Backwards and Forwards

I've reached the end of another year. In this post, I would like to take the time to look at a recap of 2024 and some goals and plans for 2025.

2024 Recap

Bible Times: This year, I read the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation and listened to the accompanying podcast from The Daily Grace Co. I read the NT out loud to my in-utero baby up to her present 5 months old self. She has heard the entire NT before her first birthday.

Exercise: Exercise has been a challenge between pregnancy and postpartum, and diastasis recti. I went from four nights a week of dance in January of 2024 to now pretty much nothing other than an occasional walk or yoga workout.

Books: This past year, I read 17 short books. This is possibly a record for me as I am a slow and distractable reader.

Nutrition: This past year was up and down as I first focused on a low-carb diet during pregnancy, and then a high calorie diet while breastfeeding. Currently, my diet is filled with sweets. Some changes ought to be made in the new year.

Goals: I had one goal only in 2024, and I put a considerable amount of time into this goal. The goal - make a human. Keep human alive. It's easier said than done some days.

Setting the Stage for 2025

Bible Times: This year, I would like to memorize one Bible verse per month. Since Vivian has been sleeping in our bed with me at night, I will keep her Bible stories book with me at the nightstand. When we wake up in the morning, we will read a Bible story, practice the memory verse, and pray, and I will read Jesus Calling, a year-long devotional.

Later on in the day (hopefully during afternoon naptime) I will do a more in-depth Bible study that will be different each month.

January - "Her" mom Bible Study

February - "Her mom Bible Study finish

March - break

April - Bible Journal through 1 John

May - break

June - Inductive study of 2 John

July - Bible Journal through Genesis

August - Bible Journal through Genesis finish

September - break

October - Inductive Study of 1 Peter

November - read "1,000 Gifts" by Ann Voskamp

December - read "the Greatest Gift" by Ann Voskamp

Exercise: I really need to up the exercise, but I also want to create a plan that I can stick with. Here's what I've got for the first half of the year at least -

Mondays - Ballet

Tuesdays - break

Wednesdays - Ballet

Thursdays or Saturdays - Yoga

Fridays - Break

Sundays - a walk when the weather is nice.

Books: With an increasingly mobile child, I don't anticipate doing a lot of reading. My goal is 7 books and includes

3 fiction works

1 poetry

1 biography

1 current events/philosophy

1 psychology

Nutrition: I have been focused on helping my daughter, Vivian with her nutritional needs. Mine have been less than ideal. It feels a little overwhelming to think about ensuring that I am eating healthy, but I can at least plan to do the following -

Eat one fruit or vegetable with every meal or snack.

Goals - The overarching goal and theme of the year is going to be "slow and steady." I won't have a lot of really nice rest periods I think, but as long as I keep doing the next thing that needs done, taking a breath in the midst of folding the laundry, doing the dishes, or hugging my precious girl, or actually pausing long enough to ask my husband how his day went and give him a hug, This slow and steady mindset is one that I am hopeful will help me to be less irritable that I still have a mountain of work to do, and less frantic as the to-do list looms.

Now it's your turn. What was your year like in these areas or other areas?

What do you want to do this coming year differently. Share in the comments below!