2009 Goals!

Over at The Happy Housewife, Toni has listed her Goals for 2009 and encouraged others to do the same. She broke it down into 8 categories. It is a great way to evaluate what you are doing and what you would like to do in the future. I have been praying, thinking and mulling this over for days now. I have purposely not read others goals yet because I did not want to be influenced by what they are doing. But now I feel ready to give my list (and check everyone elses goals too). This list is of course, subject to change (including additions or deletions).

Books to Read---Most of these are books that I have either started reading already or I have on my nightstand just waiting for me. FYI, it just happen to come out to 12 books : )
Don't Make Me Count to Three---Ginger Plowman
Heaven at Home---Ginger Plowan
The Five Love Languages of Children--Gary Chapman
Captivating--John and Stasi Eldredge
Help for the Harried Homeschooler--Christine M. Field
Boundaries with Kids---Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
The S.O.S. for P.M.S. (thanks Kate : ) ---Mary M. Byers
Multiple Blessings---Jon and Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson
Harried with Children--Karen Scalf Linamen
Stop Dating the Church--Josh Harris
Mother Warriors--Jenny McCarthy
Pleasing People, How Not to be an Approval Junkie--Lou Prido

Homeschool Goals
Create and work off a doable schedule
Finally finish Algebra 1 with oldest
Set aside time weekly for Planning and right out work to accomplish
Visit library with children at least twice a month
Teach Alex to read
Learn how to make lap books (and do them)
Do more hands on activities with the kids

Personal Goals
Exercise 4-5 times a week
Get dressed every morning before staring school (more to come on that one)
Lose 20 pounds (I know I need to lose more, but I need to set a realistic goal to begin with)
Eat breakfast
Learn more about blogging (example--learn how to do a cool layout and how to cross words out)
Work on anxiety
Scrapbook or some other craft once a week (probably Saturdays)
Learn and do more sewing

Financial Goals
Dive into Dave Ramsey's Money Makeover and become DEBT FREE!!!
Find ways to save money (this weekend I am going to be making my own laundry detergent)
Christmas Club--will have Chris set this up to go in an account by direct deposit

Homemaking Goals
Try 1-2 New recipes every month
Cook 4 nights a week
Stay caught-up on laundry (do at least 1 load a day)
Room by Room organize

Family Goals
Family night 2 times a week minimum (games, movies...plan old fun)
Work on putting each others needs ahead of our own
Devotions daily

Places to Visit----Now this list may sound funny to those who know me personally and live in the same area. You would think from the list that I was either new to the area or a tourist. I am neither. I am just someone that has extreme anxiety about traveling out of my comfort zone. One of my goals this year is to overcome (or at least deal with) this anxiety. It has held me back for too long. Most of these places are actually within an hour of our home (yes, I know that is sad).
Cape Cod (Chris and I went there on our honeymoon. Can't remember the last time we went there.)
Boston Museum of Science
Boston Aquarium
Plymouth Plantation
American Girl Store (this is a whopping 1 1/2 hours)
Homeschool Convention (this is about 1 1/2 hours away but I feel safe doing this drive because we have done it 7 times already---unless it rains. Then the anxiety is back).
Camping--We have gone camping 3 times at a fantastic campground. We usually only go 1-2 nights because we tent it. I would love to rent something there this year and stay a week.

Spiritual Goals
Galatians 5:22-23. Fruits of the Spirit
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control

So this is it. Goals for 2009. Now here is the hard part, reminding myself these are goals for the WHOLE YEAR!!! I need to keep working on them and not get discouraged.

I also would like to use this list as a springboard for some blogging.