The Nelson Narrative

I make the same New Year's Resolution every year--lose weight.  But I really need to get serious this year because Paul and I have our 20th anniversary in May, we have an amazing trip planned for the girls' graduation, plus with the graduation itself there will be lots of photos taken.  Also, I am prediabetic, so there's that, and my 40th high school reunion is coming up in the summer of 2027.  So here are my goals and resolutions for 2026: Lose weight Increase exercise Hike more.  3 or 4 years ago we started hiking more, but last year we dropped off again because Paul was having a lot of issues with plantar fasciitis/other foot issues. Be more consistent with Bible reading/devotions Read more.  I typically read around 15 or 16 books per year, but would like to increase that to 20-24.  I just need to overcome my addiction to Happy Color, Township and Match 3D (super fun mobile games) In addition to all that, I have a mental list of things I want to do this ...

(I actually published this on March 17th, but it says March 2nd because that the day I started it and saved a draft, I guess.)   Once again the month is half over before I've managed to get this posted, but here it is. As with January, I did horrible again with my February goals.  I managed to exercise 3 times (not counting the occasional set of crunches or pushups or climbing the stairs at work), but that is the only goal I met.  So on to March (and I'm blogging from my phone and can't figure out how to do bullet points):   Lose 4 pounds. Read 2 books. Exercise 6 times. Start watching House of Cards on Netflix. Have a date night (actually planning a daytime date for Paul's birthday on the 28th). Have smoother, calmer, less hectic mornings by doing more prep the night before and getting up a tad earlier.   I will say I am not off to a good start on most of these, but there's still time to redeem myself.

A little late, but here are my goals for February: Lose 4.6 pounds Read 1.75 books (finish one I started in January and read one more) Make it to the gym (or walk/run outside) 3 times (3 times in a whole month is pathetic but it's just SO hard to find time these days) I sucked at my January goals, so maybe February will be better.

One thing I really want to start doing more consistently this year is set monthly goals.  I set some for January but haven't gotten around to posting them yet (surprise, surprise) so here they are: Lose 5 pounds.  I had already lost 6.2 as of last Friday but I gained a little back this last week, with all the football parties (the Seahawks are headed back to the Superbowl!) and what-not.  As of right now I'm at the 5 pound mark (well, 4.8), so I just have to not gain any more back before the 1st. Exercise 3 times per week.  I have not done this.  I get up at 6:00, get myself ready, get the girls ready for school, go to work, get home at 6:30, eat dinner, clean up dinner, read with the girls (they have to read/be read to 20 minutes every night), get them ready for bed and put them to bed and by then it's 8:30.  I really don't want to work out that late and then have to go immediately to bed after.  But I need to either start using the g...