At our family fun new year's party this year (that I will blog about soon along with Christmas), I made everyone do a little paperwork. But they didn't really seem to mind. I was feeling very reflective on the year gone by and very hopeful about 2012. I mean, the even years are always better, right? Everyone filled out a little survey I found on Pinterest about their favorite things of 2011, their highlights from 2011 and looking forward to 2012.
It was really fun to read what everyone wrote, even the little ones. For instance, Nora's biggest goal for 2012 is to be potty trained. Yay! Anna would like to work on improving on spelling and reading. And watch out girls because the queen of accountability was at the party and she will be sure to follow up on those goals. Chad said he wanted to learn morse code. That should be intersesting. He also wants to work on a better work/home balance. That it turns out is a good family goal.
It was easy for me to pick out a few things that I really want to work on in 2012. They are items at the top of brain always but for some reason needed the fresh start of a new year to find the motivation to really make them happen. And here it goes:
- Be Healthy. As an individual, as a couple, and as a family. This encompasses eating, activity, and spiritual life. This year I went away from the "lose weight" goal. Deep down I just want to be healthy and I know that weight loss will come with it. I have started a small piece of this by reading Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeursthttp. I am only one chapter in and I already have had a couple of aha moments. Mostly revolving around how God made us to crave but not for food or other worldly items. He wants us to crave Him! So when we are tempted to crave things like food why don't I turn to him? Good stuff.
- Find a Great Weeknight Routine. So in the old 2011 routine, there was a lot of fighting and hunger and crankiness. Maybe some tears. And some "go to your room and get in bed"...... at 6 pm. Fun times. I have a new vision for 2012 routines. I envision a happy child sitting at the table after school eating a healthy snack and doing her homework. And then skipping over to the piano to practice. And then the whole family sitting around the dinner table with smiles on their faces sharing about their days. And then we have play time, followed by reading and prayer time. And then lights out and mom and dad time. Sounds blissfull.
Of course I know it won't be like that (all the time). BUT I would like to really focus our energy on quality family time. I think that is the word of the year QUALITY or maybe it should be FOCUS. Either way, I think as Nora gets older it will be easier to focus more time on Anna and her homework after school. And to spend time all toghether playing after dinner. We have already made the shift to no TV in the evenings with the kids. That helped a lot. Also, making sure reading and our bible study/prayer time with the kids is a top priority before bed is paramount. At the end of the year I would love to say that the word to describe it is PEACEFUL. Any of those will do. - One on One Time. The last big goal of the year is again about quality time. This time not as a family unit but one on one. Me with each of the girls. Chad with each of the girls. And maybe most importantly, Chad and I together. Finding a way to make this happen whether it be all in the house together but broken up into "couples" doing different activities or special dates with the girls. And for sure making sure we schedule in dates with each other throughout the year. Maybe even an extended long weekend vacation? Hmm.
So there you have it. Our resolutions.. err. goals.. or as we will call them resogoals for 2012!
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