Monday, January 01, 2018

Happy New Year ... and some goals for January


Again this year, my wish and prayer for each of us is a happy, healthy, and spiritually prosperous year in 2018.  I often think about what the apostle John wrote to his friend Gaius in 3 John, verse 2: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."  Gaius obviously had such a strong, vibrant spiritual life that John prayed for his physical health to be as vigorous as  his spiritual state.  I wonder, what would our physical health look like if someone were to pray that prayer for us?  Something to think about in a new year!

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Meanwhile, even though I haven't set actual goals for the year yet, I have set a few goals for January:
 * Spend time reflecting on 2017 and considering my goals and a word for 2018
* Resume my informal study of Come Before Winter, by Charles Swindoll, for my quiet time
* Memorize at least 4 Bible verses and review some older ones.
* Add 4 to 8 pages to my "What Do I Know About My God?" Scripture notebook
* Continue study for Sunday School -- A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus
* Get to bed by 9 pm each night  
* Limit sugar and red meat.
* Drink enough water each day.
* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week.
* Do something creative each day
* Post in my Christmas blog at least once or twice weekly
* Post in this blog most weekdays if possible
* Continue working on several UFO craft projects
* Plan for family birthday gifts and begin crafting any handmade ones
* Set up an Etsy shop and begin selling vintage items
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family
* Send lengthy emails to several friends
* Call faraway friends to chat
* Learn more about cultured foods and begin making more of them
* Declutter and reorganize my closet
* Declutter and revamp computer room
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Clean church and set up for potluck meal
* Sort out and declutter my dad's house; work on estate
* Possibly plan a getaway with my hubby
* Make 2 photo calendars
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating

JANUARY'S HEALTHY HABITS:  Drink enough water/exercise/eat healthfully
WORD FOR 2018: Settled

And here is how December went:
* Work on Colossians Bible study in my quiet time † -- not done; I opted for a Christmas Scripture writing plan instead.
* Memorize at least 4 Bible verses and review some older ones -- only memorized 1 new verse, though I did review several older ones.
* Add 4 pages to my "What Do I Know About My God?" Scripture notebook  -- not done;  this is something I would typically do on weekends, but my Scripture writing plan included every day.
* Continue new study for Sunday School -- A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus -- done!
* Exercise or walk at least 20 times -- not done; I think I managed perhaps 10 times
* Get to bed by 9:30 pm each night -- not done consistently, but there were a few nights we got there by 9 pm, so that's my new goal.
* Limit sugar and red meat -- did quite well with red meat; not well at all with sugar.
* Drink enough water each day -- not done
* Drink kombucha each day -- not done; my kombucha became moldy (due to a small fly in it, I think) and I had to throw my scoby away.  I probably won't resume making kombucha until spring when the wood is out of the cellar.  These little flies came in with the wood.
* Keep up with cleaning and decluttering missions in homemaking zones of the week -- not done consistently, though I haven't done too badly with it.
* Post in this blog every day in December if possible -- not done; I managed 13 posts, though.  Not bad. 
* Post daily in my Christmas blog through December  -- done!
* Continue working on several UFO craft projects -- actually completed one of them!
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and work on crafting any handmade ones  -- done!
* Declutter filing cabinets and bookshelves -- not done
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family -- done!
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able -- not done as often as I'd like to
* Clean church and set up for potluck meal -- done!
* Sort out and declutter my dad's house; work on estate -- not complete, obviously, but I'm saying done! because I did go there and work at it nearly every day.
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating  -- not done consistently
* Decorate for Christmas -- done!
 * Participate in an Instagram photo challenge for December -- done!
* Finish purchasing Christmas gifts; wrap; mail distant ones -- done! and the mailing was actually done early!
* Take three of our local grandchildren for our traditional Christmas outing -- done!
* Send out cards for a Christmas card swap I'm participating in -- done!
* Host a cookie swap for friends -- not in my original plan, but -- done!
* Make and carry out plans for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day -- done!
* Focus on Advent each day this month -- done!
* Continue upholding my husband as he continues on with our church's pastoral search -- done! (But unfortunately the search is not -- it continues on.)

 † I'll resume my informal study of Come Before Winter, by Charles Swindoll, sometime in the new year, depending on how my study of Colossians goes.

DECEMBER'S HEALTHY HABITS:  Drink enough water/exercise/eat healthfully/drink kombucha

WORD for 2017: Stewardship

I can hardly tell you how appropriate my word for 2017 turned out to be.  For a reminder of how I chose it, you can look back at this post: My 2017 word of the year.   Recall, too, the definition of "stewardship": "a person employed to manage another's property;  a person whose responsibility it is to take care of something." At the time I chose this word, in January, I had absolutely no idea that in a few short months I would literally have become a steward of an entire estate.  But that happened, and I take this stewardship very seriously.

In a few days I hope to post my new year goals and my word for 2018.  Stay tuned ....

8 comments:

  1. Happy 2018 to you, Mrs. T! My word for 2018 is Renew ... renew my prayer and Bible study times, and renew my relationship with my husband. Unfortunately, I was a little overcome with frustration toward him in the past, so I need to work on overcoming that and being more patient. God bless you!

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    1. Good for you, Carol! That is a great word for 2018. I picked renewal one year also. One thing that I have been doing the past few years is that, once I've picked a word, I create a Pinterest board for it. Then, when I come across articles or devotionals online that will encourage me concerning the word I've chosen, I pin them onto that board. They are all in one place for me to re-read or be inspired by and I don't waste a lot of time wondering where I put them. Just a thought, if you are on Pinterest. It might be helpful.

      God bless you too! I am delighted to have you visit here at my kitchen table!

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  2. Hayy New Year to you!! WOW!! What a list!! I am so glad that I stopped by. I am a list maker too.I will be posting my One Word in a day or so and also post some goals I have for 2018 but nothing like what you have planned. I will be looking forward to how you do this year...Thanks so much fr sharing..
    Hugs,
    Deb

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    1. Oh, it's really not that much, Debbie. Most of it is just everyday life. Thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you were blessed by your visit! Looking forward to seeing what your One Word will be.

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  3. Wow...and that is just your list for January?! You go, girl...and when you're finished with all of that, could you please send me some of your energy? LOL! May your 2918 be your best year yet!

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    1. Well, some of these things are just ongoing things that I do every day. Other than the room and closet that I hope to revamp, most of them are just what I do anyway. I just put them down to remind myself. Realistically, I doubt the computer room project will get completed, but I need to make a stab at it this month.

      May 2018 be a wonderful year for you as well, Debby!

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  4. I’m with Debby! 🤓

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    1. Well, you know what I always say ... aim at nothing, and you'll hit it every time. So I'm aiming at something ...

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