The Hare playing as . . . THE Resolution

This is actually Kyle...I am not that brave.

You might be thinking of it.  You may already what yours is.  A very popular term this time of year.  I don't like it.  Never really have.  Why?  First, A Resolution tends to be...unrealistic.  Second, they often fail and  surmount to guilt and failure.  Yet, mostly, because I don't particularly care to "be good" all of a sudden.  But more than a typical resolution. . . I'd prefer to plan life style... or life style changes.  It's more consistent.  And for myself...who tends to have a hard time focusing...I need consistency.   Doing it like the tortoise...just keeping at it.  Resolutions seem to end up like the hare...over energetic to start..and fizzling out..losing the Goal.

So perhaps you say resolution, but I will prefer to call it goal setting.  Goals are important and without them we can unintentionally drift through life with out accomplishing what we intend to.  For the past few years Kyle and I have sat down to do this goal setting in January.  It's been a learning process, we don't do it perfectly.  However it does give us a good ...sort of...map for our shared goals and direction for our family.

Some of the things we focus on:

Planning Date nights

Family nights

One on one time with the kids

Books to read

Budget

Home Improvement (realistic ones..I might add)

To really make it more of a reality for us we try our best to plan out these things in increments:

Daily goals

Weekly goals

Monthly and Yearly

This was a part of one of our 2012 goals

As we come to that time again to sit down and look at 2012, and plan for 2013, I know we won't have achieved last years goals perfectly; yet I do know we have moved forward and made progress on things that are important.  I am particularly looking forward to a tool ...recently learned about... that will be a help in planning.  In the past, planning consisted of one piece of paper, one pen.  Which is good, but this year we will try something different.  Personal Vitality Plan  This link will take you to a detailed goal setting plan.  You can easily change it to make it uniquely yours.  If you'd like more of an audio explanation you can find it Here.

If you have never done any yearly goal setting I'd encourage you to start!  In a year you'll be glad you did.  Not to say you will achieve everything perfectly but you will get to your destination eventually if your path is guided toward it!

Focus

A bit of beauty from earlier today.

Of the many things clamoring for our attention this time of year...one of the little things that gave me new perspective this year...the weather.  Here's how it goes:  Lost in the hustle and bustle.  Buying gifts.   Oh .. did I forget someone?  Where are we going on Christmas?  Are we going to make so and so upset if we cant' make it there?  Decorating.  Cookies.   Last minute shopping.  Wrapping.  Trying to get that one last thing on Amazon...oh drag, will that get here in time?  

Sorry to say I think we all have been here.   Maybe even every year.  Purpose...where is that.  

Back to yesterday as I "shoveled" Lake O'Brien, formerly known as our driveway.  Thick, slushy rain/snow.  Maybe rain rain/snow -more like.  It brought me to a thought.  While we are so busy, perhaps complaining, perhaps worrying for all the "stuff" to get done.  Wishing for the perfect Christmas.  Family: please get along.  Gifts: yep got them all.  25th: please be a white one!!  Last year wasn't...not sure about the year before, probably no.   Jesus.  What?  Did I forget to do my Christmas reading?? 

Jesus. 

The only reason.

The only true gift.

Can we schedule a time for that?  Jesus.  Well I'll fit Him in...service..yep at service...

The only reason for the celebration.

Why is it so hard to focus.

For the past few years, I have realized...slowly-that I need to slow down this time of year and Focus.  Less gifts..and let me say less is still plenty.  But I don't want my kids or myself or my husband to keep missing it.  Lost in the pile of wonderful gifts and beautiful wrapping paper on Christmas morning ...is it all worth what we might be forgetting?  Why do I care about all these goofy things-like is it going to be a white one..when the one who controls the weather Himself Is the focus.  His gift. The greatest gift...that with out, not one of us could have hope.  The King sent his son...as a baby..the God-man to save us from a debt that we couldn't pay.  I am so thankful.  

In my human nature my focus is on all the wrong things, yes it looks like it just might be a beautiful white Christmas, but I pray that my heart will focus on the other beauty.  God's gift.  Jesus.

Have a Merry Christmas!