One Word

Reading my cousin Kelly's blog, she posted this:

one word: encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. explain why you’re choosing that word. now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?

2010: Chaotic

cha·os (ks)
n.

1. A condition or place of great disorder or confusion.
2. A disorderly mass; a jumble: The desk was a chaos of papers and unopened letters.
3. often Chaos The disordered state of unformed matter and infinite space supposed in some cosmogonic views to have existed before the ordered universe.
4. Mathematics A dynamical system that has a sensitive dependence on its initial conditions.
5. Obsolete An abyss; a chasm.
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[Middle English, formless primordial space, from Latin, from Greek khaos.]
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cha·otic (-tk) adj.
cha·oti·cal·ly adv.


I use the word chaotic because I feel that is exactly what this last year has been.  I won't lie, adding another child into my little mix rocked my world, and seemed to be more challenging then I ever imagined.  Don't get me wrong, I love little Sam more than words could say, but having kids is rough!

Having a full time job, trying (TRYING being the key word) to keep the house clean and in order, finding time for the kids, for Mike, for me...all I can say is I'm tired....all the time.  My attitude about my house has changed.  I've gotten to the point were I care that its a mess, but have little energy to do anything about it.  If I have any energy left, I want to do something fun.  So although the year has been chaotic.  We have still had a lot of fun.  Lets hope this next year brings more sleep, a cleaner house, and an easier era with two crazy boys!

2011: Discipline

dis·ci·pline (ds-pln)
n.

1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.
3.
   a. Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order.
   b. A systematic method to obtain obedience: a military discipline.
   c. A state of order based on submission to rules and authority: a teacher who demanded discipline in      classroom.
4. Punishment intended to correct or train.
5. A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.
6. A branch of knowledge or teaching.

tr.v. dis·ci·plined, dis·ci·plin·ing, dis·ci·plines

1. To train by instruction and practice, especially to teach self-control to.
2. To teach to obey rules or accept authority. See Synonyms at teach.
3. To punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience. See Synonyms at punish.
4. To impose order on: needed to discipline their study habits.
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[Middle English, from Old French descepline, from Latin disciplna, from discipulus, pupil; see disciple.]
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disci·pli·nal (-pl-nl) adj.
disci·pliner n.

I think the only way to bring order to my chaotic life is to implement some discipline.  Not to the rest of my family (except for maybe a new chore chart) but to myself.  I think I have let myself go in all areas of my life.  I need to be more structured with my kids, with my house, working out, sewing, working, spending time with my kids, my husband etc.  I have been spontaneous and done whatever my whole life.  I think I need to change my ways and become a planner.  Sure I make my to do lists, but once written I rarely look at them again.  NO MORE!  I will write my list and check it twice!  I will check things off my list, make weekly schedules, implement a chore chart to get some help.  Take a day a week to myself.  Wake up earlier to get workouts in.  Always have a quilt ready to bind, one on the machine to quilt, and a project ready to sew, that way when I have spare time I have something ready to go.  I will read bedtime stories and laugh with my kids BEFORE putting them to bed EARLY!  Bedtimes will be worked on and schedules will be put in place. ORDER will be brought to the Latimer house hold!

I feel strongly if we change our ways at home our lives will get easier.  Everyone will be happier, and our daily lives won't be so crazy. 

I can't wait to see what 2011 has to offer.