The week started off with some one-on-one time with Jake and I as the girls returned to school followed by some fun family time together.  It is rare to have several hours at home alone with Jake so we spent some quiet time talking, relaxing, playing games and working on projects together.  Having those few hours together was refreshing which helped jump start our 2012 year.  I am ready to pick back up on speed with setting and following my goals, thanks for your encouragement and keeping me accountable.

Here is the update on last weeks goals:

Family Goals

1. Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
2. Read a book to the girls everyday
3. Spend extra time with my family while the girls are on Christmas Break!

Personal Goals

1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week – didn’t quite make it this week
2. Listen to Dumping Debt by Dave Ramsey

Home Management Goals

1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day

Business Goals

1. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
2. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts

Ministry Goals

1. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests

Financial Goals

1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
2. Pay off remaining debt – We made it, the final payments are being made on the last two items!  Now we can start working on saving for  our 3 month Emergency Fund

Here are my goals for the upcoming week:

Family Goals

1. Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
2. Read a book to the girls everyday
3. Have each girl read 1 book to myself or Jake 5 days this week
4. Set up a Date Night for Jake & I and a Date Night for the Kids
5. Thank You notes written and sent for the Christmas Gifts

Personal Goals

1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
2. Go to bed by 10:30 pm or earlier Monday to Thursday
3. Finish reading The 60-Minute Money Workout by Ellie Kay
4. Read and listen to the next section of  Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (our church Community Group is going through this book together).

Home Management Goals

1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
3. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
4. Dinner ready by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday)
5. Spend time re-organizing and de-cluttering the office

Business Goals

1. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
2. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
3. Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my desk
4. Plan new implementations for blog
5. Schedule client meetings at least 2 weeks in advance

Ministry Goals

1. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
2. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
3. Write and send out Meeting Notes from our January Alms & Legs Team Ministry meeting

Financial Goals

1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
2. Emergency Fund – start saving 3 months worth of living expenses

I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

Why Share My Goals?

• To keep me accountable
• To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
• To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
• Create healthy habits in my life
• To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results