I'm going to spend this post talking about how last year's goals panned out and where I'm headed this year. I know I'm skipping a lot that I will have to back track on... but honestly, the goals started for me today, and I am going to need some accountablitiy. So I'm putting it out there. :)
Last year's goals... I get a C. I completed 11/15. I got really close to one, worked toward but not even close for another, and the other two... I just completely dropped the ball. So here they are and what I learned:
Goal recap for 2015
1. Get Established in a Church/Find a place to serve in the community- Serving in the community... still don't feel established at church. What I learned: I need to suck it up. Church is not going to be the same here as it was in MO. That doesn't mean it's bad, it means it is different. I need to just take the leap of faith and get plugged in.
2. No soda- Completed. I was really hoping when I tried soda again I would hate it... I don't. I had a vanilla coke from sonic on January 2nd... it was divine! What I learned: When I commit something to the Lord and not myself, I am much more likely to do it, regardless of how difficult it is for me. (And this was REALLY difficult for me)
3. Give up Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and all rated R movies- Completed. On January 2nd I also watched the Grey's episode where McDreamy died. I cried it out with Merideth, and then I was done. I had no desire to watch anymore. What I learned: I have a serious Netflix binge problem. The point to this goal last year was to not watch things I felt were putting my mind on a moral slippery slope. So I chose TV series that were rated PG or less... I still watched those, multiple seasons at a time.
4. Weight loss of 25lbs- Well... I only have 30 lbs to go. :) What I learned: I stink at reaching weight loss goals. I have NEVER been able to complete one...ever... since I started making yearly goals in 2007.
5. Run 804 miles- I ran 225. What I learned: I didn't have a passion for running this year. I struggled through some health stuff, and then I just got lazy. Seriously... just lazy. Accountablity partners are HUGE... I didn't have one most of the year.
6. No clothing/shoes/accessory purchases for myself- Successfully completed (minus the replacing of sunglasses covered in poop in the Spring). This one was actually a lot harder than I thought it would be. I made a couple purchases for myself on January 2nd. It was not near as rewarding as I thought it would be. What I learned: There are very few things I NEED that I don't have. I WANT lots of things I don't need. I used to use retail therapy to make me feel better... I don't think I need that any more.
7. Invite people into our home at least once a month- Completed in abundance. We had lots of people into our home this year, and I really loved it. What I learned: I no longer live in the mid-west. People are different on the east coast. I stopped waiting for people to invite us (the new people) over, and just started having people in our home... and it's great. I love hosting people in my home, but relized this year that I might not be the best hostess... something to work toward.
8. Sell/Donate 2,015 items- Got rid of 2060 items this year. Only sold 2 things, donated the rest. What I learned: I have too much stuff. There were very few times (I can count on one hand) that I donated something that it hurt a little. Maybe something I wanted, but knew someone else needed it more... or just didn't want to give it away. I hope to continue to simplify this year.
9. Visit at least 10 DC attractions/museums Completed What I learned: There is a ton of stuff to do in DC... we have a lot yet to see/do.
10. Read through the Bible completed... kind of. I got through this, but I did a lot of it on audio while running/walking or folding laundry. It wasn't how I wanted to do it, but it is done. What I learned: I need to do more than just read or listen to God's word. I need to go deeper on a more regular basis.
11. Pay of SallieMae (school loan) -done What I learned: We won't have school debt forever. We just have to focus and have a plan.
12. Put $5000 extra in savings- yep. What I learned: Money stuff is hard, and especially with such a huge difference in cost of living compared to where we came from. Staying home with the kids is not a popular gig out here, and even if I feel attacked by it... a lot.... I can still do what you feel the Lord has called me to do and reach financial goals if it is His will.
13. Have the whole house painted and functional- Close, but no cigar. All but one room. What I learned: My husband does a really good job painting. He saved us a ton of money doing it himself. I'm okay not completing this... it will eventually get done. There are a lot more things on the walls than last January, and it is starting to feel like home.
14. Weekly family devotionals and communion-nope. What I learned: I really stink at DOING things. I am much better at giving things up. I feel like if I miss a week or two of doing what the goal was, I just give up because I'm no longer reaching the goal. I need to work on this.
15. Make a friend. I dare say, maybe even more than one! :) What I learned: Moving and starting over is hard. Being in your 30s and not out in the work force makes finding and making friends a lot harder than moving to a new place for college in your teens/20s. BUT... even though it is hard, and I really didn't want to (because I already have friends back in MO)... sometimes it is worth the effort. :)
This year I gave myself a 3 day indulgence grace period... just because I felt I gave up a lot last year. So I started today, January 4th.
As most years are for me... some of these goals I am really excited about, and some of them terrify me. I always start praying about my upcoming year's goals before Thanksgiving every year, and God always, ALWAYS puts something on my heart that I really need to work on that I have NO desire to try to do because it just seems impossible (refer to goal #2... yikes!). One of my goals isn't measurable (goal #1)... which really bothers the special ed teacher in me. I need a way to say yes I did it, or no I didn't... but there are a lot of little things that I will have to change to make this happen... lots of small goals along the way... we shall see. So without further ado...
1. Get Healthy
2. No Yelling
3. Take brain tumor meds-
4. Pay of Cassie's Mohela ($10,000)
5. Journal through the Bible
6. Learn to do 3 new things
7. No TV series on Netflix
8. Run a marathon
9. Have $15,000 in the car fund
10. Read 12 Fiction books
11. Date my husband twice a month
12. Family vacation
13. Vacation with the Hubs
Please feel free to call me out or ask me how it's going. It should be an interesting year! I hope to dive a little deeper into these after I get caught up with some other blogposts... but I am excited for the challenge.
Thanks for joining me on the journey!
