2014 Goals

Quick....before any more of 2014 flies by (yikes!), here are the goals I wrote down at the beginning of January.  Where that month went...I have no idea!

Now I think I mentioned in the last post, that I don't usually set goals or make resolutions at the beginning of the year, though I do like the "newness" that comes with turning the calendar to January.  For whatever reason, this year I decided I needed to write down some goals I'd like to accomplish and DH joined in with his own set of goals.  Perhaps it's all the time I feel like I waste each day or the realization that R is growing up all too quickly, but I decided I needed to change how I spent my time.  I want to be more intentional spending time with things that are most important to me- my faith, my family, and my health.  My goals, therefore, are a reflection of those things that are important and what I hope to strive for with them.

Here's the short version:

Personal
A: exercise- 2-3 times a week
B: food- cut out sugar and gluten for 3 months and re-evaluate health (maybe dairy too)
C: reading- reading 10-12 books this year
D: spiritual- spend 15-30 minutes of daily time in the Word

Marriage
E: encouragement- encourage/validate DH's opinions at least once a day
F: intentional time- "date" time once a week

Parenting
G: learning activities- 1 planned learning activity a day
H: spiritual activities- daily focused prayer (5+ minutes) for R and my parenting
I: physical activities- seek resources and support (friends, books, blogs, groups)

And here's my commentary on each item:

A: This really seems like a wimpy goal when I write it down.  I mean, I'd like to write down exercise 5-6 times a week like I was doing before R came along.  Exercise is what I need to feel better about myself, de-stress, wake up in the afternoon, and keep my weight in check/lose weight because of PCOS.  The reality is, however, that I'm getting almost no exercise at the moment because I get so depressed about not being able to go more often like I used to, that I don't go at all.  Make sense?  No.  It doesn't really to me either, but that's why this goal is realistic.  Once it gets nice out and we can go walking again, perhaps I will be able to exercise 5-6 times a week, but for now, I'd like to get my lazy bum to the gym 2-3 times.

B: This one is hard.  I've tried to start it a few times this month, and have only made it a few days.  I guess my motivation was so much higher we were TTC, and now I just opt for whatever is easiest or fastest to make at home.  And that almost always involves gluten or dairy.  Maybe I will try to give it up again during Lent.  I know I need to in order to see if I feel better, can lost a little weight, and reduce possible inflammation in my body.

C: This one I'm super excited about.  I love reading books, but it seems like I buy more than I read lately.  I decided that is going to end this year, and I'm going to start reading some of those books off my shelves.  I have a stack that I would like to attack this year, but I also want to be open to the Spirit if there's another book that I should be reading, so I'm not going to post my whole list for the year.  Right now DH and I are reading through "Seven: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess" and it has given us lots to talk about in simplifying our life. 

D: This doesn't sound like much, and with my study of the book of Matthew this year, I do spend about this much time in the Word, but I want to really study the Bible and be open to God speaking to me through it, not just read, reflect, and answer questions like it's on my to-do list.  Does that make sense?  I want to sit and be present with the Word, but not rush through a devotional reading or Bible study to quick, hurry up and get on to the next thing.  So we'll see how this goes!

E: This one sounds easy too, but it's an area that I continually need to work on with DH.  A lot of times I can come across too strongly with my opinion, so I need to acknowledge that his point of view has worth and merit, even if I don't agree with it. 

F: Our date times are more date ins lately, which is just fine with us.  Time together and a movie, or dinner and games.  It doesn't matter, but I need to be better about setting aside intentional time for us each week.  We had scheduled one particular night of the week for this, but then other things got in the way, etc., so we're trying to figure out what will work best.

G: I really want to try and start some sort of intentional learning with R.  Her learning capacity amazes me already.  I want to nurture that sense of curiosity and intellectual growth more, so I've started thinking about some sort of "tot school" activities.  Have you heard of that?  I came across this fabulous blog with so much information about homeschooling your toddler.  And while I have no intentional of homeschooling R during the elementary and beyond years, I do think she would benefit from a little bit of structured learning time at home with me.  I'm not talking a lot...maybe 20-30 minutes a day to begin with. 

I originally thought I'd just start with letters and focus on one letter a week for 26 weeks, but then I came across these resources and then this other curriculum (Before Five in a Row) that is all literature based, so you focus on one book a week and all your activities go around that.  R loves reading, so that may be the route I go.  I like the Before Five in a Row book because it gives you ideas, but it's not too much. It's simple and a place to start, which is all I think I want/need.  I also have "The Joyful Child" and was hoping to incorporate some Montessori techniques into our every day household life, but that would require me actually working my way through reading the book, huh? (See Goal C- that book is next on my list!)

H: I really feel it's important I spend time praying for R each day- her faith, her future husband and his faith, for God to use her mightily for His Kingdom, etc.  DH and I pray for some of these things each night, but I sort of feel like I can be praying for her throughout the day as I'm with her.  Likewise, I know I need to also pray for my parenting- that God would give me the wisdom, patience, energy, etc. to be the best parent I can be.  It is hard and challenging at times, and I often fail miserably or lose my cool. I don't know what I'm doing as a parent half the time, but I want to be the mom that gives and practices forgiveness, that loves unconditionally (as best I can as a sinful being), etc.  Prayer is the only way I'll be able to get to this point.

I: This goal is probably the least defined, but I still wanted to add it to the list because it is important to create a support network of Christian parents that I can observe and learn from.  I didn't have that growing up, so it is extremely helpful to get ideas and support from those who are living their faith in their families and with their children.  Not sure of what form this one will take, but we'll see as the year goes on.

Phew...so there ya have it.  My goals for the year, well, next 11 months now!  Some may change as time goes on, I'm not exactly sure, but it's easier to keep focused if I have them written down.