A New Year Resolution

New Year Resolutions. Everyone makes them and nobody keeps them. Ok, maybe a disciplined few do but whether they are to stop smoking or start exercising it seems resolutions are doomed to become irresolutions. I thought it was quiet funny watching people peruse the fitness clothing at a sports store the other day and wondered how many of them thought I was making good on a New Year's Resolution as I made my purchase. Regardless, we still make them every year and this year is no different for me. However, I have chosen to make just one New Year Resolution this year. One that will be impossible not to keep and one that will have a 100% success rate. My New Year Resolution is...to not be perfect. There you have it! And in the time it has taken me to type these few sentences I have already succeeded! I'm not sure if it's "New Year Resolutions" or "New Year's Resolutions", I have hit the delete button multiple times and may have a couple of grammatical errors because I am not perfect! Yay me! Day five of the new year and I have maintained my resolution!

Seriously though, perfectionism is something I have always struggled with. I have all these ideas of how the perfect woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister...should look and behave and I am constantly striving to make those (unrealistic) ideas reality. Then this morning (just hit the delete button again) I read in a devotional, "People usually associate victory with success: not falling or stumbling, not making mistakes. But those who are successful in their own strength tend to go their own way, forgetting about [Jesus]. It is through problems and failure, weakness and neediness that you learn to rely on [Jesus]." (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.)

I never realized that my desire for perfection was leading me on a path away from God. As I managed to perfect the little things in my life and feel successful, I was moving closer to a self-sufficient attitude and neglecting my need for the Lord. Then it would happen: a few pounds gained, a dinner burnt, an unkind word(s) said, a mistake made and bump, bump, bump, bump, I would fall from the top of the ladder of my idea of success back to the ground with a thud. That much further away from my goal of perfection. But something great always happened as I stood to brush off the dirt and check out my scrapes and bruises. God would always be right there with a first aid kit. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

The devotion went on to say, "It is a faith-walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on [Jesus] as much as you need. This is not a path of continual success but of multiple failures. However, each failure is followed by a growth spurt, nourished by increased reliance on [Jesus]." How wonderful to be reminded that I don't have to be perfect, that I don't have to do life all on my own and that when (not if) I fail I will be that much more dependent on Jesus!

So, here's to growth spurts, an imperfect 2010 and Chicken lasagna and 1905 Salad for dinner tonight!

Chicken Lasagna
8 oz lasagna (nine noodles)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup Parmesan cheese
8 oz sour cream
1 cup onion, finely chopped
1 cup black olives, sliced
1/4 cup diced pimientos
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup milk
3 cups cooked chicken (see note below)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Cook and drain lasagna noodles then set aside. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Spread 1/2 cup of chicken mixture on the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish then layer three noodles, 1/3 chicken mixture, 1/3 cheese. Repeat two more times. Bake at 350 degrees covered until bubbly, about 20-25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes. Let set for 10 minutes before serving.

Note: For recipes that call for "cooked chicken" I drizzle olive oil on split chicken breasts (with skin and bones) then sprinkle them with salt and pepper and roast them in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes. I let the chicken cool then remove the skin and shred the chicken into bite-size pieces. A little primitive but very moist.

1905 Salad (From the Colombia Restaurant)
1 head lettuce, chopped
1/2 lb deli ham, cut into thin strips (julienned)
1/2 lb deli Swiss cheese, cut into thin strips (julienned)
1 jar green olives
2 large tomatoes, sliced

Dressing
1/8 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp lemon juice

Place all salad ingredients in a large bowl then toss with dressing.