My Goals for 2013 {and free printable}

In 2012, I decided to have New Year's Goals broken down into specific priority or focus areas of my life.  I really liked doing this and believe it helped me stay focused and motivated for most of the year.  I'm attempting it again this year.  I've modified the monthly goal printable I created, and wrote out my specific goals for 2013.  See last years post about goal setting for more info!

Click here to download a FREE blank copy of the Goals for 2013 worksheet.

Click here to download a FREE blank copy of the MONTHLY goals worksheet.

Click the link above to download a blank copy like the one below to plan out your own goals for 2013.

Books to Read in 2013

I always like to start in January with a list of books to read in the coming year.  (See my list for 2011 and 2012).

2012 has brought many many changes in our lives.  Life happened and I just didn't get to read all of my 2012 reading list.  You know, starting grad school, becoming a teacher, and getting pregnant took up a lot of time :).

This year, I know that I'll have issues making time with a new baby arriving, more grad school, and continuing teaching.  I'm trying to be more realistic with my reading goal.  I don't like not meeting goals, so I'll only have 6 books on my list for this year.  I think that will be manageable and realistic for this season of life.

1. Loving the Little Years
2. The Ministry of Motherhood
3. Shepherding a Child's Heart
4. What to Expect When Your Expecting
5. Margin
6. A fiction book that I've yet to decide on :)


These are the books that I successfully read in 2012-
1. Made to Crave
2. Women Reaching Women
3. The Money Saving Mom's Budget
4. Total Money Makeover (Re-read sections that we are currently working at on our journey towards becoming debt free)
5. The Hunger Games
6. Catching Fire
7. Mockingjay


Reading Now- (All re-reads)
1. The Family
2. A Wife After God's Own Heart
3. A Lineage of Grace

Compare to my to-read list for 2012

Monthly Goal Printable

Have you started planning your goals and resolutions for 2013?  I've made another monthly goal printable to use in 2013.  The printable breaks down into several different specific areas that I will have goals for in each month.  It may or may not work for you according to what your specific goals are for the year, but I thought I would share in case you find it helpful!

Click on the picture below to download your copy!

Make the Most of your Mornings @ Money Saving Mom

Money Saving Mom is one of my favorite blogs- a daily read for inspiration, money saving tips and deals.  Crystal is so great at organization and setting goals, and I've learned so much from reading her blog!

She is doing a great series right now called "Making the Most of your Mornings".  If you feel that your mornings could be more productive, I encourage you to check it out.  The tips she is sharing will help me make this transition to teaching and beginning my master's degree a bit more manageable.  I'm learning to be careful with my time!

Check out the series here.

Reading Goals Update

12 Books in 2012

I think it is important to evaluate your goals and progress. This time of year is perfect to do that- we are half way through the year, and it's like a little check up. I like to make yearly goals for reading books,etc.  And I wanted to give you an update on my reading goals for the year.  Here is what I've read so far this year:

Made to Crave by Lisa Terkeurst

Women Reaching Women by Chris Adams

The Money Saving Mom's Budget by Crystal Pain

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

The MockingJay by Suzanne Collins

Here were my goals for 2012:

January- Spiritual Disciples for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
February- Made to Crave by Lisa Terkeurst  
March- Women Reaching Women by Chris Adams
April- Margin by Richard Swensen
May- Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day
June- Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman
July- Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick
August- Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
September-  Knowledge of the Holy AW Tozer
October-  Transformed Lives: Taking Women’s Ministry to the Next Level by Chris Adams
November- The Money Saving Mom’s Budget by Crystal Paine
December- One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp


Continuing Reads throughout the Year:
Jesus Calling
Home Comforts

I have not done very well with keeping on track for what books to read each month, however I'm glad that I have read at least one book for each month this year, even if they weren't originally on my list.   One reason is I don't want to buy some of the books that are not available at our local library.  I've signed up for them on Paperback Swap, but haven't received them yet.  

Currently I'm reading Marvelously Made by Monica Rose Brennan.  Monica was the director of the Women's Ministry program at Liberty University and I took many classes with her.  It is so awesome that she has a book now!  

via Amazon

I'm also wanting to read the book Radical by David Platt.  We are going to the beach in a few weeks, so hopefully I can read it while we are there.  

What about you- what have you been reading lately?  

March Monthly Goals {Free Printable}

You can download a copy of my monthly goals worksheet for the month of March here.

 

I have been very pleased with how much writing out my monthly goals have helped me stay on track.  I can say that I have been able to accomplish some things that I doubt I would otherwise.  I am hoping to break down my monthly goals into weekly goals this month to keep me even more on track.

How are your yearly goals and resolutions coming?

February Monthly Goals {Free Printable}

Here is the February version on the monthly goals printable. Click here to download a copy. (I figured out how to upload it in Google Docs, so it should be easier to download than last month!) I hope you enjoy!

 

Preparing for a Vegetable Garden

via 

This summer we want to plant our first vegetable garden!  A garden will supply us our own healthy, fresh, and organic vegetables, at what I think will be a fraction of the price.

 Because we are renting, we are considering container gardening- anyone have any experience with that?

via

I was reading through my February issue of Martha Stewart Living and saw that she was beginning to prepare for her gardens this coming month.  According to Martha, February is the time to draft your planting plan for spring.  I'm guessing she knows what she is talking about, so I'm starting my planting plan now too!  

First up is a wish-list of veggies we would like to grow this year:

• Tomatoes
• Zucchini
• Yellow Summer Squash
• Strawberries
• Bell Peppers
• Broccoli
• Onions
• Leafy greens
• Potatoes
• Green Onions

(We may not be able to do all of those- but it's a wishlist)

We also want to start an indoor container garden for herbs including:

• Basil
• Rosemary
• Cilantro
• Parsly

I would love to do our herb garden in something like this, but I'm concerned about there being no drainage.  

I'll probably do something more along these lines:

Do you have any gardening advice for a newbie?

Monthly Goal Printable {Free Download}

I wanted a place to break down my yearly priorities and focus into bite sized monthly goals, so I went on a search for a monthly goals printable sheet.  I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for so I decided to create my own.  I found a beautiful weekly goals sheet here, but I needed one for monthly goals.  I decided to basically just make a similar version of Jana’s- I hope she doesn’t mind!  I'm sure she probably made hers in Photoshop and I was scrounging around Word trying to make it look right!

 

It is broken down into my different priority areas, so it may or may not work for you- its all according to your own priorities. 

If you’d like a copy you can download one here

It seems that the outside edges were cut off a bit on Scribd because of margins, and I’m not sure how to fix it.   If you’d like me to send you my pdf version just send me an email asking for it at faithhomelove@gmail.com

Enjoy!

12 Books in 2012

I plan to read at least one book every month this year.  Here is my list for 2012 so far.


January- Spiritual Disciples for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
February- Made to Crave by Lisa Terkeurst 
March- Women Reaching Women by Chris Adams
April- Margin by Richard Swensen
May- Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day
June- Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman
July- Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick
August- Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
September-  Knowledge of the Holy AW Tozer
October-  Transformed Lives: Taking Women’s Ministry to the Next Level by Chris Adams
November- The Money Saving Mom’s Budget by Crystal Paine
December- One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp


Continuing Reads throughout the Year:
Jesus Calling
Home Comforts


Last year I made a reading list for 2011 and was pretty proud of how many I actually read. 


Books I read in 2011:


1. Becoming a Woman who Pleases God by Pat Enis and Lisa Tatlock
2. Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
3. His Needs, Her Needs by Willard Harley
4. Saving Your Marriage before it Starts by Les and Leslie Parrot
5. Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

6. Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey
7. The Family by Dorothy Patterson
9. The House that Cleans Itself by Mindy Stuart Clark
10. It's My Turn by Ruth Bell Graham
11. Letters from Ruth's Attic by Ruth Bell Graham
12.Sheet Music by Dr. Kevin Leman
13.  5 Star Living on a 3 Star Budget by Feinburg
14. Handbook for Minister's Wives by Dorothy K. Patterson
15. The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace


These were not on my original list but I also read:
16. The Help
17. Home Comforts (it is a household management book, and I’m still making my way through it but it has so much useful information in it!)

I’m linking to The Nester’s party

Setting New Year’s Goals

This past week I have been focusing on planning out and setting personal goals for myself for 2012.  I did this for 2011 and felt that it helped me stay on track very well. 

This year I am doing things a little bit different and being much more detailed and intentional.  I have six main priorities, and I am breaking down those priorities into focus areas for the year.  My monthly goals will be based around those focus areas.   It is taking a lot of time, but I really believe that it will be worth it in the end.  I’m a list kind of girl and love checking things off, so making written goals really helps me stay motivated!

I have been inspired by Crystal from Money Saving Mom- she has provided a guide for setting up your priorities and goals and lots of free printables!  I highly recommend checking out her blog if you aren’t already a reader!

My priority areas for the year are:

1. My personal relationship with God

2. My marriage

3. Our Finances

4. Ministry through Element Church

5. Keeping a (mostly) clean and organized house

6. Health and Fitness

And here are my focus areas for each priority:

1. My personal relationship with God

• Spend intentional time daily in the Word and in prayer
• Read books that encourage my spiritual walk
• Share my faith with others

2. My marriage

• Pray together daily
• Read Scripture together daily
• Commit to open communication
• Spend intentional “technology free days” with Jeremy
• Read books that encourage my marriage

3. Our Finances

• Written budget monthly
• Weekly check up on our finances and balancing our checking account
• Envelope System
• Pay off all credit card debt
• Fully fund emergency fund
• Begin more fully utilizing Mint.com, Upromise, and other online tools

4. Ministry through Element Church

• Support Jeremy as he leads the student ministry
• Intentional relationship building with youth girls
• Implement Element Women’s Ministry

5. Keeping a (mostly) clean and organized house

• Quick 5 minute pick up every morning before work
• Wash dishes before going to bed
• Daily chore tasks
• Strategic placement of furniture, etc. to create a an “easy to stay clean” atmosphere
• Read books that inspire creative homemaking

6. Health and Fitness

• Exercise 5 times per week
• Drink 8 glasses of water daily
• Portion control
• Eat more natural and real foods

 

 

I’m currently putting together my monthly goal sheets so I’ll hopefully be able to share those with you tomorrow!  What are your new year’s goals?