2013 Goal: Be Present

I'm a sucker for to-do lists. When I arrive at work each morning, the first thing I do is create a list of the things I hope to accomplish that day. It only takes a few minutes to record my daily goals, but the time is well-spent. My to-do list provides a clear focus for the rest of my day. And I LOVE the feeling of crossing things off the list! (Sometimes I add a task to my to-do list even after it's completed just so I can cross it out. Weird? Yup.) My to-do list helps me make the most of my time; it helps me be intentional.

This year, I want to be a more intentional wife and mommy. How am I going to do that, you ask? By making a to-do list, of course! I've decided to focus on "being present" in my relationships this year. I have LOTS of ideas I'd like to try on my quest to be more present. The to-do lister in me is itching to record ALL my goals, but I don't want to overwhelm myself (and you) by listing them all right now, so I'll just share one idea today. You're welcome. :)

Dates: This year, I want to plan regular dates with my husband. When I was pregnant, Will and I made a commitment to go on one date every month. Then our son was born. Babies have a way of changing everything, don't they? Needless to say, we don't go on dates every month. Or even every other month. I want this year to be different. I want to get better about spending one-on-one time with my husband. After all, my marriage is my most important relationship, and I want to spend time strengthening that bond. Since babysitters (and money!) are sometimes hard to find, I want to try some of these great stay-at-home date ideas this year!

I also want to start taking Asher on mommy/son dates. One of my goals as a mother is to raise a gentleman. A mommy/son date is the perfect opportunity for me to teach Asher little lessons about how a gentleman should act. It is also just a great way to enjoy quality time together! I found a fun list of mommy/son date ideas here. Can't wait to try them!