January 2020 Goals

 

I posted my yearly goals yesterday so now it is time to focus more specifically on what I want to accomplish in January. I took January 1-3 "off" and really started my focused goals on January 4th.  I find that those first few days are filled with putting away Christmas decorations, having family time, and relaxing before stepping back into the daily routine of life.  The added bonus this year is that I have an "extra" three weeks where school is not such a big focus because 1)Nate is done for the semester and 2) Josh will be done by Thursday.  I will still have my "extra" kids here until at least January 15th (but I think it might be longer) BUT I won't be stuck on the couch (or in a chair) leading, teaching, and keeping my two on task with their things.  It gives me time to organize, clean, and maybe even scrapbook.  On January 25th, we will step into 2nd semester and I will be focused on helping Josh and Nate not only stay on schedule but hopefully get ahead in lessons so that when we reach May, we can enjoy beautiful weather without feeling trapped by school.  Yes, a true benefit of homeschooling.  

As a reminder, my word for the year is Purposeful.  I want to BE more Purposeful in what I chose to do, how I spend my time, and how I encourage and guide my family.  I want to make sure that what is in our home is Purposeful - so that means as I clean and declutter and simplify that I look at items with that mindset.  What purpose does it serve?  Things need a home - in a small house, that's hard sometimes.  I've learned, though, that if it doesn't have a home it gets stuffed in a corner a forgotten about.  When it has a home, it can be found when it is wanted or needed.  I also want PURPOSE in what I do - whether it be scrapbooking, reading, or taking a walk.  

My goals for January are as follows: 

1. Complete 31 pages in Scrapbooking (towards my 365 total page goal)

2. Read my three books in my plan this month.  Record them in my Pinterest folder of what books I read this month. 

3. 1000 hours outside - There is a blog and a Facebook page about this concept but the tracker can be found HERE. The goal of the blog is to get 1000 hours outside in a year.  That's not happening HA!  Instead my goal is just to get outside more.  I'm hoping that we can shade in lots of the chart over the next year - there is no "fail" because anytime spent outside is success. 

4. 365 Declutter Calendar - Finish all 31 tasks on the list (or at least all that apply to me - sometimes there are line items that do not apply to my home or the way I do things here) This month is focusing on the kitchen so I plan to deep clean and declutter the kitchen along with the tasks.  

5. Order the Macaroon making kit on Amazon

6. The basement - The end goal is to have a well organized, useful basement.  So, my goal this month is progress.  I'll try to remember to take a before and after photo so "you" can actually see that I make progress. 

7. Read one chapter in my photography book and PRACTICE the skill.  

8. Put all the page protectors on the pages that need them.  Also put all completed pages in albums. 

9. Pick camping dates for this summer and reserve the spots I can. 

10. Go on one date with Darryl. 

11. Pick out the song I want to record for Christmas on the piano.  

12. Plan out the first adventure to visit at least one of the great lakes. 

13. Get some spines imprinted - my consultant has told me there will be a sale this month so I'm hoping to get 10 imprinted (Buy 4 get 1 free). 

14. Set up a schedule for the boys to accomplish seat work, regular school work, piano and AWANA lessons.  We have to catch up on AWANA so they can finish on time (end of April). 

15. Clean out my recipe box. 

16. Plan the menu for the month and keep it (to use next year - to make planning easier!) Use the Air Fryer and make at least one recipe out of my new cookbooks. 

17. Completely clean the master - I always have to totally regain the master after Christmas between wrappings, boxes, and bags it is a mess HA!  It's time once again to totally clean, declutter and make sure everything is put away once again (I always tackle this room in January for this very reason!) 

18.  Help Nate finish up organizing in his room - we started it before Christmas but then things got moved in there to make room for the tree so we never finished.  He wants his room organized and everything where he can find it and use it. 

19.  Help Josh finish up the last things in his room - we were 90% done before Christmas.  We've moved his desk into his room too so we need to make sure that is also cleaned up. 

20. Set up my scrapbook stuff on the bedroom shelf - I'm trying to simply the visual clutter on my desk - since I tend to scrapbook at a specific time (like one weekend a month) I would like my stuff more put away yet easy to grab to do a quick page. 

21. Update my Holiday Journal with everything from Thanksgiving - New Years.  Read ideas from last year on upcoming events.  Plan the superbowl party, Valentine's Day, and Darryl's birthday. 

22. (I was aiming for just 21 goals but I have this "misc." category that needs to be added!) So, here are my misc. items that need to get done. A) Josh got a punching bag penguin for Christmas that we need to set up - get some sand to add as a weight and blow it up.  B) Josh and Nate each got a new desk chair for Christmas - we need to get those put together AND finally put away all of the extra folding chairs that are constantly floating around! C) My mom made beautiful shadow boxes for each of the boys for Christmas that we need to get on the walls.  D) I bought a new Echo Dot for the living room so I can listen to our local Christmas Radio Station so Darryl needs to hook that up for me.  E) Give Darryl a spot for his stuff  F) Josh got a new solar system set to hang from his ceiling but he wants it measured out correctly so Darryl needs to help get that accomplished.  G. I have a small box worth of Amazon returns that need to be taken care of by the end of January.  H.  Taxes - it is that time of year to start that process - I'd just like as much done as possible by Jan. 31st so we can file at the earliest date. 

So, there's the plan.  I'm hoping to get as much done as possible before we jump back into school full swing! 

2021 Year Goals

 

If you have followed my blog for any length of time (even a month) you know that I set goals.  I enjoy sharing them - both what I accomplish and what I don't - because it keeps me accountable and maybe it encourages even one person to just do one thing. You might be surprised to know that my goals are not nearly as exact as they used to be!  My husband is not a planner - he is the more flexible one of the two of us so I've learned from him how to let things go a little and enjoy the day to day things.  BUT, I still need my goals - my plan - or I flounder!  

A friend of mine always posts a reminder to great your plan - this year we are doing "21 in 21" so below are my 21 goals. 

1. Complete 365 scrapbook Pages	2. Keep track of all the books I read this year	3. Complete the tasks on the Declutter 365 plan	4. Get outside (Blog – 1000 hours outside)	5. Learn how to make macaroons	6. Complete the organization and cleaning of the basement	7. Do the planned landscaping along the side of the house.
8. Read my photography book and put the tips into use	9. Put page protectors on all of the pages that are missing them	10. Go camping twice with the family	11. Date my husband – the goal is to do something once a month	12. Learn a Christmas song on the piano to record and post in December	13. Visit all 5 great lakes (I stole this from a friend HA)	14. Get family photos taken in the spring
15. Get spines imprinted for all my scrapbook albums	16. Stain my wooden swing	17. Paint the outside of the house (This has been a project for years!)	18. Make outdoor Christmas décor this summer.	19. Create a calendar each month with cleaning, scrapbooking, and family goals	20. Paint the garage door – it is currently boring white.	21. Help the boys finish this years AWANA book AND complete my own devotional book

Weekly Worship - Jesus, Strong and Kind (feat. Colin Buchanan)

Enjoy this beautiful song as we enter into a new year. 

2020 Weekly Photos #51

 Well, I missed a week somewhere since I only have 51 posts but there are 52 weeks!  These are probably my favorite posts each week as I reflect back over what we have done.  Sometimes there has been TONS to share and sometimes there weren't even any photos!  Either way, it's always good to take a look back each week!  

Here's what the last week of the year looked like! 

Saturday and Sunday - We just enjoyed the quiet after Christmas.  We all enjoyed our new things, watched some football, and just relaxed! 

Monday - Tuesday - Honestly, the kids played lots of video games and I read a lot.  It was just nice to relax without a list or a plan for a few days. On Tuesday I took down all of the outside Christmas lights because snow is coming! 

Wednesday - We finally got a "snow storm".  We've had very little snow this year so watching it fall was just so pretty. 

Ok, Dash is living his best dog life ever.  He got two additional beds for Christmas so he now has one in the living room, one in the kids room, and one in the master (which is under the bed right in front of the heater !!).  Not to mention that there are all kinds of comfy blankets and laps for him to snuggle into to! 

The kids played outside in the snow for three hours Wednesday afternoon.  The snow was perfect packing snow since it was heavy and wet.  It was also above freezing so by the time they came in they were dripping wet like they had been playing in the rain!

Thursday - New Years Eve! We did our normal routine of just hanging out at home!  We normally have snacks and such for dinner - which I had prepared - but at about 4:30 I looked at Darryl and said, "Do you know what I really want?  Pizza."  So we ordered pizza and saved the snacks!  I think we have a new tradition!  

At about 11:00 we went outside and set of some fireworks.  

I picked up some confetti cannons too.  They were amazing!   

This year Josh and Nate stood on their LEFT foot since standing on their RIGHT foot last year didn't do much good HA! 

Friday - New Years Day!! 

Our dinner full of snacks!  

Nate got out a game he got for Christmas - it is Water Bottle Flip Tic Tac Toe - and the guys all played it for hours (for real!)  

In the middle of undecorating!  The tree was undecorated and taken out which is always a big task.  Now, to finish packing stuff up on Saturday. 

We had a great "in-between" week.  The week between Christmas and New Years where we all just kind of float along.  Looking forward to a great 2021 with more family memories and lots of family time! 

Weekly Menu - And just like that is is 2021

 

Wow, This is the first Menu of 2021.  Here's hoping it settles down some and gets back to normal at some point! 

Friday - New Years Day!  The original plan was to go to my mom's but we are getting a snow storm so we are staying home and eating all the snacks we didn't eat last night HA!  We made a last minute choice on Thursday to order pizza!!!  

So, as I'm thinking about the new menu, I'm struggling with wanting to plan and cook.  Sometimes that transition from year to year puts me into the "do nothing" mode.  Don't worry, it doesn't last for long - I just have to get back into my groove after the holidays.  I got an Air Fryer for Christmas that I want to learn to use and use well; I want to get back into better meal planning so that we eat a little healthier (veggies? What are those? LOL); I want to make sure that we continue to limit eating out while not over spending at the store. I also want to work my way through my recipes and keep what we love and maybe try some new things this year. Plus I got a new recipe book for Christmas that I want to use as well  Now, to figure out what to eat in the coming week HA !  

Saturday - So, today we are going to my mom's!  She makes ham and bean soup which I hate but Darryl loves HA!  I have Chicken Noodle Soup :-) .  

Sunday - Chicken Quesadillas for lunch.  We have kind of shifted our "eat out" night to Sunday right now - not sure if it will stay that way after this week but for dinner, we will get dinner out. 

Monday - Pork Chops, baked beans and salad

Tuesday - Tacos.  

Wednesday - Chicken Pasta and Spinach Soup - this is a new soup recipe I found a few weeks ago.  I might leave the spinach out so that at least one of my kids will eat it! and some yeast rolls 

Thursday - Stuffed Shells and Garlic bread.  This is a family favorite but we haven't had them in a long time!  I love them because they taste good AND they are super easy! 

December Goal Recap and a Look back at my 2020 Goals

 I'm always amazed at how quickly the year passes by when December 31st arrives.  This year especially - after having 324 days in April alone and yet the rest of the year seemed to fly by.  First up, a quick recap of my December goals.  Second, a look back at the goals I set for the year back in January. I know, you are thrilled, aren't you? 

December:

December, quite honestly, was mostly consumed with school.  The kids worked hard to finish almost all of their semester lessons by the time Christmas break started which meant that I was working with someone from 9:00-4:00 most days. Not much else got accomplished outside of that goal. 

1. Scrapbooking - 1) Complete 1 page a day (so 31 pages total)  2) File all the photos I ordered last month and then order May and June photos 3) The Spines' Project - focus on the top shelf and make sure all albums are complete/order spines if needed 4) My niece's book.   Not a single thing got done this month.  Unless I decide to get out my scrapbooking stuff tonight, New Years Eve, and work on pages.  

2. Reading - 1) Read my book club book 2) Just read, curled up on the corner of the couch with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate!!  Well, I read.  I loved sneaking in some book reading during lunch or after school was done! 

3. Cleaning - 1) Organize and declutter Nate's room 2) The kitchen is the focus - it's the last room of the house that i need to do a deeper cleanout.  (Then I'll start over in January and dig deeper!)  The kitchen didn't get touched.  Once Christmas stuff comes out, it's really hard to deep clean.  Nate and I did spend time in his room but it also got interrupted by Christmas décor since things get stored in there to make room in the living room for the tree. 

4. Family - This month is focused on Nate's birthday and Christmas.  Nate has asked me to make him a cake "like I used to" so I have to figure that out. All of this was accomplished :-) 

5. Homeschool - Wrap up as many projects as we can and as many lessons as possible. This was also accomplished 

6. - Holiday Plans - 1) Get our Christmas tree and decorate it 2)Make our gingerbread houses 3) Make and decorate Christmas Cookies 4) Go out and see Christmas lights This was all accomplished.  We didn't actually cut out/decorate cookies but I did do a lot of Christmas cookie baking of various kinds so that counts! 

Now, it is time to look back at the goals I set back in January. 

1. Take the boys to fun places in Grand Rapids and get photos.  (Fish ladder, the huge tire swing, the lion mural, the blue bridge, and more.  I want to take advantage of our city while the boys are "this" age. So, this plan did not happened due to Covid.  We stuck super close to home after March.  

2. Scrapbooking goals.  I'm learning to be more intentional  with scrapbooking at home.  It's been difficult to find scrapbook crops that I can actually attend so I have to make time to do what I love at home.  I'd really like to finish 2014 (almost there).  Then look at the other years and see where I'm at and work on the next year (I think it's 2016) while also working on 2020.  It is hard to work on multiple years but I'd like to be current with this year while working on catching up the other years.  I finished 2014.  I also finished 2010.  I worked on 2019 and I think I finished 2016 as well.  I also printed a lot of photos and started working on ordered engraved spines for my other scrapbooks.  

3. Reading.  I want to focus more on reading.  I had some issues with my contacts last year and found it very hard to read so, well, I didn't.  That problem is now corrected so it's time to read again.  My goal is to set a reading goal each month and try to accomplish that goal. I read a lot this year thanks to being at home.  I wish I would have track my reading better but maybe that it is a good goal for 2021.  

4. Cleaning I am working on creating a 20 day a month cleaning challenge for myself.  It is based on the concept I did over a year ago where the group I'm part of set a goal to get rid of the number if items to match the date.  It worked well for me - I don't tend to have hours to dedicate to a project but I can carve out 20 minutes or so around our school day..  This is one of those 80% goals - I feel like I did this 80% of the time and I did make it through every room in the house except the kitchen.  I also spent some time in the basement working on organizing.  

5.  Family.  Go see movies we want to see; do things we want to do; and enjoy time together.  The boys are looking forward to playing flag football this year so I want to help that happen.  Josh loves to run so I want to help him success at that by getting the right shoes and seeking out guidance from friends who are runners. Well, Covid.  That's all. 

6. The last "McMaster" niece graduates this year so I need to complete her graduation album by May. This is still sitting on my desk as I'm waiting for a few more letters.  I guess that is what happens to the "last" one.  HA! 

7. Complete some simple projects around the house including replacing the difficult lightbulb above m sink, getting the seal for a piece on the sink (that I dropped down the drain a year or so ago HA!), and maybe even a new thermostat just to name a few items. We did not get a new thermostat but we did replace the seal on the sink :-) 

8. Homeschool - I have some new ideas for our second semester including a "Monday Morning Meeting" were we can go over our week and also the goal of both boys working on their multiplication memorization.  I also, as always, will need to decide what to do about the fall when it comes to the program we will use for homeschooling. There are two parts to this 1) 4th/5th grade - we did all I had planned and mentioned above.  2) 5th/6th grade - we've had two extra kids here since March doing school (during school time) which has altered our schedule quite a bit. 

9. Learn how to make Macaroons.  It doesn't seem like much but I love them and would just like to try my hand at making them. Ummm, nope.  Going on the 2021 list! 

10.  Plan our "Holidays" - This includes Birthdays and traditional holidays.  I need to update my my holiday journal and then start on plans for Valentine's Day :-)  I feel like I accomplished this and did it well this year. 

11. The Misc List  - I tend to have a list of things that are just needed or need done - such as - Josh needs new dress pants, Nate needs a light jacket, I have two gifts we got Nate I need to return/replace, the boys need sleds, I need to hang up Nate's racetrack we moved to the basement, Darryl needs to help Nate make shelves for his TKD boards that he has broken, clean out the misc card in the bathroom.  As you can see that list is long and I'm sure there more! Ok, here we go 1) No new dress pants were ever needed 2) Nate got a jacket 3) Gifts were returned  4) I still need to hang up Nate's racetrack 5) Darryl hung up the shelves 5) The cart was cleaned out. 

12. Buy a "new" car.  It might seem odd to add to the goals but, we kind of now this has to happen so, I guess, making it a goal is a good thing. Thanks again to covid, we never did buy a car - we didn't need to since we didn't go many places.  Plus, not having a car payment is always a good thing! 

13. Go camping at least once in the summer. Yes!  We did this! 

14. The basement - this is separate then the other cleaning goal.  Last year I worked hard to make the basement need and basically organized.  This year, it's time to go shelf by shelf, bin by bin, and really clean stuff out. This ongoing project did make progress this year - not as much as I'd like but I did get more shelving and the right size bins for the shelves.  I cleaned out old bins and now need to just keep making progress. 

15. The garage - the boys want to have a garage sale, I do not HA!  So, no matter what the garage will get cleaned up and organized as stuff will either get sold that has been sitting out there for close to a year OR it will go to charity. Done!!!!  

16. Music - The boys are continuing piano lessons.  I would like to focus on "perfecting" one song a month on the piano and also having my next song for special music ready before it's time to sing :-)  Music was a struggle this year - lessons were cancelled and I worked with them some.  We have to hit this harder in 2021. 

17. Take a photography class.  There is a local photographer that does classes several times a year.  I have a goal to sign up and take one this year.  I took one from my friend several years ago and enjoyed it but have forgotten most of it - I'd like to learn to use my camera better. Covid.  I did buy a book but need to actually use it now! 

18. Plan some dates with Darryl.  With my mom close by, it is easier to make this happen now..  We've done a few spur of the moment things and took a day out for our anniversary and a weekend away. 

19. Spiritual - I'm a strong starter and a slow finisher when it comes to Bible Study Books.  I have one picked out to start - I'm part of an accountability group so hopefully that will help :-) I have not changed my ways - I start strong and never finish HA! 

20. Finances - I have some savings goals for this year as well as continuing to look for way to make a little extra income that fits well with our family life. I met my goals and feel like we ended the year well. 

Looking back over these goals, I actually accomplished more then I thought I did and for that I am grateful.  Writing year long goals is sometimes hard because there is no way to predict what might come along to alter the plan (Covid!) but, if you fail to plan guess what? You plan to fail!  My mind is already working on my plans for 2021 and I'll be sharing those soon.  

2021 Word of the Year

 Each year, like many, I pick a "word" for the year.  It's a way to focus on something and try to weave throughout my goals and plans for the coming year.  I've had words like "peace", "joy", "simplify" and more.  This year I happened to read a blog post and it struck a chord with me.  So my word for the coming year is "Purposeful".  The author of the post was taking specifically about decluttering - finding a purpose for the space and all things in the space.  If it doesn't have a purpose, it needs to go.  Well, I think applying that principle to many areas is a good thing.  Looking for purpose in all areas of my life and my home is what I am aiming for in the coming year.  

Ironically, my word for 2020 was "Peace" - in a year that ended up anything but peaceful yet in reality, I did find peace.  Everything slowed down, I had plenty of time to read and even accomplished things that had been put off for awhile.  Holidays and family time were more peaceful and I enjoyed peaceful moments at home.  I will continue on with my goal of a peaceful and joyful home even as I move on to being "Purposeful" in the coming year.