Looking backward and forward

I cannot believe that it is 2014! I'm having a hard time thinking about 2014 and goals/resolutions and looking forward, as I cannot stop looking back at what a blessing 2013 was! God was and is SO good to us this last year and will continue to provide for us.

Grayson: January -December 2013

Before looking at 2014, I want to take a moment to reflect on what 2013 held for us...

Grayson just started crawling right and pulling up before the new year and said momma and dada and lots of other babble in January. 

 

 

In March Grayson turned 1!

He started walking and had surgery for tubes in his ear.

 

 

 

Through the spring and summer we bought/built our house!

 

2013 showed me the blessing of friends as we lived with friends for over 2 months while our house was being built.  WE will forever be changed and thankful for such kindness and generosity!

 

 

 

June and July we survived two long road trips and student camps.

 

  

 

We celebrated 6 years of marriage in July!

The end of August, through lots of prayer, we decided for me to go back to work full time and enrolled Grayson in daycare.

This was the biggest hurdle for me and looking at Grayson's development and how he thrives at "school" - we are so glad we followed God's will for us in this area!

 

We had almost the whole family come visit in our new home between September and November! And we had our last flight with Grayson being free to celebrate Christmas with family in Illinois.

 

 

We are soo blessed and God did so much in and through us this past year! I begin 2014 with a full and thankful heart! I cannot imagine what God has in store for us this coming year.... I look forward to Grayson turning 2; more family visits; creating and deepening new friendships; continuing putting personal touches on our house to make it our home; 2 big student camps this summer; investing more into our relationship and marriage; being a more fun mom (#morefunmomin2014); the possibilities of attacking and getting out of debt, possibilities of growing our family, possibilities of getting fit and healthy..... There is so much in my heart that I want...and yet, I am completely satisfied with what I have. There is room for growth in 2014... in me as a wife and mom and woman of God, in our marriage, in our family, in our ministry.... I am excited!... Are you!? What's God got in store for you and your family?

Resoluting and Reflecting

Now that it is the last week of January, I guess I should post some goals and look back at the last year!

Goals from 2011:

1. Lose weight! - So that didn't happen... actually I've been gaining weight as I grow our new little addition! I definitely wasn't expecting to get pregnant when writing this goal! ;)

2. Run a 5K - That didn't happen either... but I DID walk 30miles 21 weeks pregnant in the 3-Day Walk for the Cure!... doesn't that count?

3. Debt snowball - This is still and will be a work in progress. But it definitely got slowed down some half way through the year when we found out we were expecting! Gotta save for baby!

4. TEACH - This also didn't happen... but instead I got an AWESOME new job at the College at Southwestern Seminary as a Transcript Advisor and Director of the Girls Ministry... So I am working with students.. just in a different way.

5. Help with Housework - And lets just round off the goals with, this didn't happen either! :( Growing a human is exhausting!! I've napped a lot! and Tony, like the always sweet husband that he is, has definitely picked up the slack!

Now, that I basically didn't succeed in any of the only 5 goals I set for 2011... let's look at 2012. As we will be growing our family, graduating from seminary and moving/starting a job somewhere in 2012.. I really don't want to set extreme goals for such a crazy, all-in-God's-hands year.

So instead... I resolve to

• Be the best mom I can be and keep learning and growing.


• Not neglect my husband with the addition of a baby and the stress that brings


• CELEBRATE Tony finishing seminary


• Try really hard not to go crazy leaving it all up to God as to when/where we will be moving and finding Tony a job.

Easy enough... hopefully.... We'll see ;)

Reflecting and Resoluting

First, let's reflect on my goals 2010....

1. Lose weight! (I know everyone says that, but b/c of all my surgeries and not being able to do much - I need to be able to get to my pre-surgery weight)
** I lost a total of 40lbs, but I'm pretty sure I gained 10 back the last two months of 2010... So technically - I lost weight! Hooray! :)

2. Become more disciplined with my schedule: fitting in time for quiet time, a work out, hubby and extracurricular reading/knitting.
** I went to Gold's Gym diligently every morning before work! I read lots of books and took up crocheting! Tony and I are always trying to find time for date nites.

3. Learn to become a more patient and loving godly woman and wife.
** This is not a goal for one year... This is a lifetime goal that I will continually be learning and working on throughout my life and my marriage.

4. Not allow myself to "sweat the small stuff" - I want to be a less-stressed more easy going person.
** Like #3... This is not a 1 year goal.. I will always be working at not stressing even though Tony tries to tell me not to ;)

5. Continue striving to get out of debt and stay on top of bills and tuition while living on 1 income :-/
** We paid off Tony's car in 2010!! We are continuing to work and pray over our finances and for Him to provide for us!

6. Continue with and improve our blog - making sure that I strive to stay connected with all our friends/family!
** I hope and pray that you have/are enjoying our blog! It has been a delight to keep you all updated and connected this last year!!

7. Go on a vacation! Though we have little money, we really want to be able to take a vacation before we have any kids and reward ourselves from his schoolwork.
** Thanks to our wonderful supportive family we went Disney World over our Thanksgiving break!!!

8. Pray more diligently about our future and beginning a family!
** Again, this isn't a goal... I think I was trying to be inspirational last year when I made these! ;) Of course we are praying everyday together about our future and where God will lead us in the next chapter in our lives.


Now that we've reflected.... I've come to the conclusion that I clearly don't know what a goal is! Goals should be attainable, tangible... How do I know if I reached my goal of becoming a better wife/godly woman?... See bad goal.... Of course... I always want to strive for those things, but I want to make sure I make attainable goals that I can look back on and say "Hey, you reached your goal! Yay!" and then sidenote things that I need to remember to be doing.


So for 2011... My goals that I would like to reach include:

1. Lose weight! - I know, I know... that's already been done! ;) But, I'd really like to lose that last 20 something pounds to really say... "I DID IT!!!" Ya know?

2. Run a 5K - Never EVER did I EVER think I would put this on my goals list! BUT, starting this week I am walking/running (trying to slowly do the Couch to 5K program). I'm hoping my horribly, painfully arthritic knees can do it - but I'd really like to just try!

3. Debt snowball - We keep snowballing! Our credit card got racked up a bit paying for Tony's books and my teaching classes - so I'd like to get it paid off - and then we'd only have my car as our debt.

4. TEACH - I'm still looking for a teaching job. And I'm making it my goal this year to get a job! Please pray with me! :)

5. Help with Housework - Tony has been doing most all the housework since moving here, but he will be working a lot more in 2011 - so I'm making my to-do to pick it up and do a lot more around the house for him!


So there you have it! :) Five reachable, attainable goals! In the meantime I will constantly working on being a better wife and godly woman, stressing less and praying more!
Happy 2011! :)
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Birthday!

Today is my 25th Birthday!! It is only noon and already I feel overwhelmed in blessings via cards, texts, twitter and facebook! Thank you all soo much for loving me!

This year is probably my toughest so far, but I thank God for what He has done and all the He has planned in my future!

Having a June b-day, also means that it is half way through the year. And in doing so I wanted to do a 6 month check up on those resolutions/goals I made to myself at the start of the year, in feeling that year 25 was special!

Resolutions/Goals for 25:
1. Lose weight! (I know everyone says that, but b/c of all my surgeries and not being able to do much - I need to be able to get to my pre-surgery weight)

** I am making progress!! So far I have lost 30lbs and I only have 25lbs to go to my pre-surgeries weight!! :)

2. Become more disciplined with my schedule: fitting in time for quiet time, a work out, hubby and extracurricular reading/knitting.
** I have joined Gold's Gym and have been diligently in going to a class every morning before work! I am constantly working at keeping priorities in check with my time.

3. Learn to become a more patient and loving godly woman and wife.
** I am a work in progress : /

4. Not allow myself to "sweat the small stuff" - I want to be a less-stressed more easy going person.
** Still working on this one ;)

5. Continue striving to get out of debt and stay on top of bills and tuition while living on 1 income :-/
** We have paid off Tony's car (inspite of being in seminary and 1 income) and only have my car left as debt. Continuing to work and pray on this for Him to provide for us!

6. Continue with and improve our blog - making sure that I strive to stay connected with all our friends/family!
** I hope and pray that you have/are enjoying our blog! It has been a delight to keep you all updated and connected!!

7. Go on a vacation! Though we have little money, we really want to be able to take a vacation before we have any kids and reward ourselves from his schoolwork.
** Thanks to our wonderful supportive family we are planning a trip to Disney World over our Thanksgiving break!!!

8. Pray more diligently about our future and beginning a family!
** We pray everyday for our family and our future and trust our Father to carry us through!!


I'm only half-way into my birthday and there is still alot of celebration planned for the day!! I am treating myself to my very first body message this afternoon!! And my wonderful husband has invited all our friends from seminary to a hibachi/sushi restaurant for dinner tonight!! I will post pics later this week!!

Hope you are having a blessed week!
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New Year's Resolutions/Goals

I am usually not one for new year's resolutions....

However, this year is different. It is 2010 - and being a ten seems significant in a different way (I know... I'm weird); it is our first year in TX, at seminary and following Tony's calling to be a pastor; and I will be 25 this year, which seems like a good milestone bday to be making some changes/resolutions/goals! :)

With that said....

Here are my 2010 Resolutions/Goals for 25:

1. Lose weight! (I know everyone says that, but b/c of all my surgeries and not being able to do much - I need to be able to get to my pre-surgery weight)

2. Become more disciplined with my schedule: fitting in time for quiet time, a work out, hubby and extracurricular reading/knitting.

3. Learn to become a more patient and loving godly woman and wife.

4. Not allow myself to "sweat the small stuff" - I want to be a less-stressed more easy going person.

5. Continue striving to get out of debt and stay on top of bills and tuition while living on 1 income :-/

6. Continue with and improve our blog - making sure that I strive to stay connected with all our friends/family!

7. Go on a vacation! Though we have little money, we really want to be able to take a vacation before we have any kids and reward ourselves from his schoolwork.

8. Pray more diligently about our future and beginning a family!


~ I know that 10 would be a more rounded number and it would be cute to have 10 resolutions/goals for 2010; but that is all I have :)

Praying for a great 2010 for you all!
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