The Letter

I got The Letter in the mail this week.

I met a group of people for lunch shortly after.  One of my teacher friends was there.  We had a conversation like this:
Me: Don't check your mailbox.
Her: (not looking at me) Why?
Me: (silence)
Her: (looking up and seeing my look) Oh. OHHHHHHH. Already?
Me: (sad nod)
Her: Aww man.  I'm not opening it.
Non-teacher-friend-across-the-table: Whaaaaaaaaat are you two talking about?
Her: The Letter.
Me: That's "The Letter" with a capital T and a capital L.
Him: (looking confused)
Her: It's the letter our superintendent sends us every year to remind us we have to go back to work.
Me: It's like Voldemort in Harry Potter. It's that-which-must-not-be-named. 

And it is.  IT SO IS.

It caused me to look at the calendar and realize there is an appallingly small amount of summer left.  So, I checked on my goals:

Health Goals:

• watch the diet very carefully, focusing on fresh, plant-based foods
• once my back has recovered, continue with yoga and frequent walking
• continue oil pulling (not sure this is necessarily a "health" goal, but it makes my mouth feel clean and I do believe my teeth are a bit whiter)
• drink only water, but allow myself one tea per week
• weight down to 140

Reading Goals:

• finish my list - only 5 more to go!
• read Catcher in the Rye (for you, Lara!)
• read my two parenting books (one of my unreached 30 Before 30 goals)
• reread Mockingjay

Relational Goals:

• take at least one trip down to OK to visit my brother and his family
• go on no less than FOUR non-kid outings with my super-hot husband of nearly 10 years - no, but two feels pretty good...hopefully we can squeeze one more in
• oh yeah...and celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary
• try to connect with the women in my moms class at least once a week OUTSIDE of Sunday
• coordinate a freezer cooking night at church

Spiritual Goals:

• continue to be discipled
• lead a Moms Connect Group
• participate in our movies/13 Coffees Connect Group both by going and doing the prep beforehand
• focus on prayer - in progress
• increase Bible study - in progress

Family Goals:

• take a (small) trip - happening this weekend
• make a summer "do" list with my son...and do all the stuff! - in progress
• throw him a 4.5 birthday party (his birthday is right after Christmas so we party on his half birthday)
• attend the Sports Center family reunion
• enjoy time with Rick's extended family when they come in July 

Personal Goals

• make a "to do" list every week and post it in my bedroom (like the one above)
• keep my house in a constant state of cleanness - this helps my stress level stay down
• prepare home-cooked meals for the family every weekday
• finish Lucy's baby book (another of my unmet 30 Before 30 goals)
• make videos from the kids' early years of life (again, another unmet 30 goal)

Soooo...it looks like my list is a bit lacking.

My health goals have slipped by the wayside.  It's been a really rough summer with my back, but I have an appointment this week with a personal trainer of sorts who is going to help me design work outs that will strengthen and rehabilitate my back.  I kind of forgot about oil pulling :/ and, to be honest, the diet has been very on-again off-again.  I need to commit or give up, so I'm committing.  And I feel like 140 from 147ish has been WAY harder than 190 to 145.  Not sure how that works, but it definitely feels that way.

In terms of reading goals, my list says I have four more books to read before the end of summer.  I'm going to take the Parenting with Love & Logic class at church in the fall, so I'm going to hold off on reading that one, which means I have three more to read between now and the end of the summer: Shepherding a Child's Heart, Catcher in the Rye, and Mockingjay.  It's happening.

Relational goals...boom.  Spiritual goals consist of prayer and scripture study, which is constantly in progress.  Family goals have only to finish up the list Charlie and I started.  Otherwise, I feel pretty good about these.

If I'm totally honest, I knew the last two personal goals were not going to happen this summer.  But I don't want to forget about them, so I keep them on my list.  I have also done a pretty good job with the to-do list every week.  But keeping your house in a constant state of cleanliness when your husband is demolishing the upstairs is, well, pretty much impossible. I'm giving myself a pass on that.

So, in the two (sad face) weeks to come, I will:

• Nail the diet
• Walk and exercise according to my trainer's plan
• Read 3 books
• Go on a no-kids date with my husband
• Prayer and Bible study daily
• Finish Charlie's summer do list
• To do lists each week

I can do this.