12 in 13

Ok, folks, here are my 12 goals for 2013.

January
Goal: Potty-train Caleb. My plan is to look up the "boot camp" method (2-3 days of focused concentration on learning the skill, vs. a more gradual approach) and execute it together with Sean during the long weekend of 19th-21st January (the Monday that is MLK, Jr. Day).


February
Goal: Share love. I will focus on sharing non-romantic love by preparing and giving care packages to neighbors or friends. I hope to start Caleb (and our other kids) young on an others-focused, "better to give than receive" mindset... even though I myself am still far from really embracing that, if I'm honest, though I know that's what God and His love are like, and what we are called to emulate. It's just as much training for me as for him, I think! I know it will be fun. I'm thinking we (Caleb and I) will make heart-shaped cookies to give to our neighbors, perhaps with a little Gospel tract or some sort of message to go along with the treats... about the BEST love there is-- God's perfect, undeserved grace expressed in His kindness toward us in Jesus.

March
Goal: Start a garden. Sean wants to learn how to "build stuff," and we are thinking about making some raised beds for our back yard. I'd like to try some strawberries, lettuce, maybe spinach, carrots, beans, berries... there are lots of options. Need to research and decide what exactly we will plant, and whether we will go with seeds or seedlings.

April
Goal: Establish daily prayer/Bible-reading habit. I will set aside a little time to read and pray for 30 days straight during the month of April. I think choosing, and sticking to, one specific time each day will help it happen (i.e. after breakfast or during naptime). I haven't decided where in the Bible to read, or how to pray, or how long I want to shoot for, but I will decide by April. :) I'll admit I'm not very consistent at either of those disciplines right now.

May
Goal: Complete the Bull Canyon Run 10K. This will require starting to run again... soon... as in, starting as soon as I am able to exercise more vigorously. I haven't run in... several months. Maybe about nine. :) Is it cheating to have a goal that is not completely contained in the one month? I will build up two miles per month (Feb, Mar, Apr) till I am able to complete a 10K, or 6.2 miles, in roughly 10 minutes per mile. That's my goal. The last 10K I attempted was last May, when I was 10 weeks pregnant. It was not pretty, but I finished! It didn't help that the first four miles were uphill. But Sean and our friend Cameron were kind enough to run (ok, jog) with me the last few miles and it was a really fun day overall. Hey, this time we will be at sea level! This race is special to me, because the first 5k race I ever did was the Bull Canyon Run in May of 2008.

June
Goal: Fast from refined sugar for one week. I've read a lot about refined sugars, and have read about people who have eliminated it from their diets... but I think the most I could handle would be a week at first. I put white sugar in my coffee. I sprinkle brown sugar on my oatmeal. I bake (and eat) cookies. Sugar is in a LOT of things that I prepare and eat-- even store-bought peanut butter has sugar in it, as an example of places you wouldn't think to look for sugar. Right now, I try my darnedest to avoid high fructose corn syrup, but I do allow other sugars into my home.

July
Goal: Sew, sew, sew! I'd like to work up some inventory for the September goal. :)

August
Goal: Look into homeschooling resources. Caleb is doing great with colors and numbers, which he comes across in some of his books or out in the world. (e.g. Red means stop!). I'd like to look for something a little bit structured, even just to give me some ideas for how to occupy him when I am nursing or trying to do something that requires both hands and concentration.

September
Goal: Open Etsy shop. I have a lot of research and fine-tuning to do before this point! There are a lot of great tutorials on the Etsy site and elsewhere.

October
Goal: Memorize one chapter of Scripture. Chapter TBD. :)

November
Goal: Prepare for the Advent season. This will include buying new Advent candles (ours melted sometime during the past year); researching kid activities/devotionals; purchasing any other supplies for crafts or nativity-set creating; and brainstorming gift giving ideas for our family members and our giving budget with Sean.

December
Goal: Make and execute a "giving list"... not a "wish list." Our parents ask for our lists each year, which is great because we will love what they give us! They want to bless us, and I appreciate that. I am really enjoying the CD, Boppy cover, spatulas, cooling racks, etc. I asked for. :) I'm also enjoying the things I didn't ask for. Some good reading-- I hope to share more about that later. What I don't like is that I start thinking a lot about what I want, even though I have more than I need. My desire this year is to focus on giving and not ask for anything, except maybe two chickens and a goat or education for girls.

There you have it! Twelve goals, some spiritual, some physical, all doable with God's help! I'm excited. Do you have any ideas for your own 2013? I'd love to hear about it!