We (my husband and I) planned a daily, weekday schedule. Part of the schedule includes daily and weekly housework to be done. Our next step is to plan out each chore and how often it needs to be done (daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly). This should be done today (or tomorrow at the latest), then begins the REAL test! To FOLLOW the schedule! It seems doable. It includes all aspects of our home life and health. Certain very important things are actually scheduled in (a glass of water each morning and each evening for all of us, exercise at the YMCA at least two nights a week for all of us, working out at lunchtime for me, stretching in am and pm for me, etc).

I know that for some, all of this seems like, DUH?!?! But , for me it is important to follow a schedule until it all becomes natural and DISCIPLINED. I have written out a schedule many, many times in the past 12 years of being married and I have never followed through for more than maybe 2 weeks at the most.

I was meaning to mention the reasons I "want like an armed man" to become a disciplined person. I want to lose weight, gain better health, gain more energy, have a clean, organized and beautiful home (where a person could show up at the door un-announced and I would not be ashamed to let them in) and have less pain in my body (I have many , many pains in my body everyday--most of which can be eliminated or reduced by eating much better, stretching and exercising). I also want to have much less stress and more time on the weekends to just BE--spend time with family and friends without my mind being back at home--knowing that 100 things are not done or half done!

And the main reason I want to become a disciplined person is to teach my children BY EXAMPLE that limits are healthy and possible! As my husband and I become healthier in these areas, so will our children.

BY CHOOSING DISCIPLINE I AM ALSO CHOOSING HEALTH--for myself and for my family.

Lord, let this not just be a bunch of talk. Change my mind and my heart--so that I can DO this!