Sunday, December 31, 2023

New Year's Resolutions for 2024


I normally make New Year's Resolutions and I'm pretty good at keeping (most of) them. Here are the resolutions I am making for 2024:

Prayer Life

I always have resolutions that impact my spiritual life, and prayer is one area that I really need to improve in. I resolve to pray for 30 minutes a day at least. This is a huge jump from where my prayer life is at right now - short prayers thrown up to God throughout the day. I have been reading my Bible every morning before the kids get up, and I'm planning to add in this half-hour of prayer time them. And yes I'm going to time my prayer in the beginning to hold myself accountable!

Bible Reading

I've been reading my Bible (almost) every day for several months now after getting out of the habit when Zoey was born. I resolve to read my Bible every morning this year. I'm using Search the Scriptures as my "study" - and I love it. I have a simple spiral notebook that I use to answer the questions after each reading. These questions aren't like the questions in Bible study workbook - they're deep and really have me thinking and searching out the answers. It's a three year study through the Bible, and it's so much better than I expected.




Tot School

Zoey is 15 months old now, the same age that Zeke was when he started tot school. I resolve to have this special time with her each day and plan out fun activities for her to do! I've been looking at ABC Jesus Loves Me to use as a foundation. 

Blog Regularly

I resolve to blog regularly again - it's such a creative outlet for me and I enjoy it. I really hate that it's been so sporadic lately. Three blog posts a week is my goal. I'd like to start my link-ups back, too, although I've said that recently and it didn't happen. Week in Review (not just homeschool related!) on Fridays and Little Learners on Mondays linky-parties are what I'm planning. Be sure to check back! 

Find New Blogs

It saddens me that blogging seems to be going out in favor of social media. I don't like social media! I love to read blogs, especially blogs about everyday life. I resolve to find one new blog a week to read! I hope that it's possible. I'll share the new blogs on here, too!

Enjoy Life

It's so easy to get bogged down with kids and housework and all the responsibilities that come with them. I found that I have just been getting through each day and not really enjoying it. I resolve to find joy in every day! I also resolve to intentionally do things that I enjoy, even it means finding a babysitter sometimes.

Here's to a wonderful 2024!


 

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Year in Review: 2023 by the Month in Pictures

 It's crazy to think that 2023 is almost over - didn't it just start?! Here is my Year in Review by the month!

January 2023

- Zoey was 3 1/2 months -

- Eli wrapped up his senior basketball season -

- My Grandmother came for a visit -

February 2023:

- Mercie turned 15 -

- Homeschool Valentine Bowling Party -

- Silas won 1st place for his Valentine box -

- Titus made a Yoda Best Valentine box -

March 2023:


- Zoey and Zeke took lots of rides on the side by side when the weather was nice -

- Zoey was sitting up by herself so well -

- Mercie brought her horse to the homeschool 4H group and showed them how to saddle a horse -

April 2023:

- School outside when the weather is pretty -


- I did my first punch needle project -

- We bought Eli a new truck for graduation -

May 2023:

- Senior Honors Banquet -


- Baccelaurette -

- Eli Graduated -

June 2023:

- Silas turned 13 -

- Eli turned 18 -

- Eli left for a mission trip to Nicaragua with my parents -

July 2023:

- Titus went to 4H camp -

- Mercie went to King's Camp -

- Titus went to King's Camp and turned 11-

- Silas went to King's Camp -

August 2023:

- Titus and Zeke got their tonsils taken out -

- Titus, Silas, and Mercie started public school -

- Zeke started speech therapy again -

- Zeke and I started homeschool co-op -

September 2023:



- Daniel spent the night with us a few times -

- Silas had junior high football -

- Zoey turned one! -

- Mikaela delivered Mikenna on the 29th -


October 2023:


- Rod and I dressed up to go to a friend's wedding -


- We took the kids to the fair in town -

- Zoey started enjoying her time in the nursery -

- Mercie went to the homecoming dance -

November 2023:


- Mercie and her boyfriend went to a rodeo and she won a buckle for first in barrels -

- Zoey is so cute -

- Silas is growing up so much -

- Zeke and Zoey played outside a lot -

- Zeke turned 5 -


December 2023:


- My sisters and I -

- Zeke got a huge sucker from Tractor Supply -

- Eli killed a nice ten point -

- The kids did a Hanging of the Greens ceremony at church -

- Zeke loved this Mickey Mouse at speech -

- Titus killed his first buck -

- Silas got a small eight point -

- Mercie got a nice seven point -

We really had a wonderful year this year! I hope you enjoyed scrolling through all of these pictures and getting a small glimpse into our life this year.