Checking In

So it's the end of January and I am looking back at some of my new years goals. It's a lot on the list to accomplish and I have about 11 months to do so. Let's see how I have faired so far.


Creativity

1. Keep a plant alive
2. Cook through the Pioneer Woman blog
3. Learn to sew (learned how to sew a button on my coat!)
4. Write at least one blog on sex trafficking for Change.org
5. Update my personal blog at least twice a week (so far so good)
6. Do one random act of kindness every week (gave a job referral, gave a TGIF coupon, recorded a show for a friend who doesn't have cable.)
7. Decorate every room in my house.

Health and Beauty

1. Lose 40lbs.
2. Create a weekly meal plan for me and the boys.
3. Do the 28 day beauty challenge and wear some kind of makeup every day for 30 days.
4. Try a new hair style once a month (Got a new hair product to try so let's see)
5. Treat myself to a new article of clothing or shoes periodically and not feel guilty about it.
6. Be able to walk up Brasstown Bald Mountain and Stone Mountain without feeling like I am going to die.

Experience

1. Travel to Peru with the Fusion mission team (writing my support letter tonight)
2. Learn the fundamentals of at least one pro sport
3. Attend one pro basketball, baseball and football game
4. Go to one concert this year
5. Take a plane ride (hope to be accomplished with my Peru trip)
6. Get a tattoo (already got my design, just waiting on a friend)
7. Go to the Cabbage Patch Hospital in Cleveland, GA
8. Spend a weekend in the mountains in cabin (Planning already with Quiana)
9. Travel to Washington DC and New York City
10. Go ice skating.
11. Try AUTHENTIC dishes from at least 5 different countries.

Knowledge/Skills (not looking too good here)

1. Learn Spanish
2. Learn to change a tire
3. Refurbish a piece of furniture

Money

1. Create and stick to a budget
2. Consistently tithe 10% of my income to the church
3. Consistently put 10% of my income into savings
4. Pay off at least 50% of my debt
5. Take Crown and Financial Peace at Victory (already signed up for Crown)

Reading

1. Read the entire Bible courtesy of the One Year Bible (in progress)
2. Read Ragmuffin Gospel and Abba's Child by Brennan Manning (starting on Ragamuffin Gospel)
3. Read Crazy Love by Franis Chan
4. Read The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel
5. Read When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson
6. Finish reading Captivating

Spiritual Well being

1. Take Ancient Paths at Victory. (Starting tomorrow!!!)
2. Take the Relating or Dating Seminar at Victory
3. Read one devotional everyday (Thanks Veronica but still need to do it consistently)
4. Do at least 3 outreaches this year (will be done via small groups)
5. Solidify my accountability partners and schedule regular check up meetings
6. Successfully apprentice a small group (I've been fast tracked so I'm praying for the best)
7. Create boundaries with people
8. Write a letter to Jesus each quarter (1st letter written as of last night)
9. Maintain a prayer journal
10. Commit to a day of total fasting and prayer each month

Social and Family Responsibility

1. Take the boys on a proper vacation
2. Schedule at least 1 movie night a week
3. Schedule 1 family outing a month
4. Spend at least 2 weekends in Mississippi
5. Call my siblings, mother, grandmother, and aunt at least once a week (so far so good)
6. Write one letter a month to friends that live out of state. (will be done this weekend)
7. Send birthday and holiday cards to friends and family this year
8. Take professional pictures with the boys

So far so good. I have a long way to go but I am enjoying the process.

Here's To Living The Life I've Always Dreamed Of

Today is January 1, 2011. Last night me and the boys stayed in and enjoyed tacos and a countdown from Dick Clark. Not a traditional New Years Eve but I didn't want to go through the trouble of going out and having the boys out late. They enjoyed it so no worries.

Like always, plenty of people sent their usual mass text messages but one in particular stood out to me. My friend Quiana sent a message that said "Here's to living the life we've always dreamed of!" I liked that motto because I had never really thought about what it would be like to live the life I had always dreamed of. For as long as I can remember I have just been living, but not living life abundantly. My life has always been a product of my circumstances but I've never done anything that I really wanted to do. I am used to adjusting my life to fit those around me, whether it be kids or friends or family or others in need. Part of me feels like in all these years, I have lost little bits and pieces of me.

So this year is special. This year is different. This year is about doing things I had always wanted to do but never found the time or resources to do them with. This is the year of me putting myself in a position to live the life I had always dreamed of.

I made a list in my prayer journal of what it would look like for me to live the life I always dreamed of. Here goes:

I will have a life filled with love. Love from friends, family, and the mate that God Himself selected for me

I will do international missions work

I will be debt free

I will have a thriving career counseling those in need

I will own a house

I will be bold and fearless

I will share the Gospel with everyone that will listen

I will touch lives, inspire and lead others

I will strengthen friendships and mend broken relationships

I will be healthy in my physical body and spiritual life

I will have family that follows, worships, and honors Christ in all things

This list is subject to change but this would be my idea of an ideal life. I know that God has an amazing way of changing my life's plans but I am pretty sure He knows the desires of my heart. He honors those that are faithful and honor Him and I try to do my best everyday.

My New Year's Goals

Every year, people make New Year's resolutions. Every year people break their resolutions almost as soon as they are made. I had every intention of making the same resolutions I make every year and like always, probably break them by the 2nd week in January. Yet, as I was contemplating which lifestyle changes I was going to under take in 2011, I got the strangest feeling that I needed to make some goals instead of resolutions. Both are kinda the same concept but goals require planning and action. It will require some vision casting, prayer, and decision making.

What do I want to accomplish in 2011? What do I want my year to look like? What direction is God pulling me in? What amazing things do I want say I did? I have been very excited about 2011 for some reason. Not because I need a do over from 2010 but because I sincerely think that 2011 is the year of change, shifting, molding, stretching, and breaking out of my comfort zone. In order to do all these magnificent things, I need a plan. I need a starting point, something to strive for.

There are a lot of things that I have wanted to do but have limited myself for various reason. Lack of money, lack of motivation, fear, you name it. But as much as I pray to God for boldness, none of these lame excuses should be a deterrent from living my life abundantly and fearlessly. I've decided to jot down all the things I have wanted to do (within reason of course) and let those be my goals for 2011. This should be very interesting.

Creativity

1. Keep a plant alive
2. Cook through the Pioneer Woman blog
3. Learn to sew
4. Write at least one blog on sex trafficking for Change.org
5. Update my personal blog at least twice a week
6. Do one random act of kindness every week
7. Decorate every room in my house.

Health and Beauty

1. Lose 40lbs.
2. Create a weekly meal plan for me and the boys.
3. Do the 28 day beauty challenge and wear some kind of makeup every day for 30 days.
4. Try a new hair style once a month
5. Treat myself to a new article of clothing or shoes periodically and not feel guilty about it.
6. Be able to walk up Brasstown Bald Mountain and Stone Mountain without feeling like I am going to die.

Experience

1. Travel to Peru with the Fusion mission team
2. Learn the fundamentals of at least one pro sport
3. Attend one pro basketball, baseball and football game
4. Go to one concert this year
5. Take a plane ride
6. Get a tattoo
7. Go to the Cabbage Patch Hospital in Cleveland, GA
8. Spend a weekend in the mountains in cabin
9. Travel to Washington DC and New York City
10. Go ice skating.
11. Try AUTHENTIC dishes from at least 5 different countries.

Knowledge/Skills

1. Learn Spanish
2. Learn to change a tire
3. Refurbish a piece of furniture

Money

1. Create and stick to a budget
2. Consistently tithe 10% of my income to the church
3. Consistently put 10% of my income into savings
4. Pay off at least 50% of my debt
5. Take Crown and Financial Peace at Victory

Reading

1. Read the entire Bible courtesy of the One Year Bible
2. Read Ragmuffin Gospel and Abba's Child by Brennan Manning
3. Read Crazy Love by Franis Chan
4. Read The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel
5. Read When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson
6. Finish reading Captivating

Spiritual Well being

1. Take Ancient Paths at Victory.
2. Take the Relating or Dating Seminar at Victory
3. Read one devotional everyday
4. Do at least 3 outreaches this year
5. Solidify my accountability partners and schedule regular check up meetings
6. Successfully apprentice a small group
7. Create boundaries with people
8. Write a letter to Jesus each quarter
9. Maintain a prayer journal
10. Commit to a day of total fasting and prayer each month

Social and Family Responsibility

1. Take the boys on a proper vacation
2. Schedule at least 1 movie night a week
3. Schedule 1 family outing a month
4. Spend at least 2 weekends in Mississippi
5. Call my siblings, mother, grandmother, and aunt at least once a week
6. Write one letter a month to friends that live out of state.
7. Send birthday and holiday cards to friends and family this year
8. Take professional pictures with the boys

After looking at this list, it looks pretty extensive and I do believe it is subject to change. But this is the result of about 3 hours of hard thought and concentration. To me, these are small life changes and goals. It's very rewarding to look back at the year and realize you have actually done something. Something that you can measure, something that you can check off your list. Even if I don't accomplish everything on the list, just knowing I had a fun year trying is well worth it. Bring it on 2011.

To be continued...