July and August were good months, albeit full. A few highlights:
- We took three different family road trips (Kansas City, Oklahoma, and Arkansas).
- I was blessed to get to go to Colorado for 5 days to spend time with Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson.
- We did swimming lessons for all three kids four days a week almost every week.
- We got together with a number of out-of-town and local friends and did lots of fun activities.
- Kaitlynn started gymnastics (she’s loving it!) & Kathrynne decided to continue swimming lessons during the school year & set a personal goal to make swim team within the next year (she has to complete 4 more levels — I’m so excited to see her enthusiasm and drive!).
- I finished all the big edits on my next book, developed the marketing plan with Thomas Nelson, worked on some new projects, and hired on some new team members (so very excited about what all is in the works & so thankful for my amazing team!)
- We had major storm damage and had to get a lot of work down on our house as a result (new roof, new garage door, some new windows/screens, and complete paint job — while it was a bit of inconvenience, it turned out to be a blessing because insurance covered every penny of all the home improvements!)
- We started back to homeschooling and it’s my first year to have three grades simultaneously (4th, 2nd, K — I’m really loving our homeschooling schedule/curriculum this year so far!)
Needless to say, summer wasn’t calm and quiet. In fact, I think we may have only had one day the entire summer that we stayed home all day! But it was a good change of pace and we made lots of memories.
However, I’m so thankful that we’re now back into our usual routine again… I just love the quiet at-home days. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I’m an introvert who doesn’t like much spontaneity? (Well, I take that back, I do like spontaneity provided it is carefully planned! ;))
At any rate, I was thinking I probably didn’t accomplish anything much on my goals list with all the running around we did. But I was pleasantly surprised to realize that I did make some good progress on a number of different goals. And that I’m on track to complete almost all my goals for this year. Yay!
Here’s my list of 25 Goals for 2013 and an update on how I did in July & August:
Personal Goals
Read through the Bible in a year using this plan. {I’m on track with this so far.}
Run in at least one 5K race.
Complete the Couch to 10K program.
Memorize Romans 1 and 2 with Jesse. {I’ve made some really great progress on this in the past two months — yay!}
Wake up by 6 a.m. and exercise, shower, and dress by 8 a.m. every day. {I’ve done a lot better at this the past two months — it helps that I had to be out the door for swimming lessons pretty early in the morning!}
Read 150 books/ebooks {See my list of 48 books I’m for sure planning to read here — I’ve read 85 books/ebooks so far in 2013, so I’m on a good track to hit my goal!}Marriage Goals
Read 3 marriage books.
Finish reading through the Psalms together as a couple.
Have overnight stay (sans children) at least every other month. {Done in August.}
Go on at least one date per month. {Done in August.}Mothering Goals
Continue memorizing together from the Grace and Truth memory book.
Ice-skating lessons for all three children during the first quarter of 2013.
Swimming lessons for all three children during the summer.{We signed the kids up and they start next week.}
Finish at least 37 read-aloud books. {We’ve finished 30 books so far this year, so we’re on a good track here.}Ministry/Friendships/Extended Family Goals
Weekly accountability meetings with a friend. {This has been SO helpful!}
Get together with friends for a playdate or lunch at least once a month. {Done multiple times in July & August.}
Continue being involved in our local church, couple’s group, and blogging accountability group. {Ongoing}
Continue with weekly get-togethers with both sides of our extended family. {Ongoing.}Financial Goals
Use a portion of the proceeds from my next book project to fund a well project.
Fund our Child Survival Program for 2013.{Done — yay!}
Buy a new bedroom set.
Invest in another rental property.Business/Blogging Goals
Release two new ebooks.
Attend one speaking conference.{I attended the She Speaks Intensive in January.}
Finish and submit the manuscript for my next book.
Did you set goals for 2013?
If so, tell us how you’re doing in the comments or leave a link to your blog post update below. Let’s encourage one another to live lives of intention and purpose!
Shelly says
We were able to get two home improvement items marked off our list this past month. We still have a few left for this year.
Sounds like you had a busy last two months.
Lydia says
The food at church last week was really good!
Marie says
Way to go Crystal! So glad that in the midst of the business you still enjoyed yourself, family and made lasting memories. You weren’t just busy with nothing to show for it.
I have a question for you. In your goals you mention a weekly accountability with a friend. I was wondering if you could share about that more. How do you help each other?
Crystal says
We meet once a week and share prayer requests, 2-3 goals for the next week, quote our Scripture memory, and have a book we read together/discuss. We also text throughout the week with progress updates & reminders/encouragement to stick with our goals. It’s been such a huge blessing!
Robin says
I can’t believe how many goals you have! Between reading the entire bible and 150 other books, and your blog, I wonder how many clones of yourself you must have hidden away. I thought I was a reader, but wow!
Our goals are mostly financial. Now that we’ve paid the house off, out goal is to invest at least $46k per year, meaning my husband and I will max out 401(k)s and IRAs. We are also doing the couch to 5k, though my husband used to run cross country. And we are starting a new blog and trying to get that up and running, which takes a tremendous amount of time.
I do have a goal to have my family memorize the sermon on the mount. We’re getting close!
You are an inspiration.
Crystal says
Just remember that goal-setting is something I’ve been working on very intentionally for the last 7 years. The first few years I did really poorly at it… so it’s true that practice and intention really does allow you to improve and make progress. (Oh and I sort of do have some clones: my amazing team who helps pull so much of the weight when it comes to blog/business stuff! I couldn’t do it without them!)
So impressed with your goals and the progress you’re making — way to go!
Lora C says
I am so glad that I decided to read the comments and read that you struggled in this are at first. When I saw this post I remembered seeing a similar one in July (I think) and planning to set goals for the second half of the year. That was 2 months ago!! But, I am not giving up–I am going to set and work towards goals for the remainder of the year. Thanks for the encouragement and tools!!
Crystal says
You are so welcome! And it’s all about baby steps… focus on the progress you’re making, not on how slow it’s taking. Practice and more practice really does make a huge difference!
Jenny says
I’m having a heck of a time quitting nail biting Crystal (and other MSM readers). I’m glad to see goals that are habits, such as getting up and out the door early each day, on your list. I’m struggling with breaking my own bad habit. Any suggestions??
Lydia says
Wrap masking tape over your fingertips!
(Or you could make your hands really dirty, clean em up b’fore you gotta make food, take care of kids etc.)
If it has to do w/ nervousness, try finding a different stress relieving habit. (buy a lil cheap squishy stress reliever :))
Crystal says
I was a chronic nail-biter as a child and I still can find myself falling back into that habit if I’m anxious/stressed.
I found that if I have my nails painted, I’m much less apt to bite them. Plus, having my nails painted just makes me happy! 🙂 Also, being intentional about breathing space in my life and delegating & deleting so that I’m not anxious/stressed.
I’d encourage you to try to get to the bottom of why you’re biting your nails: Is it a stress reliever? Just a plain & simple habit? Or something else?
Stephanie says
I’m a nail biter too, and it’s such a hard habit to break! I found clear nail polish works well. It usually prompts me to realize I am doing it again and I can stop!
Jenny says
Thanks for the advice everyone!