2012

Every year around the end of one calendar and the beginning of another, I try so hard not to get caught up in the looking back at what I didn't accomplish or still don't have and try to look forward with a sense of "it's just another year, we are just flipping the calendar" feeling. It's too easy to get caught up in the mentality of setting unrealistic goals or resolutions, or even setting them for that matter. But I do think goals are important.

I was just telling dh yesterday that while I've never been big on resolutions, I do think long term goals are important. Goals that you can reach in small, realistic steps. Goals that aren't measured in calendar years. Each day is a new day. A chance to strive again towards that end goal.

So I do think with the putting up of a new calendar, it's good to reevaluate what I want to be striving for and the things I already am, how that is going.

So, some things I have been and will continue striving for:

1. To lose 20 lbs. by my 30th birthday which is this year I can now say. Yikes! I am half way there, but failing miserably with food choices this past weekend. But I keep striving for my goal. This includes making a conscious effort to incorporate exercise into my weekly schedule.

2. To get our home office clutter free! I have made HUGE progress this past weekend which is such a wonderful feeling!!! I have bags of trash and shredded paper waiting to be put out to the curb (sorry, we have to pay $90/year to have curbside recycling...we reuse and conserve as much as possible though).

3. To finish our bedroom re-do. Painting is done. Headboard should be finished up by Spring. The hunt is on for a comforter set (but I think I found a "vintage" quilt that would work.

4. To do a freezer cooking day, once month! We have been enjoying so much reaping the benefits of my efforts a couple weeks ago. My goal is to do another one this weekend, so I'll be planning my recipes this week. Any suggestions are appreciated! I did Spinach/Ricotta Lasagna, Chicken Barley Soup, & Burritos last time while I had Curry Chicken simmering away in the crock-pot all day. Yum!

5. Spiritually, to be turning my will over to the Lord on a constant basis. Allowing Him to use me how He sees fit. To trust Him with my life and entrust Him with the lives of those I love. To be of service for Him.

6. To continue striving for growth and healing with our Infertility/Childless Status (as referenced before there never is complete healing with IF unfortunately). And continue seeking the Lord's will for us in this area.

7. I would like to start attempting, again, to read the bible in a year. We received a couple of new bibles for Christmas and one is set up in 365 daily readings to help with this. It doesn't get much easier!

8. On the hobby front, I want to start learning more of the hundreds of features on my camera I've had for 2 years now! And maybe, just maybe, revive my 365 blog, but maybe make it more of a 52 (weeks) blog :-/ And get all my 100's of pictures organized better. Maybe even delete a few. Do I really need to save every photo I take? Probably not.

9. Have more personable, meaningful contact with those in my life. I mentioned a couple posts ago that I am not doing Facebook right now and quite possibly never will again. I don't know. Looking back at all the time spent on it when I could have been more involved in real life with those I care about, seems a better way for me to spend my time. To concentrate my efforts on others and not "liking" posts or worrying about who is "liking" what I update with. But looking for ways I can serve others.

10. To continue striving to step out of my comfort zone more. Related to #6.

Anyways, this list will be evolving in the coming days but these are the things that come to mind first.


Photo courtesy of: smallroots