Welcome to 2013! Congratulations you made it past the end of the mayan calendar! You should be proud.
How was your new year celebration? This year was the quietest new year I’ve ever had. Israel and I stayed home with our sleeping baby and had some amazing ribs (compliments of Israel’s bosses) and sparkling cider for dinner.
We had planned to have more sparkling cider at midnight to ring in the new year, but alas, we have apparently become rather boring. We didn’t make it to midnight. Instead we fell asleep on the couch at 10:30 in front of the movie we were hoping would keep us awake. Yup. I guess that’s parenthood for you!
At about 12:20 Ranger woke up, we kissed goodnight and I managed to say happy new year to my
On new year’s day we opened our Christmas stockings and then had waffles and our cider for breakfast. It was a fun evening just focused on our little family and new traditions of our own making.
Another tradition of mine since I’ve had a blog is taking the time to write out some goals for the new year. I always find it to be an encouraging activity. I enjoy looking back at it as the year progresses to see how I’m doing.
I don’t call them resolutions. I prefer to call them not-resolutions. Or just goals.
But this year I’d like to call it a dare.
I want to remind myself that the stakes are high and it’s important that I actually challenge myself to do hard things.
So.
This year I’m daring to:
(THE FITNESS DARE)
- Run every week (valid excuses being injury, late pregnancy, and early postpartum should they occur)
- Run at least 365 miles over the course of the year
- Run a half-marathon
- Run a 10k and of course some 5ks.. :)
- practice Yoga once a week.
(THE PERSONAL DARE)
- Create a morning routine that involves bible and prayer.
- do things that scare me
- Complete a 100 days challenge
- find a fulfilling way to generate an income
- research grad school and possibly make a plan
(THE FAMILY DARE)
- find a church
- buy a house
- make a five-year plan
- do hard things
- make good food (2-3 new recipes a week?)
(THE GETTING SMARTS DARE)
- Read 100 books
- plan/write in the summer and execute a cohesive 31 days topic in October
- Read 6 books in Spanish
- speak spanish to Ranger
- write in Spanish
———-
What about you? What do you dare yourself to accomplish this year? I dare you to make a list!
Erika Shirk 
I don’t do resolutions either, but every year I try to cross off some things on the Bucket List. For the first time ever, 2012 proved to be blank in terms of the Bucket List. Sigh. Health issues can be a real bummer! But I am full of good intentions this year, and I am fully intending to seek out JOY every single day. I get so busy I forget to look for the small things.
I have a wonderful church and wonderful family and friends. I am incredibly blessed in so many ways. But I can give more. Be more. No matter how old I am! I love your list. And I will be urging you on through the year too. Happy New Year!
PS i am one of your Mum’s blogging friends.
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Joy sounds like a wonderful thing to pursue for this new year! I know how easy it is to let things go by the wayside. I hope his year brings good health and great joy for you!
Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to encourage :)
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Awesome list of dares!! One of our top things to get sorted this month is getting the church thing finally sorted out as well. I pray we can both find good ones.
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It will be so nice to figure out! I’ve been missing having a regular community. How are you beginning your search? So far we have one we’re going to visit. I hope it works out. Blessings on your search!!
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Did you get to visit? We will hopefully visit one this Sunday. There is one we really like but from where we currently live it’s quite a trek with a little one.
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We did..we visited a random one that seemed hopeful. Buut..almost as soon as we got there my husband knew it was all wrong. They had some very confused doctrine.
We talked about it on the way home and I think we’re going to try going to my family’s small church. There is some stuff in the church/ppl we don’t necessarily agree with (mostly just a lack of understanding of the gifts of the Holy Spirit), but the pastor is rock solid. I think it will be a good place for us. We will be able to participate, see my family, and speak constructively with many people there.
I’ll definitely try to keep you posted on it :)
Let me know how it goes when you get to visit somewhere!!
Blessings on your search!
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I love your “dares!” You have some great ideas here. I plan to be present with my family and friends more, read, socialize, craft (and learn to knit!), organize, and get into the Word. Have fun with your dares and happy new year!
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Thank you! Those sound like lovey things to work for this year! I can’t wait to see what you knit! :)
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Those sound like some fantastic goals! I enjoyed seeing which ones you were able to knock off for 2012, and can’t wait to see your progress in 2013. Keep us updated!
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Yay! Thanks Rachael! I really think you should start a blog now that you’re so far away… :) miss you!
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