It’s New Year’s Eve…and like most, all I can think about is what is to come in 2025. But before I can do that, let’s reflect on this past year. I set a lot of goals last January (2024 Post) with a focus on intentionality. I wanted to pay more attention to how I spent my time and resources and essentially make decisions on purpose rather than on a whim. Overall, I wouldn’t say I failed but I will say that not every decision was an intentional one. Let’s look at how I did on my more specific 2024 goals:
Family
- Prioritizing Church as a Family: Not really…I spent a lot of the year alternating between continuing to watch church online and attending solo. However, instead of getting discouraged, we talked about it and came to the conclusion that maybe a change of scenery could help. So in December, we actually started attending a new church and it’s been a game changer. All four of us are really looking forward to see how this journey progresses!
- Developing Time Management Skills: We did make some progress here! Both kiddos have made very tangible improvements with their school work!
- Cutting Down on Screen Time: Lol, not particularly…but there is always next year!
Health/Wellness/Personal
- Daily Quiet Time: Not really…I noticed that if I didn’t wake up early and get it done first thing, it was very easy to skip it and jump right into the day. I recognize the value so this remains a 2025 goal!
- Daily Hydration: I didn’t stink at this…but I wasn’t consistent!
- 10K Steps a Day: I didn’t come close…I did start walking each evening after meals so I did a decent job with steps but never really hitting that 10K mark.
- Daily Outdoor Walk: See, what had happened was…it got really, really hot.
- Daily Workout: Now I did do much better at this! I finally hit a good schedule with a balance between Peloton rides, stretches, meditations, strength workouts, and yoga. I’m a Peloton girl through and through logging over 8,000 minutes this year!
- Cut down on Added Sugar: YES! I did a much better job recognizing sugar intake this year…and it’s crazy how much sugar is in EVERYTHING. My eyes are open and they are sad.
- 16:8 Fasting: Incorrect. This was not for me.
- Impulse Purchases: Umm…sure. I definitely recognized the impulse purchases and progress was made…but I still have a little way to go!
Home Projects
- Paint Indoor Doors: Unfortunately, this remains on the goal list!
- Upstairs Hallway: as does this one!
- Study/Gym Move: yay! We have made this move and it’s working!
- Butterfly Garden: eh…I did plant a few more things but this really needs a rehaul this Spring.
- Fence: yay! I did finish painting the posts and adding solar lights! I even planted two trees…but more fun can definitely happen here!
- Coffee Bar: yay! This added color has been a fun way to kick off the morning!
- Lily’s Bathroom: nope!
- Closet Under Stairs: nope!
- Vegetable Garden: A raised bed was purchased…and then that is where we stopped!
- Styling the Study / Gym: nope!
Professional
- Become a stellar traveler: yes! You are looking at someone with pre-check my friend!
- Subject Matter Trainings: yes! There is always more to learn, but I made a lot of progress this year!
Despite all of those “nopes”…it truly was a banger year. What isn’t reflected in those goals is a lot of life.
In January, I welcomed a new decade of life and turned 40 in a rustic cabin of an Arkansas State Park. We hiked, ate, shopped, played games, and experienced SNOW. It was exactly how I had hoped to celebrate that milestone. As Spring came, so did CHICKENS. Which was a whimsical decision but one I do not regret! We even stretched our DIY muscles and built a chicken coop from scratch. My husband only wanted to murder me a little bit! We took one heck of a family vacation to Utah for two weeks and had an amazing time visiting THREE national parks with my sister. Gorgeous doesn’t even scratch the surface when describing the arches of Moab or the views of Zion. The Fall was filled with soccer, dance, and a slower approach to the daily hustle and bustle of life. We enjoyed our weekends and got into a lovely groove during the week. We ended the year as we started…celebrating! There wasn’t anything overtly wild or even incredible about 2024…but it was a good year and we enjoyed it nonetheless!
And with that…2024 is put to bed! See ya next year!