#goals

I keep seeing these memes and posts about saying goodbye to 2017 and welcoming in 2018. And I get it. I mean, politically 2017 wasn't our greatest showing. Right, America? But am I the only one who isn't super ecstatic to see 2017 go? I kinda liked 2017. It was a really good year for us. Probably one of the best I've had...ever. Seriously. So I'm not exactly thrilled to kick its ass out the door and pull 2018 on through. I'm a little nervous. What if it's worse? What if I hate it? What if something terrible/awful happens? I'm really happy right now with where we are and with all we've done and accomplished. But I know it's inevitable and I can't keep living in 2017 forever (although if I had to choose a year to live in perpetually, it would be 1998).

Anyway, I'm not a big New Years Resolution type of person. I often set goals for myself throughout the year and I'm pretty good at hitting them. I'm a jump in head first kind of gal. I make a goal, hit it, move on to the next. I always need to be striving for something or I get this wave of boredom/panic.

This year I think I'll try something new. I've been reflecting on things I want to do. Things I need to do. Instead of calling them "resolutions" I'm going to call them GOALS.


I won't share all of them. But here are three on my list:

1. Contribute more to our 401's and savings accounts. - I like to spend money so this one will be hard. I work hard and so does Rob so we like to spend the fruits of our labor. And given the fact that my dad died so young I still harbor this "you can't take it with you" attitude. But, I need to knock that right off. In a sense, it's right. I can't take it with me, but my children can. And I want to set them up for success. Just because I was poor and just because I struggled, doesn't mean they have to. I want to help them pay for college, I want to help them buy their first car. I want to leave them something and I want to be able to give them things and do things for them in the future. I'd also like to retire at some point in my life and be comfortable. So this is one I'm going to really try to focus on.

2. Get into a consistent gym schedule. - I love working out. But I find it hard to leave my house to go. My husband and I work opposite schedules so there is no way I can go in the mornings before work because he's not home. I can't really go after work either because (omg) I have 5 kids. The best time for me to go is bedtime - after 830pm. Which is the ONLY time I get with my husband (before he goes to work) and my big kids (before they go to bed). I need to find a balance. And I need to be ok with maybe only going 2-3 times a week if that's what my life allows at this point.

3. Get the adoption started. - Robert is going to adopt the three oldest boys. We've been talking about it forever but now we are going to get that ball rolling. It's been just about 2 years since we've had any contact with their bio-father, not for lack of trying on the boys part. The county can't find him. He doesn't work. Has no known address. The list goes on and on. They deserve a dad. They deserve someone who has rights to them and chooses to be in their lives. Chooses to love them and care for them and teach them.

I have a lot of goals for 2018 but these three will be my long term focus. I think all three are positive investments in our family and will only serve for the betterment of us all.


Happy New Year to you and yours,

Nicky