Lord Jesus, may your gift of faith grow stronger in us every day and find expression in all our ways of living.  -Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us.

The above is one of the intercessory prayers taken from morning lauds today.  I think it sums up all the new year's resolutions burbling around in my heart and head.  I always want to make new beginnings throughout the year because I am always so aware of all my shortcomings and failures.  Even though new year resolutions are so easily forgotten, especially by me,  I still have a need to keep trying.  Like Mother Teresa said, we aren't called to be successful but faithful. 

I think the two ideas I want to focus on this year are health and environment.

Health

First:  Bodily health
Drink more clean water - this means remember to change the filter in the fridge and also to look into getting more water filters for the house.

Eat for health - this means keeping on with the gluten free and more home cooking from scratch, avoiding junk as much as possible.

Walk - Darci Isabella (a youtube channel I've been watching - check her out!) goes for a walk every single day!  And they live outside Chicago where it can be bitterly icy cold. 

Daily stretching and physical therapy exercises for all my various little aches and pains - a little bit a few times a day.

For the kids - While S has regular exercise, both J and B don't have good habits.  How can I encourage them?

Emotional, Spiritual and Mental Health
Keep priorities straight

Reduce time on internet

Connect more with people

Have a daily prayer routine

Have set times to work on outside responsibilities so they don't become these heavy mental blocks I'm so good at building. 

Have set activities to do for those who are less fortunate than I.


Environment

Keep up and build the Catholics for Zero Waste Group

Get more involved with the Care for Our Common Home

Keep trying to get better at my own household habits.

Also, for my own home - maintain it so it is a pleasant refuge for those who live here.

Work on redesigning our yard and starting raised bed gardens this spring.



I think I'll stop there.  Better to keep it short and simple! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!