Last year I decided it was time to set some goals --make sure I was actually doing something my year instead of letting it just fly by. And I actually did pretty well --I managed to blog once about my progress and then we added baby #3 and well, life got a little crazy. There were definitely days where I was doing well to just get a shower :) but 8 1/2 months later, we're all still alive and I think I can honestly say, it was a good year!
Here's the quick run down on how 2012 shaped up:
* I managed to read MORE than 6 books this year --I was trying to figure out exactly how many and I can't honestly tell you. In April I was already at 5 for the year--after that I started on Francine Rivers but they were too long (or my attention span was too short) so those had to wait for another day. I read most of Max Lucado's Outlive your Life, most of Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity....and I'm pretty sure I read a couple others but for the life of me I can't think of them off the top of my head. I started Francis Chan's Crazy Love --finishing this will be first on the list for 2013!
* Be more strategic with my kiddos -- Progress here definitely went in spurts...some days were really good, some days probably shouldn't be blogged about! :) I really liked the goal sheets(here's a link to my 1st post about them) from Focus on the Family that I used last year--we will definitely be using those again this year! This clearly isn't the kind of goal you do once and call it good....so it's on the list for 2013 too!
* Make at least one positive change -- This turned into some pretty major changes at work. In the spring, I started cutting back on the court appointments I was taking so that I didn't have as many court hearings on my days off, but I still felt like there just wasn't enough of me to go around. After lots of praying, thinking, talking, going crazy.....I decided to cut back my work even more and starting next week, I'll just be working Monday and Wednesday mornings. To be honest, I'm really not sure how this will work but we're going to give it a try. I'll probably have to return some phone calls during nap times but overall, I have high hopes that this will give me lots more time with my kids while still getting to do the work I love. (And it ensures that I'm around to pick up Miss Makenzie from school everyday when she starts Kindergarten in August....but we're not talking about the "K" word because it makes me want to cry!)
* Get organized at home. Pretty sure there is always room for improvement here but we definitely did well in this area! Early last year we flipped the house and moved everybody to the basement --slowly but surely, I've gone through just about every closet/cupboard in the house and cleaned stuff out. The highlight --making $200 on "crap" that I sold on facebook! :)
Okay, enough on 2012....here's the new goals for the new year:
1. Make my own health/well-being more of a priority. I find that I get so focused on everything else that I forget to take care of myself....and I haven't worked out since I was about 3 months pregnant with Gracyn. I've been thinking about this for a while but didn't think I could cram one more thing into my already to busy schedule. Now that I'm working less, I decided to take a little "me-time" on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and I signed up for boot camp at the Y! I'm super excited and fairly terrified all at the same time. I'm hoping by spring to be squeezing in a few more workouts, but twice a week is a starting point!
2. Keep reading....6 more books in 2013! I've said it before, but I LOVE to read --it's just hard to make time for it. Here's my list (although its subject to change without notice!): Finish Crazy Love, then (in no particular order): Multiply by Francis Chan, Kisses from Kate, Fearless by Max Lucado, Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst, and probably perusing/rereading Love and Logic about 50 times throughout the year as necessary!
3. Memorize more scripture--me personally and with my kiddos.
4. Make a few home improvements/decorating/painting etc. --nothing major, particularly given that we're planning to build in the {hopefully near} future! Living room lights and painting trim were 2012 projects that didn't get finished, so those get put back on the list for this year! Our living room lights (or lack thereof) has driven me crazy for the 5 1/2 years we've been in this house....and now that two of them don't work, I can hardly stand to be in my house in the evenings because it's SO dark. We had one electrician come look and he was going to come back after harvest to do the work.....and I haven't heard from him since. So yesterday I called electrician #2 so hopefully we're well on our way to accomplishing this goal! I'd also like to find a new headboard for the guest bedroom and redecorate the dining room/end of the living room wall. We've had the same shelves up since we moved in and it's time for a change. Going to have to enlist the help of my sister in law on this!!
5. Redecorate my office at work. I've been supposed to do this since I started working there 4 years ago. I took over the office of the oldest partner (now retired) and he decorated in in the early 90's when they moved to the current building. Picture: Ivory wall paper on the top half of the walls, burgundy wall paper on the bottom and carpet and a chair rail height wall paper border with eagles on it.....not exactly my style, but I haven't been able to decide what to do. It's time to do something....I'm open to suggestions if anyone has any great ideas (or names for interior decorators!)
6. Set goals with (and for) my kids and accomplish them! (see the link above)
Here's to a fantastic 2013!!
