December 2020 goals

Honestly, friends, November was a bit of a disappointment for goals. Not so much because I got nothing accomplished, but because for the one goal I really wanted to knock out of the park – my Advent calendar – I barely nudged the needle. November is usually my last chance to make big progress on yearly goals, because I mostly focus on reflection and fun in December, so it stings a bit to feel like I’m ending with a whimper instead of a bang. BUT – reminding myself of a truth I know – not reaching an expected finish line doesn’t negate the good stuff that came before it. It just means there’s a little more to roll over into 2021 :)

On my calendar this month:
— Dinner out with John for our 2020 review and celebration. This might be a bit of a last-minute event, because we’re still not eating inside at restaurants — so fingers crossed for a warmer evening where we can sit outside (hopefully next to a heat lamp!).
— An appetizer and Christmas movie night! (Planning to do family Christmas movie nights every Friday this month, and this will be a special edition.) We started with the original Grinch last week, and have The Star, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Olaf’s Frozen Adventure also on the list!
— Completing the Write the Word | Worship journal (a Cultivate collaboration with Proverbs31!) as an Advent devotion

What I’m loving right now:
— My PowerSheets prep work! The best reset and chance to dream.
— I’d never listened to an episode of the hugely-popular Armchair Expert podcast, but when I saw Lenore Skenazy (of COTAM fame) was a guest, I had to give it a listen. Worth the two hours.
— These are not new, but I love my L.L. Bean slippers so very much, especially in the colder months. A perfect gift, too!

As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!

What I read in November:
— Save Me the Plums | A delightful read – and perfect for the month of Thanksgiving, as I expected. Ruth’s writing is simple but rich, and as a former magazine editor, it was so fun to get the behind-the-scenes details of her time at Gourmet.
— God and Money | This was a thought-provoking read, and has already stimulated conversation between John and me. The authors focus a lot on wealth and consumption “finish lines,” ideas I both chafe against and want to embrace. I hope to write a Marvelous Money post sharing more!

A little update on my 2020 reading list: it’s been a joy! So far, I’ve read 15 of the 24 books on the list. Hoping to finish 3 more before December 31st!

Revisiting my November goals:
Begin my 2021 PowerSheets prep
Complete the Advent calendar backer
Order and complete our 2010-2014 family album
Hang mirrors in the bathroom
Order our Christmas cards
Make decisions about all gifts for all the people
Clear the decks for holiday decor
Make our holiday plans
Hang our bikes in the garage

December goals:
— Have fun with our Christmas reading calendar
— Help June make/choose and wrap gifts for John and Shep
— Set our 2020 budget
— Finish culling and sorting our 2020 photos
— Order and complete our 2010-2014 family album
— Neaten the laundry room

Let’s talk appetizers. If you were planning an appetizer dinner, what would you make?? On my list: pizza rolls (!). Baked ham and cheese sliders. All the dips – onion dip and chips, cut veggies and ranch dip, queso and guacamole. Buffalo wings. And the delicious nuggets of goodness, famous in my family, called sausage stars… maybe I’ll have to share the recipe sometime :) Now tell me yours!!

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