Every year, I weed out the accomplished goals and bring in the new ones. I have never been a fan of new year's resolutions. Goals are more of my kind of thing. I like to make a list of goals every year that I want to achieve but they are just that - achievable! Just enough to push myself to get to the finish line, encourage myself to do and be better and to motivate myself throughout the year - but nothing too over the top that I fail. Then again, some things don't work out and that's okay. I'm learning to be flexible. As long as I put the Lord, my family and friends and health at the top of the list and have fun along the way, I consider that to be enough.
Last year was exhausting - both emotionally and mentally! Surviving was my goal!! No joke! And I'm almost certain it was John's goal too! Both literally and figuratively! I had to take care of our then three children while also pregnant and John deployed in Iraq, delivered Landon just a few weeks after John returned, found out we were moving and had to get the house renovation projects finished and find a renter and property manager for said house we were leaving behind in Virginia, drive across the States and back to visit family in the NW before our 3 year overseas move, say goodbye (with lots of tears!) to friends and family and then make our way to Germany. Hard year 2011 was, but a very good one too! Lots of blessings in the midst of the trials we faced. I didn't reach many of my little goals due to the chaos like getting some craft projects done, no time or energy to read as many books as I had hoped to read, or even finish my beginners German class. But that's okay. I'm never going to pretend to be superwoman. There's a time and a season for everything, right?
So with that said, here's to a NEW year! I'm trying to stick to just a few goals - and then if I make more along the way after I complete some things, I'll be just as happy! I definitely don't want to burn myself out here trying to make some healthy and fun improvements!
My goals for 2012 are to:
* get physically fit! At this stage in my life, I want to finally look and feel my best after having four children (one of which was born 10 months ago). My goal is to exercise 5 days a week for at least 30 minutes (3 days cardio/2 days weights) - reward being a trip to Greece with just John and I if I keep this up for 6 consecutive months. I have met some other military wives in my neighborhood that encourage each other and have formed an exercise support group which I have become a part of and have found extremely helpful! I have already finished 2 weeks and have 2 more to go to meet my first mini reward: a cookbook I've been eyeing. Only being a few weeks into this new (old) routine and way of life, I'm feeling so much better! I have more energy during the day to get things done and to play with my kids. I'm loving it! I might even be crazy enough to take up running....who knows! :)
* read 12 books (at least one book a month)
* read the Book of Mormon all the way through with my kids
* learn some more German (have dictionary and CD ready to go)
* take my kids on one-on-one dates - one child per month
I have a whole slug of goals I'd love to set for myself and get done. (Photography, organizing, decorating, homemade Christmas presents, etc.) I'll have to pace myself and see how it goes. John's starting his Masters Degree right now so for the next two years so I'll have a lot on my plate while he works towards that. Very proud of him, I might add! I'm way excited though and interested to see how far I'll come in a years time! I think it would be really neat for my kids to also set a goal or two for themselves as well! I remember growing up and my Dad taking the time to ask each of us kids what we wanted to focus and work towards - another fond memory that would be fun to carry on!
Here's to a new year! :)
