There is just something about January and the beginning of a new year that makes me smile. Although I enjoy all of the Christmas decorations, there is just something special about vacuuming up pine needles, sipping hot chocolate in a clean house while writing down resolutions for the next year.
As I started thinking of goals for 2012, I was reminded this week of all the ups and downs of 2011. This time last year, I was finishing up a very long ten day shift at the children’s home in Mt Vernon, Missouri. It was a hard week, and I remember counting down the minutes until I would be able to go home and stay home. Brad and I were ready for the ability to simply work part time, but not being away from each other.
The next few months were very difficult. Having a young daughter, working part time and Brad being gone for a week at a time was hard. Brad had always been my partner; two weeks after we got married we were working side by side. God had taught us how to work together, and now we were going to learn to work apart.
Spring came, and spring was difficult. Brad’s mother came down with meningitis and was extremely sick. I remember after a month of her being so sick, Brad visiting her or working, leaving me and Joanna at home, and still no luck with a new job, wondering when things were going to change.
God is good … and He is perfect, which includes his timing! Brad’s mother is now fully healed and the month our lease was up, we were moving to a new state and a new job. We were able to purchase our first home and I am now able to stay home with Joanna. I am so thankful we waited, that we just did not say yes to the first church, but waited for the church that God called us to!
There were so many big things God did this last year, but one thing I will always remember is Christmas. It was such a blessing being able to see each and every member of my family this year. Spending time with my grandmother who battled cancer this year, meeting the two new members of the Wilds family, seeing relatives from California, playing games with all the Tyer clan …. Those are reflections I hope to always remember.
I would love to say that 2012 will be calm yet exciting, that we will once again be blessed with health, safety and provision, but God is the one that holds the pencil … I just get to see His writing, His plan, as He unfolds it.
With 2012, hot chocolate, a pencil and paper, also comes with goals. Thinking about last January, I know that I had goals … but I do not remember any of them. I am sure that one of them had something about reading the Bible, something with getting projects done and the house cleaned. This year I only have one goal: to blog weekly.
I am sure that is surprising, and also pathetic. But that is going to be my one and only goal for the year. I have never been good about long term goals, so this year I am sticking with monthly goals. Each month I will have a spiritual, personal and a family goal. I am hoping that only having three goals a month, I can focus on them more and that they can be smaller. If I achieved them in the first month, I can go onto something different or the next step, but can always focus on that goal for another month.
I also wanted to blog about my goals as a way to keep track and for accountability. It is so easy to set goals and never let anyone see them or know them … because if I fail, no one will know!
My spiritual goal for this month (and also next month) is to read the entire Bible in 60 days. I am just reading it cover to cover, like a wonderful book. I just have my bookmark marking my place, some days a read a lot, others not as much. But my goal is just to read it like the most amazing story that it is.
My personal goal this month is to finish all of the curtains in the house. I have curtains to finish in the living room, dining room and kitchen. I am looking forward to having a house that looks ‘completed’!
My family goal is to plan and prepare all meals and snacks this month. Brad is doing the 30 Day Biggest Looser challenge this month and it requires a lot of planning and precision. I want to help Brad meet this goal this month and also to start planning in advance what we are eating verses just opening the refrigerator and hoping something ‘speaks to me’.
I pray that this month that we all daily go to the Lord in prayer … thanking Him for all He has done in 2011 and asking Him to show up His plan for us in 2012. I am looking forward to seeing what He will do this New Year!
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