Wednesday, July 3, 2013

June Goals Update

When I decided to publish my goals for the year 2013, one thing I was looking forward to was the accountability I would receive from my readers! To keep myself on track, and let you know the areas I've been working on, I'm posting an update today from the month of June (and May too, since I was gone last month!) I'd love to hear how you are progressing with your goals for 2013, whether you set several or even just one!


Due to being away for about a month, I didn't accomplish as much as I normally would or maybe would have liked...but I am always thankful for what I can get done!

Spiritual goals: {this is the most important area for me!}

Draw closer to and be more like my Saviour. I know this sounds vague and non-specific, but at the end of 2013, I want to be able to say that my relationship with Christ has deepened over the year. If I accomplish nothing else all year but this, 2013 will be worth it!

      **Ongoing goal

Finish memorizing Philippians. I have the first chapter completely down, and half of the second. I need to be more intentional about plugging away at this!

      **I'm currently working on chapter 3. Seeing progress!

Memorize one other book {or a section of 6 other chapters} from the Bible. After I finish Philippians. :)

Continue to record my 1,000 gifts.

      **I didn't continue this while I was gone, but I certainly did enjoy those daily gifts, even if I wasn't writing them down.


Read through the Bible twice. This takes a bit of explanation. I have read through the Bible once in a year before. This year I decided to try it twice. I heard recently that reading through the Bible in one year only takes 11 minutes a day. So in less than a half an hour a day I should be able to read through it twice! All I am doing is reading 6 chapters of the Old Testament and 2 of the New Testament each day, in addition to a more in-depth Bible study. I think doing this will deepen my knowledge and understanding of the Bible, and make me even more familiar with it as a whole!

      **I'm aaaaaalmost done the first read-through! I guess that puts me a little bit behind (I didn't start right at the first of the year) but I'll soon be done and able to start the second reading. So exciting!


Personal goals:

Purge and consolidate things in storage. Seems like I do this each year, but I am continually dissatisfied with how much stuff I have sitting in the attic untouched. If I don’t use it year after year, why do I hang on to it? I’d like to set aside a small amount of keepsake items and toss/donate the rest.

      **Currently I'm working on my bedroom...which means the stuff in storage is accumulating. Yikes. But I'll get there!

Read 36 books. I easily read 2 books a month last year, so how about 3 this year? I also kind of dropped off the Booksneeze bandwagon, so I’m going to start doing those more as well.

      **I have finished a few books over the last few weeks.

Work on being a better correspondent. I think I improved in this area last year, but I still could do so much better. I’ve enjoyed hearing from some of my readers over the last few months as well, thanks guys! I’m also thinking about going back to some pen-and-ink corresponding - living life on the edge, I know - so we’ll see what I actually accomplish there.

      **Have been keeping up with this!

Make daily exercise a habit. I had a good thing going for a while, but didn’t keep it up. Still trying to figure out the best way to make this work for me - you know I’ll keep you posted!

      **Wow...this is not going well. Outside activities are not doable right now, so I'm trying to figure out what else I could do! Any suggestions?

Make music practice a habit and priority. Confession: I never practice piano. Right now in this season of life there is nothing I need to practice for - which is truthfully kind of nice - but I still could stand to improve and be stretching myself further. I also have a violin and guitar that sit untouched, that I would really love to pick back up. Vocal practice wouldn’t hurt me either. So there is plenty I could be doing - I just have to figure out a system that fits in with our noisy schedule. :) {With 3 others practicing piano, plus practicing for church specials and a baby that takes naps, I’m not sure how this is going to work, but we’ll see!}

      **Seeing progress here! I practice some every week.

Continue to work on rising early. The Christmas season threw me for a loop...need to get back on track with this! I’d love to be able to call myself an “early riser” by the end of 2013!

      **Meh. That is all I can say.

Start a journal and write regularly. I’d love to do better about recording life happenings, plus I think this would improve my general writing approach as well.

      **Ahhh, started this and am loving it. It has turned into a daily life/spiritual journal, and I am finding tidbits to record on a regular basis. You can read some of my thoughts on journaling here.


Blog and Shop goals:

Continue to blog 5 days a week. Some weeks it is more or less, depending on what is going on, but on a consistent basis 5 posts a week seems to work well for me and this blog’s community.

      **Some weeks don't get 5 posts, but I'm just kind of rolling with whatever I have time for.

Have monthly planning sessions with myself to think and plan ahead. I continually find myself not adequately prepared to blog about a certain holiday or event...I need to take the time to sit down and see what is coming up in the near future. {hello valentines day}

      **Didn't get to this is June, but plan to pick it back up in July!

List new shop items once a month. I have some fun, new things planned for the shop, so stay tuned!

      **Here are my newest designs...what do you think?

Post some new blog features and grow this online community...I have specific goals set in these areas, but don’t want to be a total spoil-sport. :)

      **One new feature this year has been a weekly newsletter that shares upcoming events, blog news, and lets you in on shop updates and sales. You can sign up by entering your email addy in the form at the top of my right sidebar! So far this newsletter has been a great way for me to further connect with you lovely readers!

Write out {and share} my blog purpose statement. I’ve been pondering, “why do I blog” for some time now...and feel ready to actually map out my purpose behind blogging and where I hope this blog will {and won’t} go. In the meantime, I’d love to hear why you read this blog...what do you enjoy most...what would you like to see more of? Thanks, your feedback would be much appreciated!

      **Haven't shared this yet

Have you set any goals - big or small - for 2013? I'd love to hear about them! Thanks for helping me out on this journey!


Linked up with: Womanhood with Purpose

2 comments:

  1. Checking in your goals list! Thanks for stopping by. You should get some cute note cards and it will encourage your pen and ink correspondence ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jenny! Now I need to find some cute cards. :) Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete

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