2014 Goals

One of the things we have talked about in our church the last couple weeks is the importance of setting goals and writing them down.  It's one thing to think about your goals in your head.  It's another thing to write them down so other people can see them, so you can see them, and so that you are accountable.  One of the theme verses we've looked at is Habakkuk 2:

2 Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation
    and make it plain on tablets
    so that a herald[b] may run with it.
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
    it speaks of the end
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
    it[c] will certainly come
    and will not delay.

So on that note, here are some of my (Colleen's) goals for 2014:

1)  Write on my blog! My goal for this blog is to allow friends and family who are far away to feel like they are still a part of our family.  I have struggled keeping up with it lately because Laurel is very busy, and because I was also working.  But as on Christmas, 2013, I am no longer working!  I have a couple months now where I am just taking care of one child, and have more free time!  My goal is to write on my blog at least 2-3 times a week.

2)  Cook more food from scratch!  I already try to do this a lot, but also rely on a number of staple processed foods: among others, "cream of" soups, chicken stock, and my favorite food ever, cereal.  I want to make more of those staples from scratch, and reduce my personal reliance on cereal...I love cereal.  It's my favorite.

2.5)  Stay within the grocery budget!  I feel like our grocery budget it pretty generous--we give ourselves $300/month, plus additional money for dining out.  I want to buy fresh produce, which isn't horribly more expensive than other options.  But I also try to cook different kinds of meat, and meat is expensive!  And then if we also have a holiday meal or invite people over, the grocery budget seems to disappear quickly.

3)  Family devotion time!  With our schedules, the best time for us to do a family devotion/prayer time is after supper.  There are some nights a week where this will be tough because we have other scheduled weekly events, but we want to spend time teaching our children about God, praying together, and growing closer as a family through devotions.

4)  Accept and give love!  Have you read the book "The 5 Love Languages."  I think about the ideas in that book a lot because Scott and I have quite different love languages.  I am working hard to show love to him in the way he feels loved (acts of service--he loves it when the house is clean and tidy...not my greatest attribute!).  He is working to show love to me also in the way I feel loved (words of affirmation), but that is not his greatest attribute...isn't it amazing how that works.  My goal is to accept the love that Scott gives in the way he gives it.

5)  Survive two children!  I will be having this baby by the end of February, and will be home taking care of an infant and a two year old.  I will be tired, I will be nursing a baby while keeping a toddler out of trouble, and I still want to be able to keep the house in order, cook meals, and sleep.  Oh, and keep up a strong relationship with my husband.  Did I mention I will be having a c-section, so will also be recovering from surgery?  March and April will be crazy, but I will maintain a positive attitude and God will give me the strength to still be loving.

6)  Get ready for the baby!  We're doing pretty well on this.  I have about 4 meals in the freezer, but would like to get a lot more in there.  Still need to decide on a name, get some diapers, pack hospital bags, etc.