It could not be more cliche to discuss goal setting the first week in January.  Here I am though, because one of those goals was to document more consistently.  2019 was a move year.  We began in one house, ended in another, and had a few short stays in between. We were so very happy to be near our children and old friends. We were also anxious to get the children settled.  For this reason, the house was quickly set to basic order and we jumped right into living.  In some ways that was a blessing.  There was time to see how the spaces needed to work. There was time to see how our new schedule played out.  

Busy.  That's the best way to describe the past year.  And new.  Everything new.  

New house.

New school programs

New neighbors

New puppy

New health challenges (Ahem, hello middle aged shenanigans. Is it warm in here or is it just me?)

New schedules

New climate/weather patterns (rain, rain, then snow, snow)

It's been dizzying and wonderful in so many ways but there were important adjustments to be made and habits to regain. So here we are.  Some 2020 notes I have roughed in so far:

Health: 

Cut carbs back to just fresh fruit

30 minutes a day out with the dogs

Stretch/strength routine regularly

Supplements organized

Prayer:

Mother Love morning devotions

Rosary and St Michael chaplet

Print liturgical calendar

Rotate seasonal and saints info in kitchen frames

Mother Culture:

Finish Tolstoy and begin shorter works

30 minutes daily reading

Scrapbooking/Studio time

Puppy class

House:

Set up command center/launch pad

Revamp pantry

Refloor basement

Most are underway now. Idle scrolling has been one of the little foxes that can spoil the vineyard.  It's a fine balance because I do also get tremendously inspired online.  I tend to be able to discern when I am no longer inspired or acquiring info and when I am procrastinating though and am working hard to shut the latter down.  

 

I will share more about our newest addition, a standard poodle puppy.  Let me just say here that while it was entirely insane for so many reasons, she is keeping me focused and moving and outside daily.  She is doing the same for our older buddy Archie the poodle as well.  Jefferson said, 

Walking is the best possible exercise.  Habituate yourself to walk very far.

It's likely that Jefferson had a more ambitious estimation of "far" but I am trying and the dogs are grateful.  It is truly the habit and not the action that is the challenge.  There is always a good reaon to put things off.  In the end its the habits that make the difference.  If you don't have a copy, a favorite resource is Laying Down the Rails from Simply Charlotte Mason.  I have read it over and over and am always inspired.  The best takeaway was to start with one good thing.  

Just keep doing it.  

Walking was my one thing to start being consistent with this year, for myself and my dogs.