Goals 2013

It seems like I was just writing this post for 2012!  That was the first year I made my goals public, and I think it really made me feel more accountable because everything was “out there”.

And I’m happy to report I was able to check each goal off.

I’ve been contemplating what the New Year’s goals should be for awhile now.  Honestly, the last three years have been the most stretching, trying, incredible…..I can’t pin-point the exact word.  A bit of everything.  Those who are closest to us know a little bit of the struggles the Allred family has battled through for those years.  The Recession nearly crushed us (that’s not really an exaggeration).  My husband has been in the housing industry since we graduated from college.  That went downhill, we had a third baby, I had an operation, we wracked up survival debt we shouldn’t have, and it was really hard. I tear up when I think of it still.  It’s a sensitive spot.

Yet, as I stand looking at the possibilities ahead of me, I realized the mercy we’ve received.

We’ve worked hard. We’ve obliterated our debt (thanks Dave Ramsey) and have the numbers in hand to be able to pay the last of it off (our home) in 5 years.  Life is funny and so much can happen, but we actually/really/truly have hard numbers that we can shoot for each year to accomplish that.  Can you imagine?  Being thirty-something and having a house paid for?

I never thought we could be in this spot.

{fingers crossed….hoping I’m not jinxing myself for saying that “out loud”}

Opportunities are coming up this year only the hand of God could have put in place.

He deserves the credit for all of these blessings.

I don’t take my goals lightly.  My dad once joked about my stubbornness.  I call it persistence.  Once I set my mind to something, it usually gets done.  I really work hard at “bending” time.  But I also thoughtfully pick my battles.  So here it goes…….

I went for the balanced approach this year. I picked one area from each part of my soul, and set a goal.

Our Financial goals are already set.  That leaves Spiritual, Family, and Physical.  So here it goes:

Spiritual Goal for 2013:  To truly feel and love.  To let my heart “hear” truth.  To study what Christ taught in more depth.

Family Goal for 2013: There’s so many things I could work on in this area, but I just chose one.  Out of a last-minute switch-up with our T.V. and internet just before Christmas, we ended up not having T.V. We only have Netflix (and let’s be honest, their selection isn’t the best yet). The television went silent. Our evenings were spent cuddling and “hanging out” instead of vegging in front of a show.  I realized how much we lingered with our kids around bedtime, and the atmosphere has totally changed in our house.  The shootings also hurt me in a way I never thought possible, and so I’ve simply set the goal to “linger” with my family.  Especially around bedtime.  Instead of rushing them off to bed, we let the kids crawl all over us.  We snuggle and let them tell us about their day…for as long as we need to. They are growing so fast, and I know those are the memories we’ll cherish when they’re gone.

Physical Goal for 2013: This one follows the same as last year.  I want to finish El Vaquero Loco, in the time of 3 hours 50 minutes.  My goal last year was to break 4 hours.  I hit 4:03.  I adjusted my training last year due to a pathetic run the year before, but I know what I can do to improve it further.   I did develop some bad I.T. Band issues in my right leg after the race, so I’ve got a fight ahead of me. There might even be a chance I won’t recover in time, but I’m still signing up and trying to rehab the leg.  It’s too magnificent of a race/too tempting a challenge not to go for it again.

So there you have it.  That’s what I’ll be up to this year.

What are some of your plans?  Want to join me for the race this year?