Keeping my end of the bargain.

So I promised after the New Year that I would start to write again, rather just say I was going to start to write, in this blog. I was a little discouraged by the thought of starting a blog again, and then abandoning it shortly thereafter because life was getting to be too busy. What I realized was that if I am going to dedicate myself to something of this nature, then I would have to be intentional about maintaining it.

So now that it is a New Year, I thought I would start out by listing a few of my resolutions/goals for this year, as well as list out my favorite things of 2008.

Resolutions:
1. Get Fit. So this has been on my mind lately, and I think that with the recent diagnosis of my father's diabetes that my unhealthy weight is a stark reality. That compounded with the thoughts of not being able to keep up with my kids has put a sense of seriousness concerning this particular resolution. I am hoping to lose 150 pounds in 15 months. For those of you who are mathematically challenged, that's 10 pounds a month, which is a viable goal. No real plan yet on how to accomplish the weight loss, but I know one thing that I am definitely going to do: cut all soda out of my diet and exercise more.

2. Get Back into Photography. It is amazing that something once so important to me got tossed to the wayside. I hope to be able to afford a new camera sometime this year, but even if I don't, i hope to take more pics with my current PAS. It is actually a fabulous little piece of equipment, and since my wife has a kick butt printer now (thanks to a certain wonderful husband) I have the satisfaction of instant prints.

3. Become an Apple Certified Technician. I have been batting around the idea of becoming an Apple tech for sometime, and with a few things falling in place as of late, it seems like the right time to pursue it. I hope to be Apple Certified by the end of summer because there is quite a bit of studying needed to pass the required exams. Also, I am looking for someone to partner with to open a Apple Certified Repair Center. The only one in the NW Indiana area is in South Bend, so everyone from LP to Merriville has no options if they want a Mac or need one repaired. That's quite a market.

4. Live each day to the fullest. It seems that U.S. Cinema has been focusing on how important maximizing each day to its fullest. Countless movies, TV shows and books are about seeking those things that are most important in life daily, and if other things fall take a back seat, so be it. I hope to maximize each day to it's fullest potential, seeking things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, etc. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

5. Spend more time with the Family. I don't want to wake up one day and realize that my kids don't know me or my wife doesn't love me.

6. Sell my House in Lansing. 'nuff said.

Best things of 2008.
1. Seeing God move through so many people this year, it is truly overwhelming.
2. Becoming a member of a community of believers who get "it," whatever "it" is.
3. Getting a new job in which I can be awarded for performance and work in a field that interests and challenges me.
4. Receiving more Grace than I thought was possible.
5. Reconnecting with friends who I have not been able to because of distance or my own shortcomings.
6. Joining a lifegroup which is focused on fellowship and growth, and that can even be crazy fun at times. We laugh all the time, and I am thankful for non-judgemental extremely encouraging brothers and sisters in Christ.


Well, that is it for now, I will be updating more often. I plan on starting a routine for my days, as I have found that they are just too chaotic and are begging for some structure. Not to mention, without that structure, reaching the goals above or maintaining the relationships of which I am so thankful for would be impossible.

Yours and HIS,

James