As the year comes to an end, of course I’m thinking about resolutions.  I’m not so great with New Year’s resolutions. Over the years I’ve broken nearly every one…diet, exercise, pray harder, memorize Scriptures, less caffeine, spend less, organize, quit yelling, better housekeeping, go to church more, and on and on. I’ve even had years when discouragement and fear of failing has kept me from making any new ones.

Instead of making resolutions the past few years I’ve set “doable” goals.  I have been slightly more successful with the goals than the resolutions. Slightly.  I set the goal of learning computer skills a couple of years ago, and I did.  Last year I set the goal of starting a blog, and I met that goal, too.

Whether resolutions or goals, my family does it with me.  Whatever we choose, we write it on paper and put them in a time capsule (a plastic container).  Our capsule gets buried with the Christmas decorations, then when we decorate the following December, we can review how we’ve done and if progress hasn’t been made, there’s still a bit of time to work on it.  Here’s a link for a printable for New Year’s time capsules  http://www.freehomeschooldeals.com/free-printable-end-of-the-year-time-capsule-questions/  This interview printable will be a great thing to include in the time capsule, too  http://www.homeschoolshare.com/blog/2013/12/creating-new-years-family-traditions-free-printable/

I happened across a blog post and thought “YES!  This is how we should do it this year.”  Just pick one word and let it become the focus of the year. One word, seems easy enough.  I’ve thought about my word, re-read the post and other’s suggestions, prayed, and I now have my word.  I’m thinking this isn’t going to be so easy after all.  My one word focus for 2014 is “IMPROVE”.  I am not even close to “perfect” in any area of my life, there is much room to improve absolutely everything.  I imagine this will be my daily question to myself.  “What is one thing I can do today to improve my life and the life of someone else?”  This is the link for the One Word One Year Transformed Forever article  http://forthefamily.org/one-word-one-year-transformed-forever/

This time of year, there are several challenges starting.  Being part of a group challenge is not a bad idea.  I find  accountability to the others attempting the challenge to be great motivator  .  Knowing that others are working (struggling) on the same issue is encouraging .  Short term challenges suit me best.  Surely, I can do something that improves my life for a few weeks, and may possibly develop into something more long term.  Even when past challenges have failed, I can look back and remember that one time I actually exercised everyday for a couple of weeks, read “x”  amount of Scripture, or went on such a cleaning frenzy that even the back corner of the junk drawer was spotless.  Below are some of the short term challenges I think will be worth attempting and perhaps repeating throughout 2014.

30 Day Mom Challenge  http://www.imom.com/tools/build-relationships/30-day-mom-challenge/

30 Day Marriage Challenge  http://www.imom.com/tools/build-relationships/30-day-marriage-challenge/

21 Day Home Organization Challenge  http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/2011/10/31-days-to-organized-home-day-one.html

Wonderful listing of Bible based 30 day challenges  https://www.reviveourhearts.com/resource-library/30-day-challenges/

Family Fitness Challenge  http://skinnyms.com/family-fitness-challenge/

I’d be interested to know what your resolutions, goals, word of the year and challenges are for 2014.  Please leave a comment, you may inspire someone!

May God bless us, everyone in 2014,

betty jo