HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Wow. 2012 went by insanely fast. I still can't wrap my brain around the fact that it is 2013. I know I will be writing "2012" on stuff for awhile yet before it sinks in. We kept things mellow last night (kids and I were on our own since Peter was working a double shift at the hall). Just played games, watched movies, and got an unexpected visit from friends Luke and Kat to help ring in the new year. Here are a few photos from our celebration:
Dinner: Angel hair pasta with a lemon-butter-herb sauce and roasted asparagus.
Cheers! We had our cider early (around 9pm) in case we couldn't make it until midnight.
Uno!
So, every year, our family makes a list of goals we want to achieve. I will have to check the blog roll to see if I've ever posted about it here, but I don't think I have. Thankfully, I keep hand-written journals for each child and a prayer journal, so all these goals have been written down in the past 5 years since we started the tradition. But, this year, I decided to post something on here because there are a few ideas I am pretty excited about, and I want to share them.
Goals:
1. Read through the entire Bible together
(almost did it!)
2.
Have more "dates" with our kids (and with each other)
3. Be more thankful for our blessings ✓
4. Be joyful always.
(we gave it a great effort)
5. Encourage one another with love. ✓
6. Be more organized and keep our rooms clean (this one is more for the kids) ✓
7.
Volunteer together somewhere once a month
8.
Less grumbling/complaining.
9. Spend less; save more; give more. ✓ (definitely spent a LOT less)
We read from the Bible every day together. This is a tradition set many years ago, when Jeremiah was 3 or 4 years old. We've gotten more accountable about it in the past few years since the kids have learned to read and now help with the reading. We usually read a Psalm or a few verses from Proverbs and then pick and choose different books to go through, both in the Old and New Testaments. This year, we are doing things a little differently and plan to read the entire Bible together. We are going to follow a modified version of the One-Year Bible plan. And we aren't going to skip any of the "What-the-what?" stories (as I refer to them), as we have in the past (you know, like when Lot's daughters get him drunk and have sex with him). We plan to make teaching moments out of these stories to show how God's mercy and forgiveness can surpass even the most heinous of sins. I am excited for this new goal! I've been reading through the entire Bible every year on my own since I became a Christian. I hope to instill a passion for God's word in our kids.
I am also super excited about the "Family Blessings Jar" we are going to keep. We plan to write down extra-good things or answers to prayers and put them in a mason jar and then read them all on NYE this year! Fun idea, right?! (Thanks, Pinterest.)
In general, I am just thrilled to see our kids growing every year, both in body and mind (and spirit). Our family goals are designed to instill God's love in each other and to our family, friends, neighbors, and community.
I pray 2013 is a year of unexpected blessings and inexplicable joy for all of our family and friends!
