Goals for 2012

Ahh...the New Year. There is nothing like it. A fresh start, a clean slate, lots of ambitions and plans to do better and really change this year. Physically and spiritually. Time to forget the better person we didn't become and look forward to how we hope to transform our lives in the coming 365 days.

Mary and I on New Year's Eve after our festivities had died down :)

But that's just it--it is 365 days. That's a lot of days, especially if you make big plans to exercise and lose weight, or read your Bible more, pray more, memorize more, etc, etc. By January third, it's easy to get overwhelmed at the big plans you had to get healthy while stuffed full of pizza and sugar cookies. New Years resolutions usually take a lot of commitment and a real determination to truly change your daily life.

Anna and I on NYE

I've learned with myself to "aim low". That might sound awful, but if I really want to get accomplished what I promise myself I will on January 1st, I need to set realistic goals for myself. This year I have 3 things I really want to do. They aren't big things, but just a few things that I would love to accomplish this year.

The kiddo's and I on the plane, going to Poppy and Nonnie's a few weeks ago

My goals for 2012:
1) Listen to Psalms 119 each day in January. (on top of my regular reading). I was very convicted about the word of God in a message by one of my Pastor's on the last Wednesday of the year, so I thought this would be a really good way to get more of the word pumped into me. It takes about 20 minutes a day and so far I'm really enjoying it! I can do it while I clean up or do laundry, but if I can read and listen at the same time? Even better! This isn't a "yearly" goal, but I'll see how it goes for January and I may pick a different chapter/chapters for every month this year!
2) Take a photo a day and make it into an album at the end of the year. This is one of those things I've always been scared of doing because I *knew* I would fail. I've decided that this is the year and I'm going to try my very best to do it. Some days are easy, because I take dozens of pictures. Other days my camera doesn't leave the bag. However, I do always have my phone with me, so phone pictures count as well. :)

Homemade tomato soup with parmesan cheese and lots of crushed red pepper--perfect lunch on a cold day.

My third goal (but I should have written it first) is to draw closer to God so he will draw closer to me and ultimately I'll be able to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit this way. It sounds cliche', I know, because everyone wants to draw closer to the Lord, but it's a goal so I'm putting it on here no matter how similar it may be to everyone else's.

My adorable little nephew and I on Christmas Eve

I have other things I want to change, of course. I assure you I'll have big weight loss/get in shape goals starting in March. ;) I want to re-do a few things around the house and who doesn't want to be a better wife and Mom? But I'm taking it in stride, one thing at a time, to slowly change over the course of this year.

My Christmas present from my kids--Brooklynne picked out this sterling silver ring all by herself. It's now one of my most prized possessions!

Who knows--I'll probably come back next year with the same goals for 2013 because I didn't accomplish them in 2012, but good intentions are better than none, right? ;) I realize it's only January 11th, but I'm still excited about the small changes I'm working on in my life right now.

The only time I had to drive "in snow"--if you can call it that because the roads were so clear. The weather in NY has been unseasonably warm with almost no snow!

If you would like to share some of your resolutions for this coming year in a comment, I would love to read it! (As I love to read each and every one of your comments!)