Gotta Get Goals

I've been tagged! Melanie got me this time with this Gotta Get Goals meme. According to the directions I'm supposed to list 5-10 goals that if I reached I could truly say I have achieved my wildest dreams in life. I don't know about you but this seems like a fairly daunting task. First off, I've never been all that big of a 'dreamer'. Some aspire to see their name in lights, get that corner office with the great view, cure something or somehow achieve world peace. I'm a fairly simple person, the small things in life bring me joy. Finding a great embellishment to complete my page (usually something I already had but forgot about), capturing that special moment (even a run of the mill day kind of special moment) on camera, getting a phone call from an old friend, finding $5 in my coat from last winter (would be nice if it were $20 but c'mon, I don't keep 20's long enough to forget about them). So I may slightly alter my list and make it 5-10 things that I'd like to accomplish/begin (some things are an ongoing process) within the next two years. At 24 I don't know that I know my wildest dreams anyhow - unless my laundry doing itself is actually attainable (that's a little sad that laundry is anywhere near the phrase 'wildest dream' So here it goes in no particular order.

1. Financial Security: beyond having an income & being able to pay the bills it would be great if we had a good savings built up, could splurge on vacations, and buy furniture that doesn't require a slipcover or paint or some other fix up. I don't need to have everything gold plated or platinum but being able to go buy a new outfit or item for the house without feeling guilty would be great. More importantly the savings though, should an emergency come up, as they have before with car breakdowns and what not - it would be nice to not feel so much stress when coming up with money to take care of it.

2. Planting Our Roots: Shawn & I are really starting to think about buying. I thought needing a lawnmower for our own backyard was a big step but buying a house would be a very 'grown up' thing to do. For starters I could paint or knock down walls, tear up floors, or plant a tree if I wanted to. Second it's a great investment (typically). Since we'll be here for a few years and maybe a couple on top of that we figure it will be a good opportunity to make such a purchase.

3. Growing Our Family: And not just in numbers - I know, I know - I just had one. But I would like more, at least two - preferably not at the same time. I want our family to be constantly growing into what the Lord wants for our lives, individually and as a unit. I feel that I'm still waiting on a call of some kind of ministry for my life. I realize being home raising my children is the most important work for the Lord I could be doing but I think he's got more for me - just don't know what or when.

4. Raising up My Children: I realize I am already doing this but I strive to do better, as most parents do I'm sure. I want to teach my children about the love & power of Jesus and help them each to find his will for their lives & help them accomplish whatever he has planned for them. Be it college, missionary work, professional career, stay at home mom, or whatever profession. I want them to have a passion in their lives for the Lord & whatever he has planned for them.

5. Successful Marriage: I feel very passionate about taking marriage vows seriously & literally. It says 'till death do us part' not 'till we just don't feel it anymore'. Feelings can change at the drop of a dirty sock not making it into the hamper for the 783,249,304 time - commitment can't. I don't condemn those who have been divorced, but do believe in exhausting every option of reconciliation before doing so. Success is more than "we were miserable but we stayed together gritting our teeth the entire time". I know there's teeth gritting, trust me, but I don't want it all that way. I want to be together & be happy about it. I want my husband & I do be each other's best friend, lover, companion, teammate & better half for the rest of our lives. Even though now the sock has missed the dirty hamper 783,249,305 times - still loving each other.

Well, I'm sure there are plenty of other aspirations I could list but 5 is a nice round number so I'll stick to that. Now it's your turn to share your goals. Be sure to check out the original meme at the link in the beginning of this post for detailed information.

Tag you're it!:

• Christine
• Sherry
• Samantha