New Year’s Eve was a quiet one for us. I spent most of the day cleaning or doing laundry which felt strange. Usually we are with family or friends. Today, January 1, we are still at home. It’s been a quiet day which also feels odd and makes me a bit melancholy. On one hand I am grateful to not be going and doing but I miss being with family. With the arrival of a new little one and a sister moving to different cities, things have changed for us in 2013. What new changes will come in 2014?
A new day, a new year, a clean slate. A chance to start over, do better, make changes. I always start with good intentions but am terrible at goals. I admire James’ ability to make goals and keep them.
As I think about 2014 and the one word I’d like to make my goal, it would have to be PRESENT. Choosing a word for me is better than a list of goals. For me, this word means fewer distractions, fewer things and more life. More time with James and William. More time with family. Face to face conversations with real, live people. Not Facebook. Not Instagram. Real relationships. Lasting relationships. Giving of my time to help and serve others. It’s not just PRESENT for others but for myself too. Taking time for me and my interests. I know this sounds selfish but I don’t mean it that way. I need to take care of myself so I can take care of my family. That means getting back into my hobbies, having some alone time, time to learn and grow. I also need to keep taking care of myself physically. I am so proud that I’ve kept up with yoga for an entire year now! That’s HUGE for me! I really owe it all to my friend, Alisa for keeping me accountable and being my yoga buddy. Here’s to another year of keeping it up!
The planner in me wants to map out 2014 but I remind myself that the Lord could have an adventure for us that I couldn’t ever plan. It scares me as much as it excites me. I’d like to be more PRESENT in my spiritual walk. It’s suffered these past 7 or 8 years and that makes me sad. I’d like to change that in 2014. Being more PRESENT so the Lord can speak to me. So I can trust him more. Be more aware of his hand in my life. More aware of his work around me and how I can show his love to others. Not being afraid of what others will think.
Being more PRESENT in my marriage is also going to be a big priority (not using the word goal – doesn’t work!). Becoming parents changed a lot for us. We went from being James and Elizabeth, newlyweds, to full time parents. We dove in head first and gave it our all. I want to be a better parent so that means I need to be a better wife and have a better relationship with my husband. I want to have US time again and more often than twice a year. I think a budget for regular date nights will be going on our spreadsheet.
I could go on and on about goals and my to do lists for the coming year but I won’t. I’ll start with being PRESENT first and see where that leads. Opening my hands and letting go a bit and see what unfolds. Walking with my head up and eyes open so I don’t miss a thing.
Happy 2014 to my readers. May your new year be full of blessings, adventures and memories.
Elizabeth Hafner 