On to 2014!

Image courtesy of Dez Pain, rgbstock.com

Happy New Year's Eve!

How are you spending the last hours of 2013? I've been doing the things I usually do: reflecting on the year I've just had and thinking about my goals for the coming year. This past year was kind of a rollercoaster for me, but the high points were great!  I discovered that my husband and I are expecting our third baby this coming spring; I was asked to participate in a huge poetry project during National Poetry Month in April; I met some of the biggest goals I'd set for 2013... Overall, I'd say it was a very good year!

Now on to 2014! Here, in no particular order, are my goals:

♥ Practice art journaling for at least ten minutes every day. Some of you might remember that I posted about this new obsession a few weeks ago. Since then, I've found so much joy and peace in art journaling that I want to make it a part of my daily life. I decided to set the bar low—only ten minutes a day—but I know from experience that once I start working, I usually don't want to stop. In addition, I've signed up for a couple of online art journaling classes that I really think will help me grow.

♥ Practice gratitude. This is one of the goals I had for this year as well, and it's something I want to continue. Looking for the good in each day—no matter how small—has made me truly appreciate how blessed I really am.

♥ Write more! This year was an okay year for writing, but I want to do more. I'm still working on my dad's memoir and my children's journals, but in 2014 I'd like to find another big project to focus on, either in fiction or poetry. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

♥ Read 110 books. I didn't reach this goal this year, but I like the challenge. We'll see how I do once I have a new baby in the house. ☺

♥ Grow in my spiritual journey. This is always one of my goals. I think this year I'd like to focus on my role as a mom and the responsibility I have to nurture my children's spiritual lives. In fact, I read a wonderful devotion about this very thing yesterday: 10 New Year's Resolutions for Christian Moms.

♥ Continue to reduce clutter and organize my home.

So there they are, my six goals for 2014. I'm excited! And tonight I'll celebrate the end of 2013 by watching movies with my husband, which has become our New Year's Eve tradition ever since we had kids. It's a nice way to end the year. ☺

How will you spend the end of 2013? Are you making any goals for next year?

Wishing you all a wonderful day and a Happy New Year! ☺