#MakeItHappen

I meant to do this sooner, but because of the goals I've sent it has already been a busy year for me! I
don't like resolutions. They are so finite and often single-minded that it is so easy to break them in a such a short amount of time. Instead, I prefer to set goals for myself because they allow you some wiggle room to be human and make mistakes. They are organic and allow for tweaking when you need to make adjustments. It is also encouraging that there is no real end to my goals; they are areas in my life that I want to improve and that can continue on for years to come. I have deemed 2015 the year of the 'S': Spirituality, Safety, and Success. I have also another 's' in there that has to do with my marriage relationship, but I'll let you guess what that word is because I don't want creepies coming here by mistake :)

Spirituality: I chose this goal because you can never be too close to God. Since becoming a full-fledged adult, I have let my faith waiver significantly due to anxiety and lack of effort. I've determined to study and reflect on my Bible every day and already it feels so good. I've been participating in the Good Morning Girls study and I love it. It's a chapter a day and I use the SOAK method to pick out the hidden pearls written there for me. I can already feel a change in myself and I can't wait to keep learning.

Safety: This has been a struggle for me since getting married. When I was young and my parents provided for me, I always felt safe and never questioned a thing. Becoming a grown-up and taking care of yourself changes your perspective. You realize there are these horrible life-suckers called bills and you owe everyone but yourself. It's scary finding a place to live and hoping that no crazy people live beside you and then your car keeps finding parts to break. I thought I was worried kid but I never truly knew worry until the last few years. My husband takes good care of us, but we have our struggles. It is my goal this year to let a lot of worry go and trust. Thankfully, my spiritual goal is already helping this.

Success: The last couple of years I have felt stuck. I'm not growing or learning and I have been lazy and comfortable doing nothing. This year, I have determined to succeed, or rather start planning to succeed. I realize that success isn't an overnight occurrence so as a goal it makes sense because it may not be this year that anything major happens but I at least have a framework and an end goal in sight. I am taking my first class for my Masters in Reading and I am reading a spectacular book by Lara Casey called Make It Happen: Surrender Your Fear, Take the Leap, Live on Purpose. I want to speak more on this book later because I'm only in chapter 3 and it's already changing my life. This book is mind-blowing.

Sssshhh: The last category is a strengthener for my marriage. I was dealt an unexpected blow and it made me realize that although we spend a lot of time together, we are severely lacking in true intimate time. I honestly feel that this is crucial for every Godly marriage and we could feel the lack of bond between us. We've made a lot of headway already and we have an action plan that makes my heart glad. Today we spent time together in our reading nook, sitting in our recliner together reading comic book and let me tell, it was like magic. The sun was shining in, the windows were open and letting in the sound of birds, and we were huddled together in a chair made for one. I just sat there and smiled like a goob the whole time.....I think it's what life is supposed to feel like.

I can tell it's going to be a big year for us and I am overjoyed. I've felt so stagnant for a long while and for the first time, I'm excited again. I can't wait to see what's next and I'm not afraid. If anyone stumbles across this blog post out there, I would love to hear what goals you've set for yourself in the new year and I wish you the best!