January 1st is absolutely no different from December 31st, so what is it about that turn of the calendar that brings us so much motivation and reset? I’m not sure, but I’m here for it. I love having a specific frame of time to focus on some goals, and I love thinking ahead to what will come. I will admit that for 2018, I set some awesome goals. That was before I knew that most of the year would be a challenge with Ezra’s pregnancy. I did not even come close to completing what I would have liked to complete for the year, but I did something far more important, and that was growing and creating life, and adding that sweet and precious life to our family. I’m very excited for what 2019 has in store, and this is one of my favorite posts of the year! I love to be able to look back and see what I was thinking and feeling and move forward with so much energy and anticipation.
So let’s see how I did on my 2018 Goals!
Final Check-In:
- Host a SW Ohio Blog Meetup (I didn’t host, but I did attend one!)
- Redesign Blog
Be on a podcastMake $300- Publish a book
Get away for a weekend- Do monthly AT HOME date nights
Complete a 30 day marriage challengeBuild a habit of praying together each night- Decorate basement/Make it more homey
Redo Heavenly’s roomSet up a blog, homework and preschool stationHang updated family pictures- Run a half marathon
Read 40 booksUse a babysitter to get out with ladies 1x a monthJoin a book clubFind a cute haircut & maintain it- Send 2 handwritten cards a month
- Memorize 2 Bible chapters
Pay off the loan we took out for the basementMake enough monthly income from our AirBnb to pay the mortgageTithe 10% of our incomeLive 20% below our income- Save enough money for a down payment on a rental property
Go on a family vacation- Get passports for my kids (I’m ashamed that my kids don’t have passports…the MK in me has failed!)
Find closure for Heavenly(I don’t know what this will look like, but I’m hoping we will get answers by this time next year)Do 4 days a week preschool with Tera(we are talking 15-20 mins here people, calm down)- Memorize 10 Scripture verses with my kiddos
- Take in at least one temporary foster placement
Run a color run with Heavenly- Go backpacking
- Go to the Ohio State Fair
And now for my 2019 Goals…
My word for the year is abundance. As I’ve been thinking through this upcoming year, I’ve also seen a theme in a lot of my goals. Quality over quanitity. It really does tie in with finding abundance in everything. So often I get caught up in how many books I’ve read, how many podcasts I’ve listened to, how many blog posts I’ve published…when in reality the number doesn’t actually matter. What matters is how it is impacting my head and my heart and how I am going to use that to impact those around me and the world. So, surprisingly, some of my goals for the New Year are requiring me to STEP BACK and not pursue so much. Instead, to sit with what I have and make it quality.
Spiritual
- Memorize Ps 119
- Learn how to STUDY the Bible, not just read it
- Set an alarm and pray daily
- Pray nightly with Theo
Physical
- Run 500 miles
- Run a half marathon
- Don’t get pregnant (I’m not being flippant or undermining the incredible gift that pregnancy/babies are…my body and my household just truly need a break)
Marriage and Family
- Work with Kiah to speak a full sentence
- Greet Theo at the door when he comes home; kiss him goodbye when he leaves
- Start Kindergarten with Tera
- Take a family vacation
- Find enjoyment in spending my days with my children
Home
- Sell our house for profit
- Downsize to a smaller home
- Operate an Airbnb
- Hang a family photo
- Host a family or activity 2x a month
- Bake bread weekly
- Host playdates
- Have an open door policy
Habits/Hobbies
- Brush my teeth 2x a day
- Write 1 card/note a week
- Publish a book
- Read 50 books
- Keep a book/podcast journal
- Leave phone in the other room at night
Blog/Social Media
- Create the Enjoyment Project
- Less posts, more reach
- Blog redesign
- Less rambling, more intentional posting
- Interact with the followers that I have
- Treat it like a business- more professional hours, less random scrolling. More investment; more return on that investment.
I know…most of those seem pretty lofty, but the fact that I have 12 months to accomplish them must mean something, right? Last year for the first time, I did quarterly goal check-ins and that really helped me to keep my goals in sight and keep working on them throughout the year, instead of forgetting about them by the end of January. I will be doing that again this year!
What is one of your goals for 2019?
I think it’s great that you do quarterly check ins. I’m thinking about doing that this year. And girl, you did a LOT last year!! Excited to see all this year holds!