Be

Bear with me while I reformat the blog… things may look a little wonky on it for a few more days.

Last year’s accomplishment. I’m currently sitting in one of those comfy chairs while typing.

AJ asked me a few days ago what my goals were for 2017 and I’d been thinking about it a lot. I always set this big list of goal, half of which get accomplished during the year. This year I thought I’d set just five goals for the year… and set a word to define the year to be a simple constant reminder. BE.

At my dad’s recommendation I recently signed up for Desiring God devotionals and read a really incredible one this morning. It was about being less concerned about appearing a certain way and more concerned with actually being the way you want to appear. It was an excellent read and challenging… and humiliating as I took stock over actions and thoughts from the past year. My word for the year has two meanings… the first is that I want to take stock of what I want people to believe about me and really focus on being those things instead of simply worrying that I appear that way (I want to “be” a certain way instead of “appearing” that way… be a great mom, instead of just appearing like a great mom).

from sledding on Sunday

Secondly, I want to “be” instead of “do” all the time. I want to say less “nos” to Drew and Elle because I’m in the middle of something. “To better behaved children in 2017” was my toast on New Years Eve. Maybe that will give you an indication of how Christmas break went for us.  It clicked with me that part of the problem for Drew and Elle’s lack of obedience could be me. If I was hurrying less and not trying to jam so much into our day, I am 100% convinced that they would be happier and, as a result, better behaved. Case in point, we slowed down yesterday, I sat and colored with them for an hour after school instead of cleaning the kitchen, or whatever I do while they play, and they were so much better.

Goals for 2017

1. Slow down and hurry less.
2. Make sustainable healthy living choices. I’ve been off of sugary junk food for about two weeks now and I’m sleeping sooo much better.
3. Work on my photography. I just got this camera and am in complete love with it, it’s already helping me up my photography game.
4. Offer fun helpful services exclusive to my email subscribers. Yesterday I launched a mini three day course adapted from… read goal five. Make sure you sign up for emails directly above this post.
5. Release an e-book… The Free Home. The goal is to have the book released by sometime in June.

Sneak peek into the exclusive only email content… you’ll see this tomorrow if you sign up for emails!

What about you? Do you have a manageable set of goals for the year or do you make this monstrous, ridiculous list every year and then feel like you’re failing miserably…. like you’ve done ever year previously?

Cheers to 2017!

From our wild night in with one of those single serve Champagne bottles, a good book and two episodes of White Collar on Netflix. Photo taken by yours truly who happily went to bed at 10pm.