I owe it to _______ to be better

I have been thinking about this for about a week now. This is a new year...this is another starting time. Now....I'm not much for resolutions. I know how it goes...you make all these plans, then even within a few days...BOOM..right back where you started. May even get discouraged and forget about doing them. 

However, I have felt the pull to change some things about me. To devote myself to being a better me.

First, I am going to be devoting more time to God. We all do it..."I'll do it later" .... "When I find time"...."When this tv show is over...oops...when THIS tv show is over" But no more. I'm going to delve deeper into God's Word deeper than I have before.  He is my Father and I owe it to Him to be a faithful child.

Second, I'm going to work harder on my relationship with my hubby. I know it takes two in a marriage to make it work....well, technically three if God is apart of your life. Sometimes the bumps that come along in life can get in the way...sometimes we all let other things get in the way. But I declare that I won't do it anymore. He is my knight and I owe it to him to be a better wife. 

Third, I'm going to work harder on my relationships with my kids. Two are already out of the hosue with their own families, one will be out of high school come summer 2018, one will be in high school next school year, and the two younger ones will hit all those milestones before I know it. I don't want to look back and regret not knowing my kids better or wishing I had taught them better. I already wish that for the ones out of the house...gotta catch the others before more regret sets in. I also want to volunteer at their school...never done it before, but never too late to start. They are my kids and I owe it to them to be a better mom.

Fourth, I want to work on myself. I have let myself go in so many ways....including wasting time not doing the things mentioned above. I also know my health isn't the best...I need to get down a "few" pounds. I need to take care of myself and my sanity. Make time for myself and not feel guilty for doing it. I am the only Gretchen and I owe it to myself to be a better Gretchen.

Fifth, I am going to work on being a better friend. I have put my friends on hold just because I didn't make the effort. I want to make sure my friends know that they are important to me as well. I will push myself to get out of the house when possible and make those connections again. They are my friends and I owe it to them to be a better one to them.

Sixth, I want to take so many more photos this year. I keep not taking pictures and missing some good times the kids would enjoy to remember when they grow up. Taking pictures is also fun for me, so it would help with number 4. I also want to be IN more pictures...no matter how I look. I have tried to avoid pictures for about a year or more....and before that, I'm the picture taker. I know it sounds trivial, but I want my kids to remember me, my grandkids to know and remember me....and to stay in the family for generations. I am a part of the family and I owe it to them to "capture" our fun and love.

Seventh, I am going to blog more. I know Fb is more accessible...but blogs are awesome journals. The kids will be able to look back on them and see all that happened.I want to remember the good and the bad that happens in our family. I want them to see that no matter what....we are together in this path of life. I also want to be able to look back myself. To see where we have come from...to where we are now. To see the many blessings that blossomed from our family. It is our legacy and I owe it to the family to keep a record.

So I think I have encompassed everything I have had on my mind lately. I hope I didn't bore you to death :) I will definitely be writing soon (per number 7 :) )