Resolutions

So the end of the year is here and like every year, I have decided to make some resolutions. I'm a little reluctant, because I hate to set goals and then not keep them. But the big difference between this year and the previous 25 is that I am writing them here, which makes me accountable to all who read this. I'm sure that none of you actually care whether or not I keep my resolutions, but just in case...

here they are.

1) Walk, walk, walk. I used to be so good with my walking routine. I'm not sure what happened, but it's time to start again.

2) Financial Peace. Emergency fund saved. Credit cards cut up. All debt snowball paid by the end of 2008.

3) Love and Logic. We have been using the Love and Logic parenting techniques pretty faithfully for about 3 years now, but I need to remember to be consistent. I am also making it a goal to attend at least one lecture and begin the process of becoming a Love and Logic parenting educator.

4) Relationships. I will do what it takes to be a better wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, aunt, teacher and Scout leader.

5) Read, read, read. I am going to read more. Fiction and non-fiction. From books - not blogs!

6) Continue my music education. I have taken voice off and on for years, but I haven'y had a piano lesson in ages. I at least need to practice more regularly.

7) Be accountable to this list.

So there they are. None of them are huge, but together it seems like a lot. We'll see!

Happy New Year!

Janey's a new doll

We have put ourselves on a really tight budget. Jeff and I have just finished Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and we are now committed to being debt free and living within our means. In order to get rid of the debt, we are attacking it with "gazelle intensity," - to quote our hero, Dave. This means that we are very conscious of every dollar we spend. We live on a written budget and rarely eat out or splurge on anything that isn't needed. At the rate we are going, we should be out of debt - with the exception of the house - by next year at this time.

Since we are so committed to this plan, our Christmas giving is a little different this year. We are using cash only - no plastic. And since we are in the midst of the "debt snowball" there isn't much cash available. Now, before you start thinking that this is a sob story about how life is tough at the Furnald house, remember, we are doing this by choice. We are so excited to finally have a handle of our finances. It truly is a peaceful feeling. Since the kids have been coming to classes with us, they have been pretty involved in the plan as well. In fact, sometimes as I am reaching for a questionable item off of a store shelf, they will give me a look and say something like, "is that what Dave would do?"

That being said, at Thanksgiving we decided as a family to approach our holiday shopping a bit differently this year. Santa will of course make an appearance with some much needed winter fun items and I'm sure he will fill the stockings with lots of little goodies. But instead of lots of little presents for Janey and Joey, we are getting one big family gift. After much thought, discussion and research, the XBox 360 emerged as the gift of choice.

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Right about Thanksgiving time, the American Girl catalog arrived at our house. Janey spent days looking at it and circling things that she would like to have. She has been reading the books about Felicity and was particularly interested in those pages. This year, Janey was also interested in the prices as well, making note of the fact that the dolls are quite expensive. Since she is very aware of our family commitment to the debt reduction plan, she was pretty certain that another doll would not be making her home at our house any time soon. And honestly, she seemed okay with that. She's never been much for toys anyway and the doll she got last year has hardly been touched since about June. But when my Mom wanted to know if Janey would like another doll for Christmas, I did a little detective work and found out that Janey would like Felicity.

We shared Christmas with my family on Saturday and among other things, Janey got her American Girl Felicity doll. When she unwrapped the box and saw the face of the doll, Janey fell silent and looked up in disbelief. And then, poor thing, she started to cry. Not just a little teary, but a big sob. And of course within a few moments, we were all in tears. When she calmed down and was able to speak, she told me that she thought that she would never get the Felicity doll because she is so expensive. Even after we got home, she was still emotional about her new doll. She cried again before she went to bed. Now, I have to admit that for a little while, I felt guilty. Like I should have known that she wanted the doll that bad and gotten it for her myself at any cost.

But the truth is, I am so proud of her - and of us. There was a time, not that long ago, that I would have bought her a hundred dollar doll and lots of accessories to go with it. I would have charged all of the rest of the books and maybe even the horse.

And she wouldn't have appreciated it at all.

But now, she has her doll and a greater understanding of the value of a dollar.

And I have a greater understanding of the value of a doll.

I have found that the only thing I really miss is the Choir

I LOVE TO SING!!

I sing in the shower and in the car. I sing while cleaning and cooking. I sing with the radio or all by myself. I have sung music written by major composers who have been dead for hundreds of years, but whose music lives on. And I have sung original pieces by composers whose names are not yet known, but should be. I have had the blessing to work with some of the finest musicians and conductors of our time. I have sung with the company of a 600 member choir and in a lonely studio - just me, the engineer and a microphone.

But in any situation, even the shower, my voice never sounds as good as it does in the Church.

For years, my greatest singing outlet has been Church Choir. Not just any Church Choir mind you - The Bethesda Lutheran Church Choir. This is a very special group.

When you sing together in a choir, you develop a kinship with people that cannot be compared to any other relationship. You become involved in each other's lives. You know about their kids and grandkids, their vacations and health issues. I had an extra special relationship with the Choir, because I was the youngest member. And since I had grown up at Bethesda, some of these dear people had known me since I was a baby. So when Jeff and I had decided last year to begin to break away from Bethesda and find a Church closer to home, the most difficult thing I had to do was turn in my folder.

Leaving was made a little easier by the fact that the director (and my dear friend) David was on a much needed and well deserved Sabbatical so he was not around to twist my arm around into staying. The real reasons we have for breaking away from Bethesda are still there, so we really don't want to go back. But in the months since our departure from Bethesda, I have found that the only thing I really miss is the Choir.

And then last week, David called and asked if I could come back and sing with him for a very special Advent service this weekend. I jumped at the opportunity and we made a plan to rehearse together. At the rehearsal, he asked if I would be available or willing to sing for Christmas Eve service. And, of course, I jumped at the opportunity again. I am so excited to be involved! It's starting to feel a bit more like Christmas!

But now, I am all stuffed up and I sound like I'm plugging my nose when I sing. I need to be better by Sunday. So I'm doing my sinus washes and drinking be tea. Hopefully, God will see to it that I won't sound like I'm singing his praises with a clothespin on my nose.

What's up with Christmas Music?

It really hasn't been a secret that I can't seem to get into the Christmas Spirit this year. I'm not a Scrooge or anything, I just can't seem to get into the swing of the season. It's probably because I'm not in choir this year, or maybe it's because we are not buying bunches and bunches of presents (we opted for one big family gift) but, regardless of the reason, I am not quite into it this year.

So while I've been working around the house or in my office, I've been forcing myself to listen to the all Christmas songs station (Lite 104). It has seemed to be helping a little. Since I've been listening to this station for about 2 days now, I have manged to hear their playlist in it's entirety about 6 times. And I've realized that I'm a bigger snob than I had originally thought.

Yes, I'll admit it. I am a Christmas music snob. To me, the very best Christmas albums are Bing Crosby, Julie Andrews and of course, Dean Martin. And nothing tops the college choir concerts (Luther, St. Olaf, Wartburg, etc.) I'm not crazy about jazzed up carols. Why mess with greatness?

And what is up with all of these sexy Christmas songs? "Get out the mistletoe ... I want to get to know you better..." What? and that one with Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers singing about making it a Christmas to remember - and you know they ain't talking about how great that egg nog was -- if you know what I mean. I don't know about you all, but to me, nothing says "let's celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior" like a sexy song about rubbing a loved one down with mistletoe oil.

Well I had better go fix dinner. I'll get to the kitchen and turn on the radio and listen to Amy Grant sing "Angel's We have Heard On High" and cry (not in a happy way, but in a music teacher way.)

But I do have to admit - it is putting me in a Christmas mood.

I actually put the tree up and hung some lights. I also made cookie dough so that we will have something to do while it snows tomorrow.

But I have to tell you - If I hear Neil Diamond ruin "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" one more time, I think I may have a seizure.