2018, Let's Do This: My Goals for the New Year!

Hi everyone, happy New Year!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  We had such an amazing few days.  My parents, my oldest brother, his wife, and their two kids joined us in our little apartment to celebrate.  My younger brother is currently living in Australia so sadly he couldn't come home but he was sure on our hearts and minds the whole time.  It's a challenge to fit 10 people into a small apartment for days on end but I smile at the memories made in close proximity.

I don't think I have considered making an actual list of "new years resolutions" in a few years but I have really been thinking a lot about a few goals that I want to accomplish in the coming year.  I think goals are great to have as long as we don't tie ourselves to them in unhealthy ways.  For me they keep me dreaming, they keep me productive, and they help me grow.

So without further ado, my 2018 goals...

1. Read 20 books

Though I haven't had a solid list of new years resolutions in a while I always start my new year with a reading goal.  I love traveling to new places, going back in time, and meeting new people through books it just makes me so incredibly happy.  I always set my goal pretty low because this is the one thing that if I don't meet it will drive me crazy.  20 is always a great start for me and if I surpass it, that's even better.  For example last year I had the same goal but ended up reading 29 so it's a number I can feel pretty good about.

2. Read Anna Karinina

This is kind of a sub goal of the first but I have been wanting to tackle this book for a really long time but it's just so intimidating, it's something like 900 pages!  I recently watched the movie version with Kiera Knightly and it was seriously one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen in my entire life and ever since then my desire to read this book has deepened.  The story is pretty raw and gritty but I think at it's core it has such an amazing message that really challenges the world view of love, happiness, and fulfillment. So though I am a little intimidated to read this massive book I am very, very excited!

3. Start sewing

I really want to pick up sewing, mainly to make cute clothes and hair bows for my two girls.  My husband got me a sewing machine a few years ago and I have yet to touch it but I really want to make an effort to put it to use this year, I think I would find it really enjoyable!

4. Learn a new language

Ok so I 100% do not expect to be fluent in another language by the end of the year but I want to work towards it.  I find the concept of language extremely fascinating and I would love to become fluent in another one or two during my lifetime.  For a few years now I have been dabbling into French on an app called Duo Lingo and it has really helped me learn a lot of the basics (right now they have me rated as 28% fluent LOL) and so my goal for this year is to finish an entire language package on Duo Lingo, which is quite a lot but I think I can do it.  Once I'm finished with that I think I might try to find a community college that offers language courses so I can go even further with it.  Maybe next years goal? ;)

5. Be more hospitable

I am, by nature, and extreme introvert and because of it I have always had a really hard time opening up to people, especially in my adult life.  Luckily I married a man who is the complete opposite of me and he has really been helping me grow.  I just have this desire to invite more people into our home and build strong relationships around our table.  I think it's a great way to not only do life with people but to also practice servitude.  Even though I think this one will be the most challenging I think it will be the most important because I want both of our girls to grow up with this being exemplified through both of their parents and not just their dad because it comes easy for him.

6. Learn more about photography

In the past year I have found that I really enjoy taking pictures but to say that I am an amateur is an overstatement.  I know nothing!  I want to start learning new things about different settings, lenses, lighting, and even editing.  I think this will push me to be more creative and will also help me put up better content on my blog!

7. Study more art

Some of my favorite classes in my college program were my art history classes! There is something so fun about looking at a piece and picking the artists brain.  There are so many 'Easter eggs' hidden throughout different artwork and I love the challenge of finding them out!  I just recently finished up with school so that's why I kind of want to make this a goal.  Just because I am no longer in an academic setting doesn't mean I can't still learn!

8. Make saving a priority

This is something that both my husband and I want to be even more serious about.  This will come along with another goal, which is to be more intentional about spending.  I sometimes buy things on a whim because 'it's cute!' or 'there's a party coming up, I need a new dress!' I just want to plan out my purchases a little better to make sure that I am only buying things that 1. I really need or 2. I will really love and use regularly.  Saving is really important to us because it helps prepare us for the occasional flat tire but also because we really want to be able to travel.  We don't want seeing the world to not be an option just because we don't make 'x' amount of money a year.  In the past we have both been able to go to some pretty amazing places and it's because we have thought ahead so it's a goal to continue to make saving a priority.

9. Be more intentional about resting

I tend to be a huge perfectionist, which in my eyes is both a blessing and a curse.  It pushes me but it can also really hinder my ability to rest.  I want to work on being able to just sit down with my family and watch a movie even if there are still a few dishes in the sink or to take a bath without feeling guilty that I didn't vacuum the house first.

I have been thinking a lot about Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) both of whose character is equally inspiring.  I believe there is a way to be a Mary and a Martha without sacrificing the qualities of one for the other.  Rest is about balance and about priority both of which I struggle with.

So I think the main take-a-way this year for me will be to rest and then work rather than work and then rest.

10. Work more on growing my blog

I love what I do here on my blog it has really become my 'baby' and I really want to see it grow in the coming year.  So I just have a few goals to build better and genuine relationships within the community and just continue to be creative and share what's in my head.  Within that goal I have two sub goals.

The first is to start doing more fashion related posts.  I have always loved fashion and I went to school for fashion so I definitely want to implement that side of me into blogging.  I haven't been doing it because I don't think I have been confident enough.  I think there are a lot girls out there who do it far better than I ever could and I also feel like I have never been in good enough 'shape' to do it.  But I think it's time that I stop making excuses and start challenging myself to take this next step.

The second is to write more about my faith.  This is something that is really important to me because whatever I do with my talents, abilities, and time I want to minister through them.  So in the coming year I want to be more intentional about this blog through prayer, asking the Lord to lay His will on my heart so that I can write about it and share his love and light with anyone who comes across this space!


2017 Highlights

Since it is New Years Eve tomorrow I thought it would be fitting to reflect on all of my favorite things that happened in 2017 as well!

1. Welcoming Hadessah into our family

Ok, so technically Hadessah was born at the very end of 2016 but 2017 was our first full year with her and what an adventure it was.  I loved getting to know our new baby bear throughout the year.  She is such a sweet, spunky little girl and our family is just that much more complete with her in it!

In addition I loved watching Ezrah become a big sister!  She loves her little sister so much and I feel so blessed by their special bond!

2. Bryan getting a new job

A while ago we made the decision for Bryan to move from active duty to the reserves and he was just hired for a new job and in turn we will also be moving to a new city!  It's a little scary but we are so excited for this next chapter!  I will be writing a little more about this in another post, to come soon.

3. My trip to the Middle East

Last but certainly not least visiting Israel and Jordan was the trip of a lifetime.  I got to go with my parents and my grandparents.  Three generations in the Holy Land together, I never would have dreamt of it.  It was a time of rest, adventure, and revelation.  I will always look back with a joyful heart.

Bonus goal:  Find out how I can make going to Israel an annual thing for my family and I ;)

What are some of your goals for the coming year?

Wishing you all the best year ever, let's do this!




3 comments

  1. Happy New Year! Great goals! I'm hoping to read at least 20 books in 2018 as well. I read Anna Karenina a few years back and it was a long slog to get through. I recommend reading other books at the same time because otherwise you might spend months just on Anna Karenina and get tired of it. There are several chapters where Tolstoy drones on about feudal systems and worker conditions, so without context they can be a slog. But there are some really great scenes in the book, so overall I recommend it :) You just need patience to get through it. Good luck with photography! I took it up a few years ago and am now doing it professionally on the side. If you have a background in art and art history then that's really helpful to understand composition and you can spend more time focusing on technique. Sounds like you've got a great year ahead, cheers to 2018!

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    1. Happy New Year to you too! Thank you for all the insight on Anna Karenina! I figured it would be a little dense in some areas so hopefully I will be able to get through them! I hope you meet your reading goals as well!

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