New Year New GOALS!

Happy 2018 Friends!!

I absolutely love the new year.. it’s such a wonderful time for everyone because it is a season for growth and renewal. Whether you are working towards losing 10 LB or gathering the courage to try a cooking recipe each week.. a goal is a goal!  I try not to make resolutions but I DO make goals. I have found in the past that it is hard for me to stick to nitty gritty resolutions but when I come up with a list of goals to work towards I usually get a lot accomplished!!

Brandon and I usually each make a set of personal goals and then we sit together and talk about our family goals. 

I wanted to share my personal goals below to hopefully inspire anyone who is looking for something to work towards in 2018!!! 

2018 GOALS

            Wake up 1 hour earlier: I love this and used to do this all the time but then came #baby and hello I was #exhausted. I loved the time when the house was quiet..it was just me, my steaming mug of coffee and my daily devotional. Sometimes I would even put soft music on and fold the laundry. It was special time with God and I CRAVE it during this season of mommy hood  so I am once again going to do it. Realistically, maybe I won’t get up every morning because I’m tired and pregnant and chasing after a 1 year old BUT if I could even wake 1 hour earlier 3 times a week, I know I will be so refreshed throughout the day.

Fit Pregnancy: I love working out, I love eating healthy and I would really like to continue that into my pregnancy! I was moderately fit with Jax and walked every single day but I would really like to have a shorter labor and delivery this time so I am going to do a few things to help move that along. FIT4MOM falls right into that category and I plan on continuing my daily workouts along with eating a healthy diet. Of course I love #jellybeans but I mean.. it’s all a balance. RIGHT :)

Book Club: Something about me that not many know is that  I absolutely love is to read. I read book after book when I was first pregnant with Jax and have just always enjoyed getting lost in a great novel. I struggled with finding time to read after Jax and sort of lost my passion for a while. Recently I picked up a random novel at Target and was able to finish it in a few days. I read a little each night ( instead of Netflix) once Jax was asleep and I LOVED IT! So here I am doing it again.. I love to go to Half price books and stock up on cheap novels and then share with friends:) Book club anyone?!! I plan to read a few novels a month ( maybe 2 ) and then post my reviews on here!

Get a little eccentric with cooking: Don’t get me wrong I am all for “ stick with what ya know” and what I know is southern cooking. I am good at it and LOVE to make it. However I have been reading a few of my cook books and have found so many different types of recipes.. an amazing recipe I recently tried was a "Mango Curry Chicken". I never use curry.. and the recipe called for raisins. TOTALLY out of my comfort zone. I made it and it was absolutely amazing. I plan to try just a few “ out there” recipes and see which ones I can tweak and make my own:) 

Be more Intentional: This is a really important one for me. I know that life can get so busy that it can feel as if  we are going through the motions day after day. I know that especially as moms we feel like we wear a million different hats and have to juggle a thousand different things! I know it can be overwhelming and I know it can feel like you are doing these things 50 % instead of 100 %. That is why in 2018 I want to do things more intentionally. I want to be more purposeful in my actions whether it be with my husband, my son, or my friends.. I want to give them 100% of me. When I take Jax to the Doseum to watch him play and explore I NEED and WANT to be 100 percent- fully aware of our time together and how special it is. I want to give him my ALL..intentionally. When my husband and I are up late just talking about nothing.. I need to be fully aware of that special time. Not scrolling through Pinterest during pillow talk.. but being aware..intentional...fully there.  As many wonderful friends as I have been blessed with.. I would LOVE to grab a coffee ( when we can) and just enjoy our friendship!

BE INTENTIONAL

My inspiration for this comes from 1 Corinthians 13 and this amazing rendition I read over Christmas

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of your way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure. 

Happy New Year Friends