Lenten Resolves

Happy Mardi Gras!

Though frankly, I never really focus on Mardi Gras.  I am much more focused on tomorrow and Ash Wednesday.

I've got so many little things I want give up or changes I want to make during Lent.  Probably I am being overambitious, but Lent is a very good time for me to do stuff like this.  Much better than New Years.  I always have a dearth of energy or resolve in the deep dark winter months of January and February.  Whereas when Lent comes along, the spiritual aspect of it gives me more spine, so to speak, when it comes to doing hard things.  And also, Easter and spring is at the end of it; light at the end of the dark tunnel.

First - pray and do a few minutes of spiritual reading before I even check email every morning.  I go through fits where I do this and then I fall away and just spend my time on line or planning lessons.  So I must start each day with prayer!

Second - restrict my time on facebook to just 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes in the evening.  The exception to this is participating in a Catholic book study in a private group there.

Third - I am giving up junk food and convenience foods.  If I buy anything at the store it has to be of five ingredients or less (according to the 100 Days of Real Food blog standards).  No more carry out pizza once a week; no more eating Chick fil a coming back from Becky's voice lesson every Tuesday.  No more driving through McDonald's and getting a caramel sundae when I have to wait for Sean at his therapist's appointment.  Bad, bad habits!  Instead I am going to carry healthy snacks in the car so that I have something good to munch on when I get hungry.  And I have to plan out and cook good food for the whole week.  I do plan to allow for bagels on Saturday morning and of course Sunday's breakfast out is still okay.  But that's it!

Fourth - stop wasting so much food!  I hope this will naturally occur as I become more intentional about cooking and stop relying on carry out.

Fifth - give to the poor the money saved 1) by cooking at home, 2) by staying away from fast food, and 3) by not letting food go to waste.

Update!

I forgot a 6th thing I wanted to do!  I want to participate in the 40 Bags in 40 Days challenge hosted by White House, Black Shutters.  I love the handy dandy progress sheet you can print off from the site.  I am putting it up on my fridge right now!