new year, fresh start, new goals and dreams

It's a new year... a time full of fresh starts and new goals and dreams.
I love the beginning of a new year.
Some people get depressed.
They think about all of the resolutions they have made and failed to meet in the past year.
And they start the year off with a burden.
I, on the other hand... feel like I could conquer the world.

The idea of a fresh start to set goals, dream of who I want to be and what I want to be like...
I love everything about it.
Something about the new year makes me feel like this year.... this year I can set my goals and keep every last one of them.

And if I don't?
If I don't succeed in my goals... I know that I will grow in the trying.
I won't feel like a failure, or less of a person for not achieving these goals.
I am found fully acceptable... in fact, fully loved, adored and chosen by Christ.
These goals don't make me who I am... they are just avenues for me to grow.
Grow in my God given roles, grow in the character of Christ, and just simply grow in endurance.

There's nothing to lose.
Only growth to be had and grace to receive.

I love that.

This blogger put it beautifully.

God has given me everything I could possibly need in His son. I am forgiven and blessed with every good gift from the Father.

The rest is icing on the cake.

But this liturgy of life—the rising and setting of the sun, the coming of another new year—was never meant to be hum drum routine.

It is life-giving ritual and rhythm. And I hope I never tire of it because it’s the stuff life is made of and it’s pure gift from our Father.

I hope that despite my many frailties and failures I always approach this newness with anticipation and joy.

There are many things known, and unknown for my little family this year.
Without a doubt it will be one of the most growing, stretching, courage building years we have had yet.

And I can't wait...

So, here are my goals for this year!


My 2012 New Year's Resolutions:

1. This year, I want to be more intentional with my kids.
This is a big one for me. I am so thankful for my new friend Jamie who blogged about this today. It really resonated with me. I want to get up early, spend time with Jesus, get ready for my day and be prepared to greet my boys when they wake up. That's why I signed up for this.



I hope that this group will give me the spurring on I need to succeed in this goal all year long. I know my family would benefit greatly.

2. This year, I will make one DIY idea from Pinterest a month.
I am so incredibly addicted to Pinterest... I mean, who isn't right?!
But it is so darn easy to spend all of my time "pinning" and very little of it creating
So, this is my attempt to use Pinterest to help me be a better Proverbs 31 women. : )

3. I will read one book a month.
I know this isn't a very big goal for most of you. It's all about attainable goals people. I'm trying to start small and be realistic. And for me, this is realistic.
There are several books on my list that I want to read this year.
Books about living on mission.
Books about leading and discipling women.
Books about adoption, parenting and how to care for the poor and the oppressed.
Books about the gospel.
I look forward to see how God shapes me as I read these books this year.

4. This year, I will become a runner.
For those of you who don't know me... this one has been on my list for quite. a. while.
It's old, dusty and covered in failure.
But, alas....
It is the new year...
and I feel like this year will be different.
This year, I will succeed.
This year, I will become a runner.

5. Last but not least, this year, I will blog every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
I'm not sure if you guys will be interested enough to read what I have to say 3 days a week, but one thing I learned while in Uganda is just how much I love this little space. I look forward to sharing it with you!

So, there they are! Here's to a new year of successes, failures, challenges and joys... and to growing through every last bit of it!

What are your resolutions?