Goals, Plans, Ideas, Dreams (Bring it on, 2015!)

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a few posts looking back on 2014 - what I wrote about and what I learned.  I've been inspired by some other lovely bloggers to look ahead now to the new year and to jot down some of the things I hope to accomplish this year.  I'd love it if you check out my ideas, but honestly, I'm excited to just start this list for myself.  I hope to update is as more things come up and intend (we'll see if it happens) to come back at the end of the year to "check off" what I followed through with.

So, here's looking at 20 things I'm planning on for 2015 in some loosely organized categories... 

for my spiritual and personal well-being...

1. Continue reading my new copy of Lisa Hendey's A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms.  I'm only on the second week, but already I think this is going to be a lovely book for me and for sharing with my family.  - AND - Read the daily meditations from In Conversation with God.  I know I probably won't get to these every day, but I really want to make them a priority again because I think I can honestly say that this series is the best spiritual reading I have encountered.  The spirituality of St. Josemaria - upon which the medications are based, - is so practical, relevant, and convicting.  

2. Use the elliptical in the basement!   (It will feel so great and you know it, Theresa!) 


for the spiritual life of our family...

3. Every four to six weeks invite a Catholic family to join us for Saturday afternoon Confession and a casual dinner at our house afterward.   We did this during Advent and Russ and I have been convicted that it's an important and awesome thing to continue.  We'll get to confession on a more regular basis, it will give our children the opportunity to see other kids (their young friends) participating in the Sacramental life of the church, and it will help us connect with families that we may not otherwise see (for some reason it seems less intimidating for me to have families over in this casual way than a more traditional dinner for guests.)  

4. We are going to start celebrating our Baptism days with a special dessert and a renewal of the Baptismal vows by Baptismal Candlelight (if I can find them...)   And so that I don't forget...  

    February 2 - Dominic
    March 2 - James 
    April 14 - me
    April 15 - Russ (the dad)   
    April 18 - Ruth
    June 10 - Clare
    September 24 - Aaron

(what would you do about the April situation?  Lump them together?  Lump the parents together and give Ruth her own day?)  

5. Stick to a weekly family prayer time.  We've chosen Tuesday nights.  We've decided to keep the format short: prayer to the Holy Family, everyone offers three intentions - something they're thankful for, something they're praying for, and asking for grace and strength in improving in a specific virtue / overcoming a particular sin or struggle.  We'll close by offering a decade of the Rosary for all of our intentions.
  

6. I will figure out a spot to have a small home altar and arrange one.  I was really inspired by the beautiful simplicity of this one :) 

7. Have the kids help make our new Stations of the Cross before Lent starts (so our beautiful art prints don't sit around for another year...)  


for the well-being of our family...

8. We will continue our weekly family meetings.  So far we've only have two, but they have been so valuable and enjoyable!

9. We won't have desserts during the week unless it's a special occasion.  I will serve a homemade dessert every Sunday.

10. We will read at least four picture books a day, ideally one will about about a Bible story, a saint, or some other Faith-related topic.

11. Read aloud goals: I will finish The Chronicles of Narnia with the boys (we're currently in the middle of The Horse and His Boy) and will start The Little House books with the girls.  

12. We will aim for at least one family game night a month.


for fun and lifelong learning...

13. We will try our hand at making dill pickles for the first time!  (plan to use this recipe)

14. We will do our best to get to another hot air balloon festival launch.  

ideas for blogging...

15. Get 100 Likes on my facebook page.  Yay!  We did it!  Thanks everyone!  

15.  regroup and reorganize my posts into easier-to-find categories with easy access on the side bar (like this!)

16. clean up and organize my pages at the top

17. run my "10 Days of Family Friendly Soups" series in January while the weather is still cold and moms are still trying to figure out what to set out for dinner!  (have another fun series planned for February!!)


other...

18. Clean up, organize, and de-clutter my craft room (I don't need ALL the supplies)

19. Make myself a whole bunch of crocheted dish cloths instead of buying more.  I really need some new dish cloths... 

20.  Embroider something.  


And for the things that are on the probably-never-will-happen end of the spectrum so don't deserve to be numbered... but I can dream, dream, dream...

Re-paint the interior of the house.  almost every room.  

Replace the living room furniture.  (dream, dream, dream...)

Re-Do the Kitchen:
   paint the walls
   deal with our pealing kitchen cupboards like she does on this blog here.
  re-finish the laminate kitchen counters something like this (though it sounds really involved...)

   and all the other stuff... a back splash, new sink faucet, and new lighting  (dream, dream, dream...)