A year of promises to myself.
I’m going to alter my first ‘o the months post a bit for this year beginning with today’s because, after all, it’s a fresh, new start. You have never met a girl who loves new years, months, weeks, etc. more than me! I’m the girl who makes resolutions and actually keeps some of them!
Of course there have been others, such as the one where I vowed to never eat another Oreo as long as I shall live, that didn’t exactly work out. You win some, you lose some.
In an effort do a better job with them this year, I thought it would be fun to give you a list of a few things I hope to do or accomplish this year. This list is by no means all of my goals; the more serious ones are reserved for my diary and God’s ears. But here’s a majority of them from all over the spectrum of my life, an effort to enjoy life a bit more. At the start of each month, I’ll revisit the list with an update as to what I’ve done, as well as new goals that I want to add to the list or even some I might decide to remove.
You can be assured, however, that the one about swimming with dolphins shall remain on the list until it’s completion. Priorities, people, priorities.
1. Go to my favorite coffee shop in Chattanooga, sit in the corner and write ’til my fingers hurt.
2. Drive to my grandparents’ houses (all three sets) and stay the night with them.
3. Take Katie, bride-to-be, on a weekend ‘o fun to celebrate our friendship.
4. Try one new food a month and video it for the bloggy.
5. Swim with dolphins, hopefully at Discovery Cove. And video it for the bloggy.
6. Write letters to little children in my life, often and with a dollar bill enclosed.
7. Take Snuggles y Cuddles for a walk in the park across from my college dorm.
8. Continue writing in my future husband journal, particularly entries that make me blush.
9. Learn to parallel park.
10. Write a letter to my first youth pastor to tell him what his investments in me have yielded.
11. Ride a water slide. Over and over.
12. Keep a plant alive for at least three months.
13. Write long letters to Cara, my friend who’s moving to Ecuador to work with orphans.
14. Deliver one of them to her in person.
15. Pay off one student loan from grad school.
16. Learn how to wrap gifts better. And make bows.
17. Buy myself a promise ring. And continue to keep the promise it represents.
18. Ride a horse through the woods.
19. Wear earrings more often.
20. Fit into my bridesmaid dress for Katie’s wedding.
21. Spend a Saturday in my pajamas. Refuse to feel guilty about it.
22. Find an elderly person sitting alone at Cracker Barrel and have dinner with them.
23. Hold my former college roommate Christan’s new baby.
24. Learn how to sew a button onto a shirt.
25. Watch The Sound of Music, Grease and Gone With the Wind for the first time.
26. Spend an afternoon in the art museum in Chattanooga by myself.
27. Completely give up soft drinks.
28. Learn how to walk gracefully.
29. Hit a real golf ball with a real golf club.
30. Smile when I look at myself in a mirror.
31. Learn a few Italian love phrases.
32. Take a Sunday afternoon drive into the country. Bring Cousin Cate along.
33. Walk to lunch at my favorite downtown restaurant.
34. Kneel in the altar with the girls at one of our Starlite sleepovers.
35. Learn to contra dance.
36. Write a letter to a soldier in Iraq. Use the word brave. Cry when I seal the envelope.
37. Visit an apple orchard.
38. Wear my hair down and curly more often.
You know, I think I’ll get started tonight. Number eight looks like a fun place to begin.
Posted: January 1st, 2009 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 31
Comments
Comment from mandy
Time: January 1, 2009, 7:32 pm
Ok – mine are SO NOT SPECIFIC. My goal is to be more intentional.
Intentional w/ what I eat, how I parent, my time, friends….everything. Intentional.
Comment from Vicky
Time: January 1, 2009, 7:55 pm
#2– I hope to spend more time with my Grandma too. Her 75th bday is next month, and I’m trying to come up with a “once-a-month” kind of gift that would make me more intentional about spending time with her.
#13/14– I’m considering going to visit a friend who is working with YWAM for 2 years in Argentina. Trust me, THAT is a big step for me.
#17– I like the idea of buying one for myself. Perhaps I will “copy” you there 
#20– How’s that going? I plateaued for the holidays, but I’m excited to get back on track now that Junk Food Season is over! I got a Zune for Christmas, and I’m hoping that will inspire me to start using the elliptical machine downstairs.
#21– You should make this a “once-a-month” goal. You need to rest more so that you won’t get so stressed out and sick!
#24– My friend had to teach me how to do this a few years ago. Unfortunately, I hadn’t needed the skill since then. Until around midnight Christmas Eve when I took my jeans out of the dryer and discovered the inner-flap button had popped off (this is the only pair of pants I have that currently fit). So, in the middle of the night, I retaught myself how to sew a button. Thank goodness it was an inside button so it didn’t have to look “pretty”.
#25– You have never seen “The Sound of Music”??? My absolutely favorite. On Saturday, the ladies of my family and I are going to a Sound of Music Sing-a-Long. Now that you’ve seen Pride and Prejudice, you must watch Sound of Music and tell me what you think!
Great list, Amy Beth!
Comment from Jennifer M.
Time: January 1, 2009, 8:02 pm
Me. You. Grease!
Comment from Becky Jo
Time: January 1, 2009, 8:12 pm
OH, Amy Beth – I love you way too stinkin’ much for you to be someone I have never even met …
Keep writing in that journal – it is GOOD and RIGHT that you blush!!!
Oh, SO, see Sound Of Music – I would watch it with you if I could!!! (as for Grease, it may give you some ammo for the journal!!! … just sayin!)
Spend as much time with the grandparents as you can now – mins are all gone and it is too late. But I would not trade the nights I shared a bed with my Gramma on vacations, the Hawaiian cruise with my other Grandma or the fun trying on the OTHER grandma’s jewelry for anything in the world!!!
Wear your hair long and curly one extra time for me (and pray that I can keep the commitment to grow mine out for my man – his Christmas present).
Sewing a button is cake – you can learn that one quick!
And my promise ring – I kept the promise … for 34 stinkin’ years I kept the promise!!!! And now my rings (I wore two … it was a long kept promise!!) are sitting in my jewelry box awaiting the fingers of two little girls, when they make the promise themselves.
Love ya!
Comment from Leslie Ruth
Time: January 1, 2009, 8:18 pm
I’d be more than happy to help with #16, it’s my passion. And as for #25, if you want company while watching “Gone With The Wind”, well, I could be convinced
Comment from Jennifer
Time: January 1, 2009, 8:38 pm
you’ve never seen Grease?!?!? You poor, poor child! Get done in January. And while we’re on the subject, please tell me you’ve seen the new Hairspray! If not, you better make it a double feature! Happy New Year to the most grown-up 20-something I “know”
Comment from Nina
Time: January 1, 2009, 8:46 pm
Totally agree with jennifer!!! You do need to watch Grease, and the new HAIRSPRAY!! I have them both!!! lol
Comment from Mocha with Linda
Time: January 1, 2009, 8:47 pm
Sounds fun!
Hey, where in Ecuador is your friend going? Email me!
Comment from taryn in ny
Time: January 1, 2009, 9:03 pm
i can totally help you with #31 and #37 because i come from an italian/american upbringing AND i live about 20 minutes away from the best ny state apple farms!
XOXO
Comment from trs
Time: January 1, 2009, 9:04 pm
I’ll help with 9, 16 and 24 if you want the help.
and for spending more time with your grandma can I suggest interviewing her – since you already have a video camera. Ask her about the history of her life and store it on an external hard drive!! You won’t regret it.
My grandmother lived just 4 months shy of her 100th birthday and I constantly regret that I never got around to doing that interview!!!
Comment from Dana
Time: January 1, 2009, 9:13 pm
Just a wee bit of commentary on the following –
1. Go to my favorite coffee shop in Chattanooga, sit in the corner and write ’til my fingers hurt. —-Don’t forget I live there.
4. Try one new food a month and video it for the bloggy. —– You should try tofu – it’s my favorite.
9. Learn to parallel park. —- I don’t know how and I have never needed to know.
12. Keep a plant alive for at least three months. — Just like parallel parking – totally overrated.
24. Learn how to sew a button onto a shirt. —- That’s what the dry cleaners are for.
26. Spend an afternoon in the art museum in Chattanooga by myself. —- One of my all time favs pre-child. FYI – there is a traveling Jim Henson exhibit right now in Atlanta. Not sure the museum.
27. Completely give up soft drinks. — sob, sob, I am so proud of you.
29. Hit a real golf ball with a real golf club. —- I can help you with this. I haven’t played since being prego, but I can take you to the range. PS. The range is where you just hit golf balls.
35. Learn to contra dance. — What?!?!
37. Visit an apple orchard. —– Try Shultz Apple Farm in Athens, TN, in the fall. It’s awesome.
38. Wear my hair down and curly more often. —- I LOVE it that way.
Happy New Year Amy Beth. I hope 2009 is filled with nothing less than the best for you.
Love ya,
Dana
Comment from christan
Time: January 1, 2009, 9:33 pm
Me. You. Gone With The Wind. I have the Special Edition DVD. Excited yet?
Comment from Jenna
Time: January 1, 2009, 10:18 pm
I enjoy you. And I love your list!
Comment from Amber
Time: January 1, 2009, 10:20 pm
Hey, I can help you with #31…. “Cagiar del mio tormento, amore’ se culpa tu.” It means “Thou cause of all my torment, oh love, the fault is thine!!” I learned it when I was 18 and I now say it to under my breath everytime my husband acts like a moron. I think he thinks I’m cussing at him in Italian… hehehe. Anyway, you should say it a few times if nothing else. It takes the edge off of a bad day.
Comment from Cara
Time: January 1, 2009, 10:20 pm
so, so excited about 13 & 14. love your list! and you. and our cracker barrell dates. and Cousin Cate. basically everyone but sunggles y cuddles (sorry abb, this is 2009, and honesty is my new year’s resolution!) love!
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Time: January 1, 2009, 10:35 pm
[...] know we’ve already had one new thing today, but tonight starts another new one as [...]
Comment from Paco
Time: January 1, 2009, 11:40 pm
Let’s watch the Sound of Music together sometime, I like to pretend that I’m Mother Superior so it should make your first Sound of Music experience interesting. I have some great new year’s resolutions too so we’ll have to get together and resolve some of them!
Comment from Honour Annekins Harris
Time: January 2, 2009, 12:47 am
Let’s wait a bit for #16. Like maybe 11 months.
Comment from leigh
Time: January 2, 2009, 3:42 am
I state on my blog that I make no resolutions which is not really true. Only God knows the things I wish to do and the things I will do in the next year:)
You are a brave girl for posting:) Thanks for sharing!
Leigh-NC
Comment from SB
Time: January 2, 2009, 10:03 am
LOVE your resolutions, AB, and here, here on Sound of Music and Gone with the Wind. But, you have seen Grease – we watched it together and you were shocked at all the innuendo. Watch it again, though – it’s worth remembering.
Comment from SarahRuth
Time: January 2, 2009, 10:19 am
Um, I can totally help with #4! Woot. Woot. YOu are so much fun! AND, let’s have a cabinet movie night and watch one of those movies!
Comment from Amy Beth
Time: January 2, 2009, 10:32 am
SB! I seriously have no memory of that! I mean, I’m sure it happened but, for the life of me, I can’t remember when we watched it! Was it that summer in the Old Tasso Rd. apt? Or was it in the dorm?
Comment from Jenn
Time: January 2, 2009, 11:53 am
AB… I’d love to join you, Jenn M., and Leslie Ruth for a movie marathon… I’ll be happy to be bring the snacks if you’ll let me know the date! GWTW is one of my all-time favorite movies, and if I get the TV I’ve been saving for with my tax money, we’ll be able to hand-jive along with Sandy! I sent you a twitter about #5, I’m with you on #15, and I gave up on #9!
Love your list!!!
Comment from Lydia@One Beloved Sister
Time: January 2, 2009, 12:48 pm
I have a future husband journal too. You are the first person I’ve “known” who has one also. Happy New Year, Amy Beth. May it be a blessed one!
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Time: January 2, 2009, 4:59 pm
[...] We’ve had the most delightful day between sorting through 388 emails, putting away leftover Christmas decorations and generally catching up on a month of mail, phone messages, etc. We paused for a moment to allow Anna to demonstrate — at my request, of course — contra dancing, which was number 35 on my list of things to do this year. [...]
Comment from Sarah@ Life in the Parsonage
Time: January 3, 2009, 1:50 am
#10: As a former youth leader I think this sounds like the best idea ever. EVER.
Comment from Kelli
Time: January 4, 2009, 11:09 pm
Happy New Year Amy Beth! If you figure out how to keep a plant alive for three months can you please let me know? And would you like to drive to Texas and watch Gone With The Wind with me? I have it sitting on my shelf (it was a Christmas present last year) waiting to find someone who hasn’t seen it to watch with me?
I love this list more than any other New Year’s resolution list…. I am going to make one of my own!
Comment from Lisa @ put-it-on-the-list
Time: January 5, 2009, 7:11 pm
#12 — I always had a brown thumb until my mom died a few years ago; then I suddenly wanted to nurture life. I still have a plant or two from her 2004 funeral that I’ve kept alive (despite my water softener spewing salt into my lines and thus onto my plants a time or two).
#19 — Tell me what colors you like and I’ll make you some fabulous new earrings. Maybe that will help motivate you to wear them more often. =)
Pingback from Ministry So Fabulous! » Brave.
Time: May 25, 2009, 3:05 pm
[...] the first day of this year, I posted a list of things I wanted to do during this year. I’ll give you a full report on how the list is going sometime soon, but today I want to tell [...]
Comment from Perry
Time: May 26, 2009, 1:26 pm
I think should attempt nos. 4 and 9 this summer…
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Comment from Kristy Ford
Time: January 1, 2009, 7:30 pm
I love the Sound of Music and Grease, but Gone with the Wind… well, I just didn’t like Scarlet. Enjoy these goals and their completion.