(Me and Bradford after my first 5K in over 7 years!)
2011 was my best year yet. For me personally, it was a year of great joy and thanksgiving, the beginning of balance between my personal and work life. As I look back on 2011, I can really smile, not only at the joy God poured on me, but on all the many blessings that I am thankful for. Thankfulness is a wonderful thing to change your perspective. It was the turning point for me this year.
I smiled more and stressed less.
I enjoyed my kids more than ever and acted on how short my time with them truly is.
I learned how critical it is to be thankful for all things, despite what the world told me.
I am not saying I didn’t struggle, but this was a year where I learned to overcome. I read a lot of books to help keep me on track, but most importantly, the change for me was in my spiritual life. This was the first year I fully committed every morning to the Lord and not to my computer. My goal was to start each day giving God my first fruits, then working on the other things I needed to do. It made a big difference, but more on that later.
Be sure to checkout my Goal Setting post for ideas on how to plan and set your own goals.
My Goals for 2012
As I look at my 2011 Goals, I feel a sense of accomplishment. Sure, there were a few things I never completed, like new series content, but there were better things I saw through, and that was what counted. For me, the purpose of goal setting is to make sure that all the things I feel are important in life don’t slip through the cracks–to have a plan for giving it my all. I don’t want to let life pass me by. I want to live it to the fullest, and I have found the only way to live a fulfilling life is to have a plan. And most importantly, for that plan to come from the Lord. So, as I begin each year, I give it to the Lord and ask for His wisdom and guidance.
Here is a very brief overview of what I plan to focus on this year:
Personal
Peacefulness and Trust. I really feel the Lord calling me to focus on peacefulness and trust this year. Honestly, I am a little scared as to what that might look like, but I am going to make a choice to intentionally trust this year. For me, it means not stressing about the small stuff and trusting God’s plan in all areas of my life. It means remembering that He has my back, that He will provide in each and every area, and that I need to lay it all at His feet.
Daily Quiet Time. After seeing the huge difference my sweet daily time with the Lord made in my life, I commit to keep this. For me to do this, I have to have some kind of a loose plan around what the year looks like. Here are a few devotionals I will be picking up to use.
- Precepts by Kay Arthur – Finish Zechariah and Malachi.
- My Utmost for His Highest – I have heard great things about this daily study and am very excited to start it on Sunday.
- Write out the book of Psalms – I have always loved Psalms, and with my goal to achieve more peace and trust, I love the idea of physically writing out Psalms as reminders of what God has done, praising Him and reading His countless promises.
Read more. One of my favorite things to do is to read, but I often let the TV take the place of a good book. Next week I will be posting my 2012 Suggested Reading list with books I plan on reading and some of my favorites from 2011. Here is my 2011 Suggested Reading List to get you started.
Personal Fitness. Last year I never had a fitness goal, and boy did it show! Toward the end of 2011, I committed to getting back on track, and I have renewed my love for running. This year I want to strive to run a minimum of nine miles per week (three three mile runs). Plus, my husband and I have decided to do four 5K races throughout the year together.
Family
Date nights. We are going to continue to make our marriage and date nights a top priority. I firmly believe a strong family foundation is in the strength of the marriage. The modeling of love and commitment gives children a sense of security they can get nowhere else. With family so close, we are able to hit two birds with one stone, by many times having a date night and getting the kids great one-on-one time with their grandparents. Our goal is to do a minimum of one date night per month, but if we can get more in, I am all up for that!
In addition to dates with my husband, I am also going to continue our Kid Date nights too. Ainsley and I had so much fun doing “Girl Talk” nights, and with her growing up so quickly I am afraid she won’t be wanting to do as many tea parties with me. So, I want to get them in as much as I can. I also found this year, that with my son, a date night wasn’t always necessary. Sometimes he was most content getting my undivided attention playing cars on the floor! The biggest thing I learned this year was that what they needed most from me was uninterrupted time, focused on them only. When that happened, it was like their little love tanks just overflowed.
Family Bucket List. One of the goals my husband and I have for this year is to create a list of fun activities we have always wanted to do with the kids. We always talk about it, but never quite get around to it. This year we are going to put a plan in place to do just this. We are excited about family camping trips, movie nights, and even hiking at our local parks. The plan is to try at least one per month.
Monthly Service Projects. We are really good at telling our children how to live generously, but the action part of that sometimes gets pushed to the side. So, my husband and I decided it is time for us to commit to more and let our children see service in action. I am excited about all the different opportunities we will be able to dive into like serving the homeless and ministering to the elderly at our local nursing homes. Would love to hear any ideas you might have too!
Business
Reader community. I have to admit, that this past year my focus was so on cutting back my computer time that I failed to respond to each of your questions and comments. Family always comes first, but this year in my business time, I am going to commit resources to handle other areas of Faithful Provisions so I can interact and talk to you more! You are my greatest source of encouragement, and I love this community you have all built here. So, I am very excited about my plans to commit more time talking to you via comments, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and by email. Don’t give up on me, I am really starting to get it together!
Be more transparent. I have heard you loud and clear! You really like to hear about the things I do well, but most importantly, you like to know that I am just like you. And let me tell you…I am. As I tell you over and over, you only see what I show you, but this year, I hope to be much more transparent with all the failures and accomplishments. I am looking forward to giving you a peek into our daily routines and the areas where I struggle. You might be very surprised at what you read!
Recipes. I have to tell you one of my favorite times to post are when I get to share my recipes with you. And from the comments and pages you click on, it looks like you really enjoy them too! If you haven’t already, be sure to follow our new Weekly Meal Plans. These are based on my favorite recipes combined with what is on sale in the ads each week.
Website Navigation. I have learned over the past few months that finding content on the site can sometimes be quite difficult. We are working on some tabs and pages that I hope will make it easier for you to find what you are looking for. As always, if you are looking for something, feel free to email or leave a comment and I’ll help you find what you are looking for.
New things coming. There are some new announcements and fun things we have planned for you this year, like my new Food Column in Homelife Magazine. But as usual, I would love to hear your feedback. Keep an eye out for our Year-End Reader Survey coming out this week. (You will even have the chance to win a $100 gift card if you fill it out!) I want to encourage each of you to give me your input. It will help me in determining what you need and want here. Most importantly, it will help me plan my time and resources where you most need and want it.
What about you? What are your specific goals for the year ahead? And what do you want to see more of on Faithful Provisions? I’m all ears!
You go girl! SO proud of you! My Utmost for His Highest is my FAVORITE devotion of all time. Can’t tell you how many years I’ve been reading it and still continue to do so 🙂
I am so excited to start it, I have heard great things! Happy New Year!
Thank you so much for this post. I have such a hard time setting goals because of the perfectionist / control freak that lives deep down inside. (OK, not so much deep down, more like pretty close to the surface!) I sometimes feel like I can find “just the right ones” that will work for me. I really appreciate the thought behind yours and look forward to spending 2012 with you!
It was really hard for me to start too, I feel the same way you do, but once I bit the bullet and did it, I love having something to shoot towards each year. Really analyzing the year before and what changes I’d like to make or seeing progress, that is always good!
Kelly,
Thank you for your ministry!!! I am a pastor’s wife who loves to coupon. I found your site last Jan. and it helped me greatly. 6 months ago after my husbands father passed away we took in my mother in law to live with us. Alot goes along with taking in a parent. Couponing time had always been “my” de stress time. Slowing strolling through the store checking sales and coupons. Hadn’t had alot of time to clip coupons or shop alot over the last 6 months for ovious reasons. Then a week ago I was determined to start again. Feeling guilty about taking time away from attending to my mother in law to do coupons. I sat down tonight to ck your site and see what deals their were and read your year end comments. It really ministered to me and I began to cry. God presence is strong even on a Christian couponing site(: I felt God say be real like Kelly(: Let the guilt go and enjoy life, if it be taking some time to coupon to have some down time. Or another hobbie you enjoy. God is big enough to take care of what we entrust to Him everyday!!!! Thank you for reminding me of keeping myself renewed with His word everyday( you’d think a Pastor”s Wife wouldn’t need reminding) just being real(: I’m going to also make a commitment to spend more time with my husband and kids in 2012. Thanks again for your ministry. Renee
Renee – Oh, as a pastor’s wife, I think you need renewal more than most, because you give so much out daily! I love your words here and am so excited to see what God does in and through your commitment and obedience to him and what he has planned for you. I am always amazed at how lacking my own plans are and how perfect his are!
My first and most important goal this year is TRUTH…to face it about myself in all areas…to stop lying to myself and put things up front in the light where God and I can look at them together and then replace the lies with TRUTH. When the Lord started showing revealing the little lies I was telling myself or believing, I was amazed. With HIS help we can formulate a plan of action for the things that need it (i.e., eating less sugar-yes the extra cookie DOES matter; exercising-no, I’m not too busy and skipping a workout DOES matter, spending less-no, I really don’t need another black shirt, etc). I CAN do all things through HIM who gives me strength and I am valuable to GOD!!!
Linnea – I so agree with you, I feel that where Satan gets us is in keeping things in the dark. And Jesus came so the light could shine on everything, and we could know that even the cobwebs in the closet could not keep his love from us! I wrote about this last year, when I talked about how bringing things Out Into the Light brought me great freedom too! I hope you have a very TRUTH filled 2012! And great for you to recognize and be brave.
Thank you so much for this post! I’m newly married, and I enjoyed the way that you and your husband set family goals together. You inspired me to talk with my husband about possibly setting family goals, and he loved the idea. Tomorrow morning, my husband and I are going to set our family goals together. We’re also going to set individual goals as well. 🙂
I’ve recently been through some personal issues that have required me to dig deep into the word, and start taking time for Jesus! I’m going to shoot for morning devotional and planning my day out before I take care of my responsibilities.
Priscilla – Both of those commitments, having a family plan and giving God your first fruits each day will be life changing. Take it from me. I used to live without a plan and let all the other things come before Him. But in his Word, he promises that if we are obedient, he will take care of all things that we usually feel need to be done first. I have found that in my daily renewal with him, only he can equip me for the day to come. Because he already authored it for me, so who better than to plan it out for me?
Have a blessed 2012!!
I so like what you said about making date nights a priority for 2012. I agree that to be successful, our family should be our first priority and everything else will follow. Thank you so much for posting that one, I’m sure a lot of people will have something worthwhile to follow while making goals for this year. I would also like to recommend you watch this great video from a successful entrepreneur about how she sets her goals and plans for the future. Take a good look at it. http://marieforleo.com/2012/01/free-planning-tool-reach-business-goals/
Grace – I have learned that the date nights are such an important part to make a priority. Since the husband is the spiritual leader of the home, his well being is so critical. I feel this is such a ministry to our husbands to make them a priority. It builds them up and gives them encouragement and lets them know their importance to us. I will check out the video, thanks for sharing!
Kelly, Thank you so much for sharing this. I was brought to tears by reading your words because I feel that my goals, although not large, are way too large for me to handle alone. We are praying for a intervention from the Father to relieve some stress in life in financial areas. Our burden that has been weighing us down our whole married life is about to break us emotionally and spiritually. Thank you for being honest, it is so hard to want to play supermom but I thank you for sharing that you too have struggles! I remember going to your class several years ago and being so inspired. I pray that I can start to get a grip on our finances and budgeting a bit better this year so we can live the life that the Father intended. I hope to budget in your book soon but please continue to share you tips in the mean time. Blessings to you and your family this year!
Brooke, I have a little secret for you, through Christ you can do all things (Phil 4:13), so you WILL get a hold of your budget. God promises you will if you let Christ lead you. His promises never die and they are eternal and true. Don’t ever forget that!! 🙂