We’re deep into the second week of 2018, but I finally have my goals for the year mapped out and I’m ready to make some progress. I’m using Lara Casey’s PowerSheets this year, and they have been helpful. I also had a fun goal setting discussion with my friends Teri Lynne and Kristin and shared the goals in my self-care for the special-needs mom Facebook group. Now I’m ready to share them here!
- Launch my book. Unexpected Blessings: The Joys and Possibilities of Life in a Special-Needs Family releases in November and there’s lots to do between now and then to get ready to share it with the world!
- Launch a special-needs ministry at our new church. I’m excited about this one! On Key Ministry I wrote about the first steps we’re taking so we’re ready to welcome new families to our church soon.
- Build communities for special-needs parents. The primary way I’m doing this is through Facebook groups. In addition to the self-care group I mentioned above, we also have Strengthening Your Special-Needs Family. I’ve laid out a theme for each month for us to focus on and am excited about the series I have planned (in a couple weeks you’ll hear about our 14 day prayer challenge for your marriage!)
- Partner in my sister’s health care. With medical scares in the last two years for my dad, I think it’s time to be more active in knowing my sister’s medical team and needs. They aren’t complex, but I’d like to know basics like where her insurance card is and have a list of her regular doctors just in case.
- Make Fridays fun. Fridays are Lee’s day off and therefore our main time alone together. I’d like to make them more fun and not just have a list of to dos to get through at the end of each week.
- Encourage David to try new things. He’s 12 and that’s a great time to try new things and figure out what you love. We’ll be taking a vacation with just him this year, and we hope he’ll get to go on an international mission trip with Lee. He’s also planning to take an art class and continue auditioning for plays and musicals.
- Meet James’s medical and therapy needs. When Lee got a new job last fall we got new insurance, so I can put together a good team of doctors and therapists who can help James as much as possible.
- Do for one what I wish I could do for all. I’ve been pretty overwhelmed at church by all the women I want to get to know and all the stories I want to hear. I catch myself thinking, “I don’t want to spend too much time with this person because I can’t spend time with all these other people.” But that’s not healthy. So I’m going to do for one person what I wish I could do for all. Take time to listen. Invite them over. Text. Pray. Encourage.
There are other areas I have goals for (like increasing the number of steps I take and getting all the laundry done in one day), but these are the big areas I’m focusing on in 2018. I also didn’t include work (Key Ministry) goals, but those are really important to me as well (especially since we’re hosting a conference in April!).
I’m excited about what 2018 will bring, especially since the last three years have brought so much change and so many transitions. It feels good to be settled and able to make goals because I generally know what to expect (like that Lee will be at our current church and we will live in this house all year, God willing).
