reflecting on 2008, looking forward to 2009

so each december, mike and i have a date night to reflect on how our year went. he has more formally-articulated goals, but we do set some family goals. and i have tried to set some goals for myself, although not very consistently. we did set a few goals for the kids--they hit a bunch of them and got rewards along the way. it was fun for them to earn their trip to build-a-bear after learning to ride bikes without training wheels or putting together puzzles on their own or being potty trained. i definitely want to do that again this year with them.

last night we went out to review the 2008 goals and talk about 2009. i am excited this year about really putting my own goals down on paper and getting some friends to hold me accountable and encourage me throughout the year.

the first goal i have made and shared with a few people is that i want to run the half marathon in january 2010--so i have all of 2009 to train. i was reluctant to share that with many people, but i think the fewer people know the easier it will be for me to flake out. SO, here is me letting more know--ask me how i'm doing. the task at hand at the moment is to find a running club or training schedule or something. i'm really at a loss for where to begin. help would be appreciated. i also know i need new shoes. :)

other goals include

* eating and feeding my family better (this one and the running should help me hit my unmet 2008 goal to lose weight);
* working more on my writing by more consistently posting on this blog and maybe taking a class or going to a conference or a retreat;
* being more deliberate about teaching my kids biblical truths (needs some "lesson plans");
* setting alone time monthly (at least) to spend with each kid;
* begin training sophia to do more around the house;
* being more hospitable--scheduling family game nights and inviting other families to join us, instituting mom mornings so i can have other mommies over for some brunch during the week.
* start having monthly GNOs again

many of these will require i get a lot better at time management and scheduling all the important stuff so that it happens--because i have realized that the important stuff gets sacrificed to the urgent, but not necessarily crucial stuff.

if you would like to join me in my adventure to have more purposeful days, weeks, months & 2009, i'd love for you to be one of my january mom morning guests and we can work on it together. :) just let me know. and if you're not a mom or can't come during the day, let me know anyway, we'll find a time.

y'all have a great time wrapping up 2008!