Evaluations and Resolutions:
As usual at this time of the year I have been doing some heart-searching, evaluating, and re-evaluating. I especially enjoyed reading a Vision Forum post called Three Important Things You Can do at This Time of Year. It gave me some additional things to think about while evaluating and it was nice to start with his checklist and add on to it, as opposed to trying to come up with all of those questions on my own.
Here are a couple of the results of that personal deliberation:
I realized that on the upside:
- We saw/did some really neat things in 2012. (Chinchen Itzá and Uxmal to name a couple).
- Several of our educational resolutions for the year have been met already. Yay! (insert happy dance!).
- My home is well organized (at least temporarily).
- God did a lot in our lives and ministry this year (I stand in humble amazement!)
- We really did have some visitors (but YOU are still welcome anytime).
There are also a few resolutions that need a Plan B:
- Though I am organized and we have a certain order to our day, we need a routine. One of my new years resolutions is to establish a morning routine for myself and my family that is governed by the clock, not only by what activity follows the one we’ve just finished. Do you know what I mean? I need to have my personal routine done by 8, kids up at 8, dressing, breakfast and morning chores done by 9, start studies together at 9 with Bible reading etc. The order of things is not in itself that different, the difference will be governing the order by the clock and making it “our routine”. Practice makes perfect they always say.
- I had a list of things I wanted the kids to memorize this school year. We’re half way through the year and I’ve realized we haven’t even started on that list. Oops. Plan B. Part of our new routine will include a better defined afternoon quiet time for my biggers while the little people nap. During quiet time I want to use an idea I read on Habits for a Happy Home – letting the biggers listen to a custom recording during this time while they also color, read books, etc. I plan to customize their recordings with uplifting and fun music as well as the Scriptures, poems and lists that they need to memorize. We’ll work on these things at other times too, but this will be good reinforcement/review.
- And then there’s me: A busy Martha mother of 4 – I have purposed to be more of a Mary this year. My Mary morning routine for 2013 will include a defined bedtime (I love to work late into the night, but my body demands 8 hours of sleep, so early to rise, means early to bed.) a defined wake time, personal exercise 3-5 times a week, early morning conversations with my Lord, and (drum roll, please) breaking the Coca-cola addiction! There! I said it! This may be the toughest of all. Believing that I deserve or that I need a Coke each day is a lie I have believed long enough.
So, now you know my resolutions. What has God laid on your heart to do/change/improve in 2013? If he’s called you to it, rest assured that He never asks you to do something He won’t give you the wisdom, strength, or willpower to do.
I Thessalonians 5:24 “Faithful is He that calleth you who also will do it.”
Melissa says
I need goals too. I have learned thoughout the years. If I have goals I have thing to work towward and seem more focused. I set 3-5 goals in each cartagory and will work toward them. You can check them out here https://missy-lifeofaworkingmom.blogspot.com/2014/01/2014-yearly-goals.html