Anyway, here's the rundown of the goals I set last year and whether or not I accomplished them....
1) Read my Bible in a year (for the 4th time in 5 years) and participate in my Bible in a Year Blog.
This is "an easy one" because of the continued accountability factor of my blog. Last year I did not read through the Bible in a year because I was doing the majority of the postings - generally 9 days every 2 weeks. But this year we have more participants again, so I'm down to only one post per week, so I'm reading through the Bible in a year again as well as our in depth book study.
1) Read my Bible in a year (for the 4th time in 5 years) and participate in my Bible in a Year Blog.
This is "an easy one" because of the continued accountability factor of my blog. Last year I did not read through the Bible in a year because I was doing the majority of the postings - generally 9 days every 2 weeks. But this year we have more participants again, so I'm down to only one post per week, so I'm reading through the Bible in a year again as well as our in depth book study.
Partial success. Participated on the blog yes. But I got behind on the Bible in a Year plan in September and never got back on track.
2) Develop a consistent and organized prayer time.
Yup, another repeat. This was an absolute fail and I need to set aside prayer time as priority time.
2) Develop a consistent and organized prayer time.
Yup, another repeat. This was an absolute fail and I need to set aside prayer time as priority time.
Fail.
3) Being a more deliberate wife, mother and friend.
As I mentioned above, this is never something you have arrived at and is always a worthy goal, so it stays on the list too!
3) Being a more deliberate wife, mother and friend.
As I mentioned above, this is never something you have arrived at and is always a worthy goal, so it stays on the list too!
Hard to measure quantitatively, but I'd say progress was made, and more progress yet to go.
4) Begin each day praying that God would guide me to do what He has planned for my day - pursuing His agenda instead of my own.
Again, another one that could be on the list every year.
4) Begin each day praying that God would guide me to do what He has planned for my day - pursuing His agenda instead of my own.
Again, another one that could be on the list every year.
See #2.
5) Continue to exercise regularly and eat healthier.
Broken record here, I know.
5) Continue to exercise regularly and eat healthier.
Broken record here, I know.
Exercised regularly - check!
Eat healthier - not bad, but still room for improvement.
6) Write weekly on my prayer blogs for my kids.
Similar to #2 but specific to my children. This was one of those great ideas that I just haven't managed to keep up. I created prayer blogs for all our kids that would contain both letters to them, and prayers for them as individuals. My plan is to make it into a book to give to them at some point during their teenagerhood, either at a certain age or whenever I think they might need it. Like may of my plans, good intentions have not given way to reality - so far I've only written 3 posts on Emma's blog. At this point I need to write more often in the older kids blogs in order to "catch up" to at least an approximately even number of entries. I've decided I need to dedicate one day per week to writing in these blogs so that it actually happens. (They are private so you won't be able to read them, sorry!).
6) Write weekly on my prayer blogs for my kids.
Similar to #2 but specific to my children. This was one of those great ideas that I just haven't managed to keep up. I created prayer blogs for all our kids that would contain both letters to them, and prayers for them as individuals. My plan is to make it into a book to give to them at some point during their teenagerhood, either at a certain age or whenever I think they might need it. Like may of my plans, good intentions have not given way to reality - so far I've only written 3 posts on Emma's blog. At this point I need to write more often in the older kids blogs in order to "catch up" to at least an approximately even number of entries. I've decided I need to dedicate one day per week to writing in these blogs so that it actually happens. (They are private so you won't be able to read them, sorry!).
Fail. This is something I really want to do, so I think I'm going to have to pick a day that I want to do this and literally put it in my calendar/to do list or it's simply not going to happen.
7) Work on scripture memory.
Last January I began a scripture memory blog to help keep me accountable to memorize scripture as it was something I had felt convicted about for some time and really wanted to do. It worked, up until September when I fell off the bandwagon. So, this is a good time to get back on! Last year I memorized Psalms 1, 23, 46, 121, 134, 1 Corinthians 13 and the Book of Titus (which is 3 chapters). I will be starting off by reviewing each chapter for one day, and then I will start working on memorizing new chapters. If you're interested in joining me, I'm following Janet Pope's method and it was much, much easier than I had anticipated and literally took no extra time out of my day. Check it out!
7) Work on scripture memory.
Last January I began a scripture memory blog to help keep me accountable to memorize scripture as it was something I had felt convicted about for some time and really wanted to do. It worked, up until September when I fell off the bandwagon. So, this is a good time to get back on! Last year I memorized Psalms 1, 23, 46, 121, 134, 1 Corinthians 13 and the Book of Titus (which is 3 chapters). I will be starting off by reviewing each chapter for one day, and then I will start working on memorizing new chapters. If you're interested in joining me, I'm following Janet Pope's method and it was much, much easier than I had anticipated and literally took no extra time out of my day. Check it out!
Fail. Only memorized about 15 verses of James 1. Back on the bandwagon again this year - starting out with review and then continuing on in James.
8) Write regularly to our sponsored children.
More details on this will come in a post shortly, but for now, suffice it to say that I need to make it a priority to write to our sponsored children. Or rather, to get our children to write to them. We have one sponsored child for each of our children - all their ages. They love writing the letters but it's up to me to make sure it happens!
8) Write regularly to our sponsored children.
More details on this will come in a post shortly, but for now, suffice it to say that I need to make it a priority to write to our sponsored children. Or rather, to get our children to write to them. We have one sponsored child for each of our children - all their ages. They love writing the letters but it's up to me to make sure it happens!
Mostly fail. I did organize almost all of our previous correspondence in binders for each child, and I did get the kids to write and draw pictures a couple times this year (which is more than we've done some previous years, but not nearly what I had envisioned when I wrote this goal). This has to become a priority and I'll have to set it into my calendar or it just won't happen.
9) Get caught up on bookwork and then continue to stay caught up.
I do the bookwork for my husband's home building company and I am always behind. Don't get me wrong - I do always pay all the bills, but I don't always enter everything in. I have to get caught up at least every 3 months to submit GST (good thing for that checkpoint!), but then inevitably I get behind once again. So, this year, I want to get caught up and then purposefully set aside one day per week to work on bookwork so that I stay caught up.
9) Get caught up on bookwork and then continue to stay caught up.
I do the bookwork for my husband's home building company and I am always behind. Don't get me wrong - I do always pay all the bills, but I don't always enter everything in. I have to get caught up at least every 3 months to submit GST (good thing for that checkpoint!), but then inevitably I get behind once again. So, this year, I want to get caught up and then purposefully set aside one day per week to work on bookwork so that I stay caught up.
Fail. Wow, sounding like a broken record. This one has to change this year!
10) I want to do a "Twelve Days of Christmas gift extravaganza" for Nathan this coming Christmas. My sister Andrea did this for her husband Les this past Christmas and I thought it was a fantastic idea and want to do it myself next year. You can check out what she did here. Needless to say, Les loved it, and I'm sure Nathan will too. After all, who wouldn't?! My friend Pamela is doing this one too. Anyone else in for this challenge?
10) I want to do a "Twelve Days of Christmas gift extravaganza" for Nathan this coming Christmas. My sister Andrea did this for her husband Les this past Christmas and I thought it was a fantastic idea and want to do it myself next year. You can check out what she did here. Needless to say, Les loved it, and I'm sure Nathan will too. After all, who wouldn't?! My friend Pamela is doing this one too. Anyone else in for this challenge?
Finally - success!! Did it - loved it!
11) Take and post 365 iPhone photos - one for each day of the year for 2013. I got this idea from my friend Pamelaonce again. She has created a new blog specifically for this project and I decided to follow suit. You can check out my iPhone Photo Project 365 blog here - I've even already done today's post. Pamela mentioned that blogger has an app for posting. I know it doesn't do everything you can do on the regular blogging platform, but it does what I need it to do for this project, so I think this will be relatively easy to do. And a great memory tool for years to come! Here's 10 great reasons why you should do it too. Anyone else game for this challenge?
11) Take and post 365 iPhone photos - one for each day of the year for 2013. I got this idea from my friend Pamelaonce again. She has created a new blog specifically for this project and I decided to follow suit. You can check out my iPhone Photo Project 365 blog here - I've even already done today's post. Pamela mentioned that blogger has an app for posting. I know it doesn't do everything you can do on the regular blogging platform, but it does what I need it to do for this project, so I think this will be relatively easy to do. And a great memory tool for years to come! Here's 10 great reasons why you should do it too. Anyone else game for this challenge?
Success!! There were a couple days I fudged a bit (took the picture later but made sure it was applicable to the day) and one day where I literally had nothing, but I'd say I was 100% successful 358ish days of the year, so I call that a success. I used Blurb's "blog to book" feature in order to make a photobook of the past year - I can't wait to get it! And I'm totally doing this again this year - check it out here.
12) Sew big bags for the kids sleeping bags and bedding for camp. Another idea stolen from Pamela (hey, she had some good ones!). They should be relatively easy to make, I'll let the kids choose their fabric, they will be sturdier than garbage bags and easier to identify - and just fun!
12) Sew big bags for the kids sleeping bags and bedding for camp. Another idea stolen from Pamela (hey, she had some good ones!). They should be relatively easy to make, I'll let the kids choose their fabric, they will be sturdier than garbage bags and easier to identify - and just fun!
5/6 successful. I had wanted to do 3 bags (for each of the girls) and 2 of them have been completed, and I have material bought for Emma's, but it still needs to be sewn.
And this year?
Well, I'm going to have fewer specific goals. Many of the above things are things I will continue to do (like exercise, participate in the Bible blog, photo/day). I do plan to continue to work on scripture memory and of course I want to continue to be a more purposeful wife/mother/friend. But I am limiting my list and having more quantitative goals so I can have something to actually measure against, to see if progress has been made.
1) Post once a month on each child's prayer blog. I am going to put this into my calendar right now, so that it happens.
2) Catch up on office bookwork and stay caught up.
3) Write monthly to our sponsored children. This is going in my calendar right now as well!
That's it. Surely I can do 3 goals!
And this year?
Well, I'm going to have fewer specific goals. Many of the above things are things I will continue to do (like exercise, participate in the Bible blog, photo/day). I do plan to continue to work on scripture memory and of course I want to continue to be a more purposeful wife/mother/friend. But I am limiting my list and having more quantitative goals so I can have something to actually measure against, to see if progress has been made.
1) Post once a month on each child's prayer blog. I am going to put this into my calendar right now, so that it happens.
2) Catch up on office bookwork and stay caught up.
3) Write monthly to our sponsored children. This is going in my calendar right now as well!
That's it. Surely I can do 3 goals!
