Goals For The New Year

Ah, I do love the fresh start of a new year. So many things to look forward to, and especially knowing that by God’s grace, we will be different by next year. More full of Him, more in love with Him, more in tune with Him. A lot can change in a year!

 

I love to set goals. I have a yearly ritual where I sit down with a new notebook and write out goals for our family, finances, my children, school, for myself, and now this blog. I write them out, break them down, measure them, and assign deadlines for meeting them. It has always been the highlight of my new year.

 

A week before the new year began, I found an adorable pink notebook and even a pen to match. I had some moments of quiet in my room and set out to make some goals for this wonderful year we are entering and a snippet of how I plan on reaching them. I plan on sharing my progress here each month as well!

 

:: Seek God in all matters, take every thought captive.

I find that I spend my time in the Word in the morning then I tend to get busy in my day and don’t stop often enough to praise Him, seek Him, and just recognize His presence. I have decided that I am going to try to do this each time I enter my kitchen (which is a lot J ) and if I am still struggling, I am considering setting a timer to go off every hour to help me establish this habit.

 

::Memorize large portions of Scripture

We began doing this during our home school day, but have been very inconsistent with it. We have a few verses left to do in Matthew chapter 5, and then our goal is to memorize chapters 6 and 7. May the Lord lead us from there.

 

::Learn at least one hymn per month

We also began doing this last year, and again it fell to the wayside. We have begun working on this again, and using this resource to help us.

 

::Budgeting and baby steps

What a difference a written budget makes! Last year we began making great progress in this area, but November and December caught us off guard. Time to get back on the budget train! I have written out our monthly budget, savings goals and a plan for paying any outstanding debts this year. I am going to think big and add that we would like to have 3 months of our income saved up by the end of the year. That one is listed with much prayer

 

::Establish a book list and read atleast one book a week

This is a funny one for me, because I usually read up 3 books a week. I am trying to spend less time with my nose in a book and more time on my knees in prayer. So this is a scaling back of sorts. I also plan to review the books I do read here for fun!

 

::Focus on rebuilding our marriage

We have been going through a trying time that has really shaken me up and sent me on a spiral of self examination and drawing nearer to the Lord. I have a lot to lay down at the altar here. This is also exciting to see what God is going to do in our lives personally and as a couple this year. It’s all good! I plan to share, as I am able, our progress in this area.

 

::Establish heart checks with my children

It has been on my heart to spend time atleast once a month to take my children out individually and have a “how is your heart” time. Keeping my childrens hearts is a big priority in my life, and as they grow and begin to develop a relationship with the Lord that is much more personal and involves less of me, I want to make sure that their hearts remain pure and focused on Him.

 

::Do a craft fair with my girls

My girls have both started home businesses this year, and we decided it would be fun for us to make a bunch of stuff and do a craft fair in the fall. We will need to be commited to making items each month to sell at the fair. I will be sharing our progress here.

 

::Write and publish an ebook (or several perhaps?)

I have so many “in the works” but none finished. My mantra this year: just do it!

 

There are more, but those are the honorable mentions in my goal setting this year. Have you set any goals this year? I love to read others goals so please share them!