2007 New years Resolutions

Thought I would recap on last years resolutions and see how I did....

Career

1. Keep on chugging with what I am doing at Jones. I am going to be working on a big project at Jones this year which will challenge me with my J2EE knowledge. Hopefully I will get it accomplished okay for the implementation date they have set for August 2007. I did some Java stuff this last year. It was good. I will also be doing some classes this spring with work.
2. I have a Annual Review in April. Don't expect any big change from that, but hoping that after it happens, I can really kick in with some real work to try for next year to get some big kudos. I got an exceeding on my last review. So that is good.
3. Mentoring has been one of my bosses biggest goals for me this year. I will attempt to train/guide some co-workers into some of the J2EE technologies. This didn't go so great. Got to busy to show them much.

Financial

1. Refinance the house into a 15 year fixed term mortgage. This will set us to get our house paid for in 2022. I am hoping to have it paid off quicker, perhaps in 10 years. Yep, got this one done. Already a full year ahead of schedule.
2. Get on a budget that will work. We've not worked within an budget since we've been married. Pretty much just worked off a "you can spend about ths much". No budget here. But, we did end the year up in value, less cash in the bank, but retirement accounts and such surged.
3. Save up for another car. 2000 Dodge Caravan or 1999 Ford Taurus..... It's a race to see which might conk out first. I'm thinking that whichever goes first, we'll probably just get another mini-van, cause that is what we need the most around here (although I keep hearing that I need a nicer car, but I really don't have to impress anyone at work). Haven't really saved up, but the Dodge is working grandly right now.

Spiritual

1. Find a spiritual mentor. Find a man to be a guide and lead/direct me with spiritual priniciples. I can probably find a guy within my men's ministry at church. HAven't really done this. I have been going to a men's group at a new church. No direct mentoring, but they are supportive.
2. Find a place where God can use me. Could be anywhere, but I'm kind of picky on what I will do (I am kind of hung up on the commitment thing). Prayer that I can give that over to God and find something that fits our busy lives.Not really worked on this one either.
3. Deepen spiritual relationship with Lynn. This includes being a better spiritual leader in the household. This weighs a little bit more on me everyday when I realize that Nate's little mind of mush needs to be molded/sculpted. I just hope I do it the right way.... Failed at this one too mostly. Have to give it to God to be a better husband

Physical

1. Lose 40 lbs by the end of the year. May be unrealistic with this, but will try to get this down. Would help me feel a lot better about myself physically and all. Will be achieved via goal 2 below. Ha! Haven't gaine any weight.
2. Go to the "Y" at least 5 times a week. This should be easy to do.I did pretty good at this. There was a time last Spring where I didn't go for three weeks or so.

Intellectual

1. Read a non-fiction book every month. Would like to concentrate on people in history. Funny one is that I would like to read about the Bill Clinton Presidency. Lynn asked me a while back about him, you know that everybody thinks he was a scoundrel, but he must have done something good with his presidency. I'll find out what. People I would like to read about Yeah, this did NOT happen. I did read a lot of books, mostly fantasy novels. I know I've read at least 20 regarding the same world.
2. Do more Suduko. Lynn and Sandy both gave me Suduko books for Christmas. I've been doing one a night since. I think I have it figured out, but this will help keep my mind sharper. Started off doing them, got more interested in reading my fantasy novels...
3. Relearn Calculus. I love math, and just for fun, I would like to go back through my old Calculus book and relearn some of the things I've forgotten/"never understood in the first place". I have come to appreciate the fact that I think after a couple years of cooling off and not have academic pressure on you, concepts and ideas come to you more naturally. We'll see how that all goes. This didn't happen either, but Lynn gave me a Math Calendar for Christmas. A different math problem for everyday.

Family

1. Spend at least an hour with Lynn every weeknight doing something one-on-one. We've been doing this pretty semi-regularly so I would hope to get it more regularly. I will shoot for 3 out of 5 nights. This would be something like playing games, sitting and talking, but NO T.V. Maybe getting a movie from Blockbuster would be okay. Lately, we've pretty much just done our own thing each night. Need to get back to the connecting.
2. Be a great Dad for Nate. Spending quality time with him everyday. Giving him plenty of hugs and lots and lots of pat-a-cake. Also read him books (not much reading right now, he likes to look a the pictures). Been great at this. Nate is such a great little boy.
3. Be a better dog owner for Jackson. I think he's manaic depressive right now. Hope that I can spend more time with him also to get him a little more perkier. JAckson is still manic depressive. Haven't really spent a great amount of time with him. He's kind of pushy in your face kind of thing

Social

1. Do at least one night a month out with a guy friend. This can be pretty much anybody. I don't have real good guy-to-guy friendships right now.Not really done that great.
2. Bond with a couple from our church Sunday School class. This can be a couple that we can call on a Saturday to come over for a movie night or something. We've not really done this either. There have been a couple of couples that we hang out with, but wouldn't say they are bestest friends or anything.
3. The above will require me to come out of my shell a little bit more also.
Yeah, not happened. still as shy as ever....



All around, I think I accomplished half my goals, so not bad. I'll need to think of new goals this weekend and post them out there for you again.

Later,