Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Last night Narasimha and I sat around with friends at their house and talked and laughed to ring in the New Year - nothing too exciting, but something we would much prefer over say "going out." We had a good time :) Then today Narasimha didn't have to work so we started to get ready for our crazy January (more to come about that later in the week). I know it's kinda nutty, and often doesn't do any good, but I am a New Year's Resolution person. I think I always have been - sometimes I'll flip through notebooks I had when I was younger - little even - and find funny lists that were to serve as my resolutions on any given new year. It's funny to see how our priorities change over time :) I was going to share some of the things I have thought about resolving to do during 2008 - this isn't everything I have thought of, and I am sure I'll forget some stuff because I haven't actually written anything down until now. I will try to make this in order of importance.

-Taking better advantage of all God has to offer me in order to know Him better, and giving more of myself to Him. So, prayer, studying the Bible, applying what I study to my life, etc. I got a concordance for Christmas so I am actually really excited to see what I can do with that. In the last few years, I have gotten more and more excited about intensive and complete studies of really any part of the Word of God.
-Manifesting more attributes of the fruit of God's Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) more often and more perfectly in my life - there is a LOT of work involved with this one! This is actually one I made last year too, and feel like I have made some progress, but there will always be room to improve here.
-Giving of myself more to people around me, by way of love, time, resources, etc., and never pausing to think who it is or what I'll get out of it.
-Being "better" at the roles I play: wife, friend, sister(in-law), daughter(in-law), follower of Christ, housekeeper, coach, pet owner, etc.
-Get more prepared for what I hope is one of the next roles to be blessed with: mother.
-Getting organized at home, and getting settled 100% in our house. In the 3+ years we lived in our old house, I don't think we ever felt completely settled.
-Learning Telugu (Narasimha's native language) and how to play the piano and possibly guitar.
-Reprioritizing my "free" time - taking better advantage of this time to do things I care about but put off a lot - reading, scrapbooking, writing, sewing, cooking, etc.
-Keeping in touch better with those I care about - visiting, phone calls, letter-writing, emailing.
-Getting and staying in shape, and running at least one (my first) marathon.
-Training my dogs better and teaching them to do some cool tricks.

I must be missing some, but for now this will have to do to get me started :)