Five years ago, I unintentionally started my own New Year’s tradition. Instead of creating resolutions that would be too easily forgotten or too quickly broken (like giving up fast food completely, or the all-too-vague ‘work out more’), I made a list of a few measurable, realistic goals: a list that I could come back to a year later to reflect on and see how I grew. And the idea kind of stuck with me! So here I am, for the sixth year in a row, thankful for God’s faithfulness in an unexpectedly wonderful year and turning a hopeful eye toward the new year ahead.

MY 2021 GOALS WERE:

• Take a class with Daniel and learn something new together.
  Just wasn’t the best year to make this happen – Daniel was incredibly busy juggling school, work, rental properties, new investments, and elder responsibilities at the church. Hopefully we can make this happen once he graduates with his Executive Master’s degree in May.
• Finally go skydiving! ✓
  I FINALLY DID IT!! A group of us from church tried to go last year and it was too windy, so we got vouchers to come back another time. And one random Friday in September 2021, we made a spontaneous decision to go the next day. And it was AWESOME – the falling out of the plane was the coolest part, the adrenaline rush was unreal! I would 100% do it again. Still can’t believe I finally checked this off of my bucket list.
• Go a full month without eating out.
  Literally what was I thinking?? There was no way this was going to happen. Major facepalm.
• Host a backyard dinner party this summer. ✓
  Dara’s “Thirty South” country club-themed 30th birthday party was SO MUCH FUN. We had a crawfish boil, live music, croquet, and everybody dressed up! It was in the front yard instead of the back, but who cares?
• Take a “just the two of us” trip. ✓
  During Daniel’s break from school in August, we spent an extended weekend at the super cute Caroline cabin in Broken Bow, and it was so lovely! We hadn’t gone on a trip to celebrate being together since our Alaskan cruise in 2017.
• Make at least 20 of the 37,000 recipes I have pinned on Pinterest. ✓
  SO CLOSE! I’m still calling this a win, because I’m 98% sure I made at least one other new thing and just forgot to document it.
  • 1. These Salted Nutella Blondies (Y’all, WHOA.)
  • 2. A slightly edited version of this baked fried chicken
  • 3. These cheesy buttery Funeral Potatoes
  • 4. This one-pot version of Cajun Chicken Alfredo Pasta
  • 5. This super delish Baked Creme Brulee French Toast
  • 6. This homemade Peanut Butter Butterfinger Ice Cream
  • 7. These Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
  • 8. This crockpot version of Cajun Chicken & Sausage Pasta
  • 9. These stupid good Peanut Butter Cup S’mores Bars
  • 10. This Crockpot Ham with Maple Brown Sugar Glaze
  • 11. This French Onion Chicken Casserole
  • 12. My first-ever Green Bean Casserole
  • 13. Grandma Lela’s legendary homemade yeast rolls
  • 14. These 7-Up Biscuits
  • 15. This freaking amazing Stovetop Hot Cocoa
  • 16. These Salted Caramel Pretzel Brownies
  • 17. This gluten-free Shepherd’s Pie
  • 18. This yummy Autumn Chopped Salad
  • 19. These Honey Spiced Glazed Chicken Thighs
• Start recording my prayer requests. ✓
  If you’ve never heard of Val Marie Paper, go check out her prayer journals right now!
• Learn how to make my own pasta.
  Still on my to-do list. I kept delaying because I really want that KitchenAid pasta attachment…
• Host another “Favorite Things” party.
  Ran out of time, but I really want to do this again!
• Try something different with my hair. ✓
  I had virgin hair for almost 31 years, but I finally decided to put bleach in it for the first time! Nothing major – just really subtle honey blonde at the bottom. I wanted something I didn’t have to maintain, and I love how it turned out.

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• 2022 •

Complete the 40-day sugar fast.

Spend time writing at least once a week.

Start tracking the number of ‘wears’ for my wardrobe items.

Make a difficult recipe.

Start learning the basics of another language.

Do some professional/personal development for work.

Go to at least five live performances (concert, comedy show, Broadway play, etc.).

Finish our living room refresh.

Make a calendar to keep track of family and friends’ birthdays.

Pick up a new hobby.

Take a class with Daniel and learn something new together.

Read the Dune book series.

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As I reflected on the last couple of years, I started to wonder what my word for 2022 would be. Until this year, I always seemed to discover my word in December, before the new year even began. But as 2021 came to a close, I felt uninspired. My mind was strangely blank. I didn’t want to force anything, so I just decided to take a break from the whole “Word For the Year” thing. Little did I know that God had three pieces of inspiration waiting for me on Instagram within the first few days of 2022. First, I felt convicted by Ruth Chou Simons’s post about worship before service and being deeply rooted. Second, I pondered Phenomenal’s post about how TODAY is a special occasion. And third, I read Joanna Gaines’s “Have a fun!” post about slowing down and playing more.

Thanks to that nudge from the Lord, my word for 2022 is:

S A V O R .

I want to wear the good perfume without waiting for a special occasion. I want to notice the small, seemingly inconsequential things, the simple joys, and not put so much pressure on everything to be a bucket list item. I want to enjoy the Lord more than His gifts. I want to savor delicious meals without guilt, and good books, and rainy days, and spontaneous movie nights, and how my body feels after a good workout. I want to savor even the hard, uncomfortable things as opportunities for growth and deeper trust in Christ.

If you want to keep up with my progress this year, click here!

What is one of your goals for this year? Tell me in the comments!