I Resolve to... Or Maybe Not.

I love New Year's Day. 

There's something about waking up to a new start...

even though technically there is nothing different from the night before...

It just feels different.  New opportunities. 

I am the queen of chronic failed resolutions.  I tend to say every year I'm going to do this and do that and it fizzles out.  Sometimes I last a few weeks, sometimes a few months... and sometimes I don't even make the first step.

Maybe you can relate?

This post I'm focusing on my goals for 2015.  I truly believe that it can be the best year you and I have ever had... because we have the choice to make it that way.  I started to put we are in charge of our own destiny, and while that is true, I've learned that when we turn our destiny over to God and let Him work it out, it is much better... but that's still a choice we have to make. 

If you've not done that, let me encourage you to put that first on your list of resolutions or goals.

With that being said, as we make up this list of goals to guide us in the coming year, may we all remember that we are imperfect.  We will stumble and fall... but the most important thing is to get back up.  Look at the positives, learn from the negatives, and just keep smiling...

And keep a little mint chocolate chip ice cream in the freezer for days when there doesn't seem much to smile about.

Remember that we'll all have those days. Days when we feel like a failure. Days when we can't hold our head up. Days when we just want to bury our heads under the electric blanket and sleep until January 1, 2016. 

One foot in front of the other... one step at a time... one day at a time... remembering that the only time we really have is right here, right now.

Even the best laid plans sometimes turn out to be not so great...

So as you make your goals and resolutions, resolve to be open to adapting to whatever God has in store for you. I can guarantee that it can far exceed anything you or I could imagine!

So... without further ado... Here are my goals for 2015.  I'll try to write a super exciting post about them once a month to try to keep myself accountable. 

1. Above all, focus on LOVE in everything that I do.  There you go... that's my one word.  LOVE. Loving God. Loving myself.  Loving others. More about that later.
2. Writing on this blog every day this year.  That's right.  365 posts, whether I have anything to write about or not.  I'll try to provide a disclaimer at the beginning on days when I'm just not feeling it... but it's about discipline and we all know how I am about discipline.
3. Exercise.  Consistently.  Even if I hate it.  10,000 steps at least 6 days a week. Using the fitness room at work more often. And perhaps this will be the year I finally convince myself to work up to running a 5K?
4. Read my Bible all the way through. I'll be reading my Chronological Bible. I did this in 2012 and it was awesome.  I allowed myself to get distracted the past two years, and while I've been in the Word, it's not been as consistent as I'd like it. In addition to that, I want to complete 4 in-depth Bible studies.  I've already got them picked out and ready to go.  Kelly Minter's What Love Is (How fitting for my word!), Priscilla Shirer's Breathe (about Sabbath Rest), Lisa Harper's Hebrew, and Melissa Spoelstra's Jeremiah.
5. Cross something off my bucket list.
6. Count 1,000 gifts... or more.  Try to keep a blessing jar. 
7. Love in action to other people- you know the drill. Random acts of kindness.
8. Read at least 125 books. That's one book almost every three days.  This just might be my favorite challenge! (Last year I read 161 books.  What!?!?)
9. Memorize 24 verses this year through Beth Moore's Siesta Scripture Memory Team.

I always want to say I want to be a better person... but how is that defined? That's one reason why I chose the word LOVE to be my guiding word.... because if I am loving in action, through deeds, it will make me a better person... better wife, Mama, daughter, teacher, friend.

I'd love to hear about your goals... or lack of.  And remember, live with grace. Grace for yourself and for others.

We're all struggling!
Happy New Year, friends!!! May 2015 be our best.  year.  ever.