I know some people hate the idea of making goals or resolutions for New Years. I love it though! It just seems right. I love the idea of a new beginning. We are a few days in and I think I have finally settled on some goals I would like to focus on.
1. Purge + Simplify. This is the big one for me. I want to purge the excess in my life. I want to get rid of the “clutter” that surrounds us. First, I want to go through our house and donate the stuff that has collected over time. We don’t need half of it. I want our house to be clean, organized and simple. That goes for toys too. Oh Boy! The toys are out of control around here. Thousands of mismatched pieces everywhere. I would like to have just a small amount of toys. I want the girls to get creative when they play, I want them to go outside, I want them to create. I feel like that doesn’t happen when there are piles of unnecessary toys everywhere. Now purge doesn’t just mean “things”, I mean life in general. I just want to live simply and happily. I don’t want to get bogged down with unnecessary things. I don’t want to fall into that “I need that” trap. Materialism is a big problem in our country and I really want this to be a year where I am super conscious about that in our lives. Same goes for social media and being online. So much time wasted. It has it’s place for sure, but I want to make sure it’s in balance
2. Be Healthy. I don’t have any specific weight loss goals or anything. I am honestly quite happy with the “number” I weigh, but I have really enjoyed these past few months exercising with Kev. Our fitness routines have always been separate. He lifted weights, I run/do cardio machines. When he said he wanted to run a half with me, we started doing it all together. What a difference it makes. I really think it has made us even closer. Bonded us on a whole new level. It’s been so fun training together. I still grumble and hate working out, but I want to keep it up. Kev got T25 for Christmas and we’ve started doing that at night since it’s like -12 outside and running really isn’t an option. I look forward to signing up for more races in 2014 though. Wouldn’t it be awesome to travel around to new places just to run races together?
3. Adventure. This is one of my goals every year because I really think it’s a conscious choice you have to make with your family. We love going on adventures! But it can be very easy to miss fun opportunities when you let the idea of it being a hassle out weight the fun. Because lets face it, with kids around there will always be a bit of a hassle involved. But that’s what makes it beautiful. Too much sweet isn’t good for anyone right? I want to take every opportunity this year to get out there with my family and make the most of life. I want to take trips and see new things with them. Locally and far away. There is just so much to see in this life and I don’t want to miss it.
4. Take Risks. I’ve had a list of “dreams goals” in a little notebook for a few years now. Nothing that I really want to share here at the moment, but I want this to be a year I don’t let the fear of failure hold me back from pursuing one or more of those goals. A lot of them are creative pursuits that I know will be good for the soul to dive into and get messy with. I want to spend less time in front of the computer and social media. I want to be downstairs in my craft room creating more often than not. I want to work hard to make some of these dreams come true.
5. Our House. We’ve lived in our house for a little over a year now and I can see some of the steam we had when we first moved in slowing down. I don’t want to to not finish those projects we said we would do. I want to work hard this year making each room feel finished. Along with goal 1, I want every room, closet, drawer in our house clean, organized and decorated. I know I will always be rearranging and decorating but I want to at least come into our house and think it feels finished. I plan on making an in depth post with pictures of specific goals for the house so you can follow along this year.
6. Prayer + Bible Reading. I want to make this a priority this year. It should be a priority every year but I can honestly say it just isn’t. I want to be intentional with my time, my prayers and my reading. There is a christian company in Hawaii called HE>I. I bought one of their tank tops when we were out there this year. I really want that thought to surround me this year. He is greater than I. I need to allow Jesus room in my life. I need to decrease and He needs to increase. All these other goals are nothing without this first and foremost. Jesus must be first.END.OF.STORY.
7. Family. This is a big one! 2014 is going to be a big, big year for us. I just know it. Kev and I have had some major tugging on our hearts lately about changes we would like for our family. We’ve been in prayer over it for quite sometime. God is going to challenge us this year and we’re going to have to fully rely on him for what lies ahead. I am so excited though!! We’ve been given the greatest gift to care and love on our 2 little girls. I can’t wait to see what adventures lie ahead of us for 2014.
Happy New Year Everyone!!
What a blessing you are to me.
Beth Moore is giving away a lot of her books for free. You can find them on Amazon or other places that have e-books. For goal 6 – if you want a devotional 🙂
Great goals! Wishing you the best in your pursuit!
These are such wonderful goals, Jen. I’m too am excited for a fresh start and taking time to reflect on how I want to spend this year. Materialism really hits home for me as does simplifying. Life, I feel like we are all so inundated with stuff and social media. I’ll be working hard to find the balance this year! Best of luck making all these wonderful goals a reality for you and your family!! Wishing you guys all the best for this upcoming year!!! xoxo
By The Shore, a life + style blog
Love your goal list and I can totally relate to every dang one. Sooooo random, but could number #7 include adoption? Every time a post pops up I have this strange feeling you’re going to announce you’re starting the adoption process. Random right, but as a foster parent and big time orphan care advocate I have a sense for people who I think would make incredible adoptive parents. haha Take my crazy intuition or leave it sister, either way, praying God blesses you big in ’14!:)
So excited for you and your family! I love reading everyone’s goals. Can’t wait to see what you create and what’s in store for your family this year!
Happy New Year to you and your family. Your goals sound quite similar to mine, I have never eaten healthily so I am on a mission of healthy eating plus exercise. I have been running a bit and so far I am really enjoying it.
These all sound so great! I really relate to a lot of them, especially when it comes to our home feeling “finished” and putting God first in my life. I’m excited to follow along this year and hear more about how things are going for you! XO
I love everything about this post. Well said. Love you!
Beautiful, simple, and completely attainable. Cheers to a fresh start in 2014, my friend!
You are always so inspirational. I love how you can put in words so many things that I’m thinking but struggle to say. Thank you for sharing with us.
Jen – I’ve been reading your blog for a few years now and I just can tell that you are in such a GOOD place! I loved reading this list and I can’t wait to follow along as 2014 unfolds. Happy New Year Jen! Praying God’s blessing upon your family this year.
What beautiful goals Jen!! Happy New Year to you and your lovely family!
Your posts inspire me, Jen! You are such a positive person and I’m glad that you blog! 🙂
Some quotes that inspired me last year and motivate me to do better were these:
“I will not say, ‘We don’t have time for this.’ Because that is basically saying, ‘We don’t have time to live.’
Pausing to delight in the simple joys of everyday life is the only way to truly live.” Rachel Macy Stafford
(I gave up photography for a while because I was that person saying “I don’t have time”. I was stuck to the computer…working…while my kids pleaded for attention. What’s more important? Luckily I could step away.
Working full time still has it’s challenges; mostly being tired and really not having a lot of time, but we need to truly live!
“For everyone who yearns for the benefits of a slower life, I want to point to Jesus and say, “Start here. Start with the ONE who offers true and lasting peace. Look to His Word. Meditate on that. Learn from Him, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.” I wish they could see the the root of meaning and peace we’re seeking is found not in a yoga pose or a mind-emptying meditation session, but in a rich relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ann Kroeker
“Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. Hurry can destroy souls. Hurry can keep us from living well. For may of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it.” John Ortberg
I also struggle with #6. What keeps me motivated is seeing Steve’s mom always open her Bible every morning; no matter how crazy the morning. I know she wakes up at 4:30 to pray. I can call her/message her if I need someone to pray for me. I KNOW she will. Steve saw that while growing up. I want my kids to see ME doing that and KNOW they can come to me when they need prayer or just seeing me do that to read the Bible on their own.
Thanks again for your posts! Your children and hubby are so lucky to have you 😉
ps- Not So Fast: Slow-Down Solutions for Frenzied Families
by Ann Kroeker was an amazing book to keep life in perspective! It definitely could be a yearly read.
I really admire so many of the goals you have and I hope and pray that this year will be good for you in moving towards accomplishing them! I share a lot of the same aspirations with you and I think following your blog helps me “stay on track” 🙂 thanks for the inspiration. love reading about your family!
What a great list! Thank you so much for sharing. Many of the things i wish to accomplish in 2014 revolve around #2, #3 and #4 – health, adventure and risks.
I hope 2014 is a wonderful year for you and your family and i can’t wait to see whats in store for you all.
P xo
It is not a bad idea to write things down, because it keeps you motivated. I haven’t made a list yet, but have some ideas in mind. Yours looks great.
Sincerely,
Tania
http://inspiremyfancy.blogspot.com/
Such a good list. Many of my goals revolve around #5,6, 7!
Love it! If you want to come to SF to run the SF Marathon (there are two half marathons plus the full), it’s at the end of July and I have 10% codes because I am a race ambassador! Something to think about? 🙂
Every single one of your resolutions strikes a cord in me! Especially #6! Wonderful goals. If you want an extra reminder, I’ll make you one of these 8×10 prints (see the link below)…just send me your favorite (high res) photo of yourself. I’m making them for whoever asks!
http://sarahmkeller.blogspot.com/2014/01/putting-him-forward.html
Thanks again for such a great, inspiring list!