2017 Goal Update #1

Hi everyone! Just checking in on this year's goals. I'm not being quite as intentional so I'm not seeing as many results as I would like. However--I'm being kind to myself and am happy that any small progress in any one of these areas can be considered a success!

• Marriage Enrichment
• Making time for togetherness--We've been spending more time at home together, being close to each other. We have some money budgeted for dates, but haven't made time yet for this. We both just started new jobs so we are still trying to find our new routine. We've been preparing meals together and sitting down to eat together at home, which has been nice. 
• Pray together--we haven't been praying together, but we have been praying for each other. 
• Surrender--remember that God is in control--I'm getting better at this, and I can tell that Jason is as well. Instead of always knowing the words to say, I will just close my eyes and give it up to Him. 
• Unite--make decisions together--This is going great; we are really being conscientious of the other and trying to be a united front in everything that we do. This is really had for me because I'm a take-charge kinda gal, but he's been patient with me and it has been working. We both mess up sometimes and then talk it out if necessary. 
• Ask what does the marriage need?--This goes along with the unity piece and comes and goes in waves. I try (though not always successfully) to ask this before I make a decision. 
• Personal Growth/Fulfillment
• Parental Effectiveness--All of these have fallen by the wayside with the start of our new jobs. Working on them. In January I made more of an effort to read with them, so I'll continue to focus on that. 
• Practice patience
• Set boundaries
• Hold accountable
• Read together four times per week
• Financial Freedom--Doing okay, better that last year, but not quite yet where I would like to be.
• Focus on not spending
• Discuss together what priorities are--baby steps...
• Spiritual Growth
• Read scripture regularly--I read and reflect on the verse of the day most days and dive a little deeper occasionally
• Attend church regularly--We've started to attend church a bit more regularly, but definitely room for improvement. 
• Healthy Living
• Exercise regularly (four times/week)--have been averaging around three times per week which is not bad. 
• Make better food choices--most days are pretty good. I love sweets (chocolate!) and salty snacks so this is hard. Trying not to eat out for lunch as much at work, that seems to be helping.
• Embracing hobbies
• Reading
• Daily Devotional--Doing this daily (Melody Beattie's Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations) 
• At least one book per month on average--This is not going great; I did start "A Hole in my Heart" which is a book for adult children of divorce. 
• Writing
• Journal daily/weekly--This is not going well yet.
• Maintain blog--Obviously behind on this ;)
• Dancing
• At least three times per month--Yes! Line dancing pretty much every week!
• Cooking & Baking
• Eat at least six breakfasts, six lunches and six dinners at home per week--doing OK with this. Breakfast is usually not a problem. Have been doing pretty good with the lunches and okay with the dinners. Probably averaging five lunches and dinners, not six. 
• Keep trying new recipes every month--Have tried a few new recipes since the beginning of the year. You can check out the dinner/sides and dessert recipes I've tried here. Favorites include Caremlitas for dessert and Chicken Broccoli Alfredo for dinner. I also got a Nerdy Nummies cookbook for Christmas that has lots of fun recipes that I have yet to try...stay tuned 
• Restful/Calm Home/House
• Getting rid of clutter
• Make a plan for monthly focus areas--Just completed the "Minimalist Game" this month (well, ALMOST completed ;)). Going to start over again in March and keep going monthly until we have whittled down our "stuff." 
• Getting enough sleep
• Get to bed early enough to get 8 hours of sleep--pretty successful at this. It is hard for me to go to bed at 10pm or earlier, but I've been doing it for the most part. There are days where I've stayed up finishing laundry, but successful as a whole.
• Maintaining chore schedule
• At least three weeks per month to begin--this is not happening, I'm thinking that this can be more of a focus once we both get settled in at our jobs (and more of our stuff is gone!)
• Family Togetherness
• Putting down screens--this is not happening...yet
• Meals together at table--this is not happening...yet
• Trying new things--this is not happening...yet
• Being engaged during time spent together--I've been trying to be more engaged and intentional when we are out together as a family. Really listening and paying attention and not checking my phone all the time, etc. 
• Volunteer as a family--this is not happening...yet
• Travel--this is not happening...yet