the most wonderful time of the year: season's goals
November and December are my absolute favorite months of the year. Thanksgiving and Christmas are my two favorite days ever. Plus this is my birthday month. And my little brother turned 21 yesterday.
Wait. That part's not so cool...I'm not prepared for my brother to be of legal age for everything short of presidency. He's supposed to stay twelve forever. Stop aging, Travis. You're breaking Sister's heart.
I'm also experiencing mixed emotions about my birthday. On the one hand, I love birthdays. On the other hand, I'll be 24, which means next is 25, and because ages 26-29 don't exist in my mind apparently, I feel like I'll be 30 pretty much immediately after 25. And I'm not okay with that.
In spite of my irrational mixed feelings towards the age of myself and those I'm related to, I'm still beyond excited for this season.
First, this Thanksgiving is our first major holiday as The Beckwiths and I'm so happy about it. We are having my parents & brother and Drew's dad come to our house for Thanksgiving and I can't wait to host my first holiday meal in my first house in my first year of marriage. Lots of firsts coming up.
It's also our first Christmas together and I'm so looking forward to decorating a tree, having a fire on Christmas Eve, waking up together and having Christmas morning with just the two of us, and starting new traditions. Christmas has always been my favorite day, and I can't wait to share it with my husband.
Plus, all the baked goods. I can't wait for all the baking. It's my favorite part. So I'm setting some goals to keep myself on track and help me declutter my brain. So here are my goals for the holiday season.
Stick to our Dave Ramsey system of budgeting wisely, saving intentionally, and building in some "fun money" into our budget so neither of us feels totally restricted from doing or purchasing a fun thing here or their.
Plan a date or two in advance instead of just deciding to go to dinner last minute.
Read for fun. Not just blogs, but actual books.
Spend quality time with friends and family by cooking for them, inviting them over for coffee, or even just going with them to the grocery store or on their most basic of errands.
Blog consistently 3 times per week. I miss it when I'm not writing often and it's always in the back of my mind no matter what I'm doing.
Give some purchased gifts but some handmade gifts. Give with intention and thoughtfulness, while also sticking to our budget.
Get on a cleaning schedule so that while I'm working and preparing for holidays I don't neglect my house. I'm bad about this. It's gotta stop.
Actually do my quiet times and read the Bible like I used to. I've sucked at this. Anyone have a good devotional series they want to recommend?
Goal setting is always helpful. I'm going to be putting these all together in a pretty way and printing it out to put on my fridge so that I have the reminder all the time of where I want to be investing my time and energy.
Now excuse me while I go start on goals 3 & 6 on my weekend off. Drew is going hiking with the guys from our small group tomorrow and working today, so I'm doing what my family calls "caving" and not talking to people and doing things I love. Plus cleaning my house. After I read a book.
