July Review

1. Run 15 miles in one running session at least once.
Still working on this goal. This month I ran 10 miles on the treadmill twice. Last week I ran 8-10 miles on the path around Lake Geneva (I had no way of knowing my distance, just that I ran for a total of 101 minutes, which on the treadmill translates to 10.25 miles. The path was inconsistent terrain, so I'm pretty certain I was running a little slower or walking a little more than usual. I would guess that I ran at the very least 8 miles, but based on how I was feeling toward the end assume that I ran closer to 9/9 1/2. In addition, Dave and I walked almost the same distance on the path later that same afternoon with another Jones couple... so my body had done 14-18 miles on Saturday). I am taking a break this week, but have not decided yet if I'll do a long run on Saturday. I think I will complete this goal by my birthday, I think right now I would prefer that I complete it at Lake Geneva:)

2. Write one handwritten note each month.
I'm accepting thank you notes as completing this goal since my thank you notes are very personal and usually include much more than Thank You. I wrote 4 of them on Monday, so I'm way ahead on this one:)

3. Spend the afternoon school time reading a non-fiction book.
Still reading "The Life You've Always Wanted" by John Ortberg in the morning before the girls get up. Right now my chapter is about having a rightly ordered heart - not a divided heart, which I feel like I have so often. This book is so fantastic I'm thinking about reading it a third time.

4. Start the whole flylady thing.
Ugh. Not happening right now. We are doing swim lessons every day for 6 weeks (2 more weeks), which somehow has resulted in a complete hijack of my life even though it only takes roughly two hours out of my day. The two hours are in the middle of the day - too early to get much done beforehand other than breakfast for everyone, but by the time I get home and launch right into lunch and the aftermath there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of time to do much more... I mean when I'm chatting with a neighbor for an hour unexpectedly or making banana bread almost constantly (seems like) there just aren't enough hours in the day to get the laundry done;) I'm kind of putting my routine-ish life on hold until swim lessons are done in the middle of July.

5. Repaint the foyer, front room/dining room, kitchen and family room.
Foyer - done. Paint has been purchased for the kitchen. I am considering altering this goal as I come to a better realization of the actual cost of paint for the front room/dining room. In addition - and the bigger reason for considering putting a hold on all of this - my interior decorator's husband (they are Dave's clients) is having major health issues. As in, they are preparing for weeks. Anita may not be able to help me with the accessorizing for a long time.

6. Go on at least three city adventures with the girls over the summer.
One down, two more to go. I took the girls to the Museum of Science and Industry on Free Day a couple of weeks ago. It was everything I expected - as many kids as could be packed in there at one time. It was sensory overload times a million, but it was an experience and and adventure and that was EXACTLY what I was going for. I have not decided what our next adventure will be - I thought about taking them to the Taste of Chicago this week, but since they don't like to eat normal food I figured it would be a waste of time and money - they could get a very similar experience at the Taste of Orland Park at the end of this month. So I'm thinking perhaps Lincoln Park Zoo after swim lessons are over.

7. Take a yoga class.
This will also probably happen closer to my birthday.

8. Write in each of the girls' journals at least once a month.
I suck. I actually took them out of their hiding place after last month's review, but I have not written in them. I suck.

9. Do a personal Bible study in the morning before all the morning routines begin.
I have been reading through Isaiah in the mornings. I want to read all of the prophets. I sometimes don't understand what I'm reading, although, I've been asking God to teach me something every morning before I begin. I usually am able to learn SOMEthing about Him each morning.

10. Do not add any new television shows to my regular watch list.
Crap. I added one. But luckily it isn't a horrible one and it is on at 9pm on Tuesday night so we're usually home and girls are in bed. Chopped, on the Food Network. I love it - 4 competitors, three courses: appetizer, entree & dessert. They have 30 minutes for each course and have to use the surprise ingredients. One chef is chopped after each course. I'm not too upset about this since we don't want anything else other than baseball.

11. Be consistent with not getting on the computer until my stuff is done.
Again - I suck. One thing I've learned about myself in the last 8 years is that I thrive on routine and when I don't have a good one, my life feels completely disordered and a little out of control - like nothing is getting done. This is happening right now as we have been adjusting to no school + daily swim lessons. I find myself playing dumb games on facebook way too often.

12. Drink 100 ounces of water on the weekends (total of Saturday and Sunday).
Not consistent with this, but am at least aware of it. It is especially difficult when I am out of town. When I am home I have a certain cup I use - I know the exact number of ounces it holds and how many cups I need to drink. When I'm out of town it seems like I can only find small, tiny cups - drinking 20 of those sounds like a whole lot of not fun. I think I need to bring my cup with me. Fortunately we won't be out of town as much in the next 2 months as we were in June.

13. Memorize Bible verses.
I am still doing well with this and loving it. Several of the verses have helped me get through a near melt-down last week - even though I didn't want to hear what they had to say. I am learning to hear God in the midst of his word, which is a whole new thing for me.