Aaron & I spent last evening setting some goals for the new year, while using the questions by Donald Whitney that I listed previously. We also went over the questions provided by Doug Phillips to review God’s Providences on our behalf this past year. It was such a refreshing time together. I will treasure making this a tradition each new year. Having these thoughts, events, areas of growth, etc. recorded will be making our family history so memorable. I am going to paste the document we wrote out in the back of the our photo album for the year.
2007 HIGHLIGHTS
- At a mission conference in the beginning of the year, Aaron & I received a clear burden for missions. The Lord challenged us to be preparing to go rather than just willing to go and planning on staying. We are preparing to go if the Lord calls us!
- The Lord protected us in a crazy car accident in January and provided the funds to repair our car (as we were at fault and had no full coverage insurance).
- We went to Orcas Island in Northern Washington to celebrate our 1 year anniversary in April.
- Karis Ruth arrived on May 4 through a miraculous and a surprise breach birth at home.
- We started a mission mobilizing group in our church to increase mission awareness.
- We had several doors close in business and school plans for Aaron (things we felt like were needed for preparing to go on the field), but God is continuing to lead, direct, and provide for our every need. Even though we are lacking a lot of direction and wisdom in this season, God is faithful and will never leave or forsake us.
- We are growing as parents in learning patience, growing in our communication as a couple, and becoming more faithful prayer warriors.
GOALS FOR 2008
- We both desire to increase our enjoyment of God this year by increasing our reading. I am aiming to read one book each month for a total of 12.
- We are both seeking to keep each other accountable in reading through the Bible in a year. We are using the Discipleship Journal plan for this.
- Fresh structure in our schedule. I am seeking to keep my priorities in the right place by limiting my computer time to when Karis is napping. It has been a distraction and temptation to get on here and blog when she needs my attention first and foremost.
- I want to be in more purposeful prayer for my husband and children (Lord willing!). I have been slacking lately, and will begin afresh by using Stormie Omartian’s prayer cards, which are taken from her book, The Power of A Praying Wife. Powerful prayers that have greatly enriched my prayer life.
- Wiser in my food spending. I am seeking to decrease our food spending this year by starting to make a few more things on my own. I am seeking to eat more nutritiously on a budget (I will definitely be sharing through the process). I am going to start eating more grains and legumes. Mapping out my monthly menu plan is greatly assisting with this. I also want to learn how to make a few of my own dairy products, dressings and condiments.
By God’s grace, I will seek to review these things throughout the year!
Those seem like wonderful goals and I like the way that you reflected on the blessings of this past year.
Just want to say that I love your smile in the picture where you are holding that sweet baby.
Blessings to you,
Heather – Doodle Acres
If you ever feel like sharing your mapped monthly menus I would LOVE to see it.
Steph, I am planning on sharing it once I have tweaked it all the way. Stay tuned.
What a great post! I’ve been reading for awhile and I love your blog…your interests seem to mirror my own: being the wife and Mom God intends, being good stewards of our planet and our family’s resources, cooking etc.
I made the Curried Split Pea soup you posted last night and it was great! I’ve also “borrowed” some of your homemade natural cleaning recipes and just printed out the questions from today’s post, as well as the Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan!
Keep up the good work! I’m really enjoying this blog!
So glad to hear that someone is trying out some of my recipes and ideas!
Thanks for the input and encouragement Erica!