'm not mad. But perception is everything, and I need to change perception. So I'm going to try to change that, and it takes one smile at a time. Here it goes. This of course is a fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5:22-23:

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

So there are a few of my resolutions. Of course as always, these line up with my life goals. My life goals are easy to remember. Integrity, Intellect, & Impact. I didn't realize these were my goals until I started talking to a friend here at work. And these are his goals...yes I stole them, because I'm living them! His words, are my words...."Be real, tell the truth, face the consequences, be reliable. Provide a positive force for your family and your community, stand up, be counted Cultivate a life-long love of learning, always grow, move forward. Trying to use those or recognize those in the drive for happiness. We all know that a socially-connected person tends to be a happy person but how do I connect and use the three I's to move toward happiness?
E.g., teaching brings me happiness. Great, does it fit the three I's? let's see. Reliable, truthful, and real. Okay. I have a positive impact on the community. I am growing minds, helping people get a higher education while also adding income to the household. Good stuff. Then, learning? oh yeah... ya wanna learn something? teach it.
Got 'em covered and am happy about it. Does life get any better than that? "

This is going to be a long post because I haven't posted in over a month! Lots has happened. We brought in the new year. My parents have returned from Mexico. I helped my son with his vegetable/fruit car for the lunch box derby at school. It was interesting building a car with 4 fruits or vegetables. It's not as easy as a pinewood derby car, let me tell you. He placed 4th. Benjamin is in basketball and played his first game last Saturday. He's doing awesome! Baseball will be starting right after that...the paperwork has come out for that already. Lots of weddings/quinceañeras have been booking B&M. We've been going crazy I tell you. I can't complain, God has been GREAT!