2013 has ended up looking a whole lot different than we thought it would… isn’t that how life goes? I learned a lot more about what works for me when it comes to goal-setting and how to give yourself grace in the face of changes and unexpected curveballs.
So even though I won’t be crossing everything off my list this year, it was a year of much personal growth for me — and our family. At the end of the day, that’s much more important than checking things off the list. 🙂
In a few weeks, I’ll be sharing my goals for 2014 and some changes I’ll be making to how I do goal-setting based upon what I learned this year. Stay tuned!
Here’s my list of 25 Goals for 2013 and an update on how I did in November:
Personal Goals
Read through the Bible in a year usingthis plan. {I’m on track with this so far.}
Run in at least one 5K race. {I think I’m going to have to bump this to 2014 as I ended up having to go out of town the day of both races I had planned to run this year.}
Complete the Couch to 10K program.
Memorize Romans 1 and 2 with Jesse. {I’ve almost finished Romans 1 — which I am happy about since it’s been years since I’ve consistently memorized Scripture!}
Wake up by 6 a.m. and exercise, shower, and dress by 8 a.m. every day. {I’ve made good progress here. Not perfect, but huge strides in the right direction!}
Read 150 books/ebooks {See my list of 48 books I’m for sure planning to read here — I’ve read 97 books/ebooks so far in 2013, unless some miracle happens, I don’t think this goal is going to get completed. But I’m going to be good with that — especially because many of the books I’ve read have been ones that I’ve gone slowly through because they’ve been so life-impacting!!}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 November.}
Go on at least one date per month.{Done in November}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.
Finish at least 37 read-aloud books. {We’ve finished 32 books so far this year.}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 in November.}
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. {We hit our funding goal, but have decided to hold off on investing in another rental property for at least another few months for a variety of reasons.}Business/Blogging Goals
Release two new ebooks. {This is another 2013 goal that I intentionally decided to shelve, for a variety of reasons.}
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!
RuthS says
I’m at 115 books so far for 2013, so I probably won’t make 150 either. But I’m ahead of where I was the last three years though–I read about 100 all three of those years.
Crystal says
I love this — looking on how far you’ve come versus the fact that you didn’t where you’d hoped to be. That encourages me!
Cate says
I, too, have decided to read the Bible through (as I have never done this before). I use Dr. Charles Stanley’s Life Principles Daily Bible. On each day there is a section from the old testament, Psalms, Proverbs and new testament. This is all done in order, of course. It is easy to read the Bible this way instead of being bombarded with the “begets” for what seems like an eternity – ha! Dr. Stanley takes his many years (he is 80 now) of Bible study and interjects Life Principles, What the Bible Says About….., Answers to Life’s Questions, Life Lessons and God’s Promises throughout this Bible. The articles he writes are very enlightening and thought provoking. I strongly encourage anyone who wants to read the Bible in a year to read this, especially if you have never made it through the entire Bible before.
Cate <
Sara@Save Money, Live Joyfully says
After 2012, which was the most difficult and grievous year of our lives thus far, my 2013 goals were very, very broad. I’ve been far too tired to really do more than the bare necessities of life. Here are my goals from the beginning of 2013:
1. Get my son cochlear implant surgery-(Done)
2. Teach my son to talk and hear-(Long term goal…Been working on this since surgery in February. Therapy 2-3 times a week, but today he just said “E-I-E-I” when I was singing “Old McDonald” and said “Mooo” when he saw a cow!! He now has 12 words, which is amazing for a deaf child 🙂
3. Manage my health-(Done. Had a surgery I’d been putting off for a couple years, and am feeling much better.)
4. Start Homeschool with my daughter-(Done. And I’m enjoying it even more than I thought I would!)
5. Put my daughter in sports-(Done. She did 3 sports this year.)
6. Make time for date nights-(Work in progress. I’ve been trying to temper my expectations in this area, since we’re not in a season of life where we can take much kid-free time and we don’t have help. A movie or board game after the kids go to bed has been considered “date night”.)
7. Take one day at a time, worry less and trust more (Good days and bad…but getting better 🙂
2012 was horrible in every way, and 2013 and been really difficult as well. We lost my 13 year old dog (who was a family member and is very much missed), and my amazing, beloved gramma is currently in the hospital with some serious complications. We’ve encountered some other “big deal” things as well this year. I’m just happy I survived the year, and getting anything done on my goal list makes me happy! God has taught me so much about faith, love, and hope through the last couple of years, but I do hope 2014 is better 🙂
Crystal says
{hugs!} It sounds like you did a LOT to me! And I’m SO exciting to hear about your son’s progress! That’s FANTASTIC!!!
Sara@Save Money, Live Joyfully says
Thanks Crystal! You have no idea how much joy his being able to hear us has brought. He started saying “momma” just a few days ago… it has to be the best Christmas gift ever!
Alisha @ The Savvy Bump says
That is so incredible! =)
The Prudent Homemaker says
Oh, how wonderful!
Annie Kate says
Wow, what an amazing year for you! But difficult, too.So many important things got done! I wish you a peaceful year next year in which your son learns more and more words!
Niki C says
2013 looked much different for us than I had planned. My mother in law died unexpectedly in March, my stepfather was hospitalized for three weeks in April, my grandfather died in May, I spent the summer settling his estate, my son spent all of October in the hospital, had surgery in November, and now my husband is in the hospital. I am sad to say I didn’t accomplish many of the goals I set at the beginning of the year, but I am working on new goals for 2014.
Crystal says
{Hugs!} I am so, so sorry had to deal with so much grief, trauma, and upheaval! Hoping that 2014 is a much calmer, brighter year for you!
Niki C says
God is faithful. He saw us through, I learned many lessons, and my faith is stronger. I do hope. 2014 is a year of peace though!
Annie Kate says
Dear Niki,
Wow, that is a hard, hard year. I’m so glad your faith was strengthened through it all! Be careful to give your self time to recover from it all, though, and don’t set goals that are stressful. Wishing you a year of peace and joy.
Amy R says
That was 2012 for me!!! It was a very rough year. I praise the Lord that at the end 2013 we can look back and see God’s grace both in the valley of 2012 and the mountain-top of 2013. There are lessons to be learned in both places. Stay strong. 2014 may just be a mountain-top year!
Tracey says
I’ve done fairly well with most of my 2013 goals and am already looking forward to what I can accomplish – with God’s help – in 2014!
http://girlstogrow.blogspot.com/2013/11/2013-goals-update-for-november.html