So what would be on your list of madcap ideas for 2013?

I’ve listed some pretty exciting things such as starting a new business and establishing a new family reunion tradition. I’ve also listed the old standbys of a healthier lifestyle and a more organized home. Jack and I have already shown flexibility and impulsivity by allowing the kids to stay at Papa and GrannE’s a few extra days. It’ll mean another day of driving for us, but it also means I don’t need to find a babysitter for our Date Night this Friday night.

So yeah, I put 12 Date Nights on the 2013 calendar. I also put the Third Annual Girl’s Getaway and the Second Annual Father’s Day Camping Trip on the calendar. I’m planning a Photo Scavenger Hunt for Thomas’ 13^th birthday, a tie-dye extravaganza for Liz’s 8^th birthday and Jack and I would like to host Easter in our home this year.

On the getting-more-organized front I’m planning to make my 2013 Christmas list this week and start shopping and baking/freezing cookies for neighbors this month. I’m gonna draft Emma to help with photo organization as part of her photography training/4-H project and we want to re-decorate both Thomas’ and the girl’s rooms this year.

Very high on our priority list this year is specific, concentrated focus on health issues, both Jack’s and mine. We’ll be asking for a lot of prayer in this area, so you might want to line up some knee pads now.

During our 9-hour drive through north Texas yesterday we were stuck listening to had the opportunity to listen to Dave Ramsey. Mr. Ramsey claims that goals must be specific, measurable, yours (no one else’s goal for you), have a time limit and be written down. I don’t know how many of the things above are actual goals as per his definition, but I do think they’ll make for a pretty memorable year. We’re off to a pretty exciting start so far!