2012 Goals

I've never really enjoyed making New Year's resolutions.  Mostly because I would forget about them the second day of the year.  There was never any real motivation to follow through because my resolutions were, well, boring.

Now let's get REAL honest.  I have a problem with pride. OK I said it.  The real reason my resolutions never really stuck is because I didn't really think I had anything to work on. HAHAHA.
It took marriage, near bankruptcy, two kids, four pregnancies, and four moves later to realize I need work. A LOT OF IT.  Can I get an Amen?

I won't bore you with the details of how God brought humility into my life, but suffice it to say it's there.  Anytime my pride starts to creep back in God lovingly reminds me (ahem) why I need him more than ever to live in this sinful world.

So instead of resolutions, I have decided to set goals.  Goals that can be broken down into manageable pieces so that I have a plan to accomplish those goals.  Goals that I hope also set priorities for how God would want me to live as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend.  I'd like to share my list of goals for 2012 as a way of accountability.  My plan is to blog about the progress every so often.

Also I realize I'm a little behind as far as the beginning of the year goes.  But I've been making and editing this list for a few weeks and I finally feel like it is ready to be official.

Here it is...

Goals for 2012

Personal:

Read through the 12 books on my 2012 booklist. (See below)

Complete the Couch to 5K program and run in at least one 5K race.

Blog an average of 2 times per week.

Memorize Colossians.

Keep my prayer journal up to date and be faithful in praying for the requests.

Marriage:

Go on two Marriage Retreats (overnight trips sans children for planning, talking, goal accountability).

Have monthly date nights.

Read one book together.

Children/Homeschooling:

Work on memory verses with the girls.

Start preschool with Emma in the fall.

Potty Train Elliana.

Make and implement busy boxes for quiet time.

Go on at least one family vacation.

Ministry/Friendships/Extended Family:

Write at least two handwritten notes every month to encourage someone.

Make a phone call to a distant friend every month.

Continue being involved in our local church/BSF group.

 Host at least four dinner parties.

Financial:

Continue to tithe 10% of our income.

Give generously to needs in our community and around the world, as God prompts us.

Finish paying off personal loan and increase payments to student loans.

STICK TO OUR BUDGET AND OUR CASH SYSTEM!

Book List:

1.       The Promises She Keeps

2.       Made to Crave: Satisfying your deepest desires with God

3.       Catching Fire

4.       Mockingjay

5.       Radical

6.       The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

7.       Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life

8.       The Simplicity of Homeschooling: Discover the Freedom of Learning Through Living

9.       Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches

10.   Heaven is for Real

11.   The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

12.  The Help

So there you have it.  I have actually made some progress already on a few of these goals.  But I'll save that for a later post.  What are your goals for the year?  Could I pray for you to accomplish them?