A New Year, A New Decade, A New Goal...

Where did last year go? For that matter, where did the last decade go? I can't believe that we already have one foot in the door of a new year and a new decade. It made me start to think about what I have accomplished so far in my life and where I would like to be heading in this new season of life.
I decided long ago that making resolutions was a waste of my time mainly because I put very little thought into making them and very little effort into keeping them so a couple of years ago I resolved to not make resolutions anymore and then I could save myself the humiliation of breaking them all before spring even arrived, but then I read this quote from Benjamin Mays that says "the great tradgedy in life does not lie in not reaching your goal, the tradgedy lies in having no goals to reach."  I knew that I needed to set goals in order to keep focused and to have something to strive for and maybe if I spent time in prayer and thinking about what I really want to accomplish I would find that I might achieve better results. This past decade has been spent planning, having and starting to raise a family. I have tied up almost this entire decade planning preganacy, being pregnant, changing diapers, potty training and generally taking care of children and finding a new identity as a saty-at-home mother of preschoolers. I am thankful to God for this season of life but now I am ready to take on a new challenge.
 I have spent a lot of time this week thinking and praying about what my goals for this coming year should be and need to be. I figure if I write them out and post them then it will help me to stay accountable and hopefully achieve the best results.
1. Get healthy-Stay healthy! I am not vowing to lose weight although if I strive to be healthy then that should come naturally. Jason and I have had a wake-up call after he went for a routine exam and found that his blood pressure and choleserol were high and that he needed to get on a healthy diet immediately. I am commiting to eat healthy, cook healthy and exersize regularly this year so that both of us can be around to see our children grow. How can I teach them good health when they don't see it modeled?
2. Discover me again. Before I was Emma and Lydia's mommy, I was Victoria. I liked to scrapbook, trace my family history, and work jigsaw puzzles. I was an avid reader, antique collector, and although I am not particularly good at them I like to draw and play the piano. I was a hairdresser, with a job, and a decent wardrobe that consisted of more than sweatpants and tee shirts. One of my biggest goals this year is to get back to being me. I have spent the last 6 years being pregnant, changing diapers, playing with dolls, singing ABC's, reading Dr. Suess and watching Dora. Now that Emma is in school and Lydia is getting bigger I am looking forward to finding my identity again. I am ready to enjoy grown-up hobbies. I still look forward to play time, picnics at the park, tea parties, cuddles and cartoons but they also need to see who their mommy is and what she likes to do as a grown-up.
3. Travel! Jason and I love to travel and before we had children we took one big trip a year. We went to big places like Cancun, Las Vegas, and  Disney World. We went to small places like Jonesborough, TN, Williamsburg, VA, and Chatanooga. We miss traveling and now that the girl's are big enough we want them to see that there is more to the world than the mountains and the beach. 
4. Volunteer/ mission trip- I have felt God calling me to do something in missions for a long time but I have always had an excuse why I couldn't volunteer or go on a missions trip. Who would watch the girls? Where do I start? I don't know what to do, etc. I have discovered lately that Emma has a heart for missions. She loves collecting money for charity, taking clothes and toys to children in need. She loved doing the Operation Christmas Child shoebox and she is still praying for the children who received them in Rwanda ( we tracked them online this year) She always prays for people with no homes and during Advent she reminded us every night to put our money in the jar for the Shelter Home. I teach her as much as I can about making a difference but she has not seen really seen me model it for her. The Bible says to train up a child in the way they should go. I have to train her not only with my words but with my actions. God has been leading me to do more for His kingdom so no more excuses it is time for action!
Jason and I also have some goals we have set together so we are ready to start a new year focused on God and family. I am thankful to God for a new year and a new start and I am hopeful that this will be the year that I achieve my goals!