on goals and objectives


I hear my husband saying these words in his office. He is a part of the machine known as corporate America. He does goals and objectives. The words alone sound productive enough to make us feel a little better about our existence. They remind me of the word "consultant". We don't know what it specifically means but it sounds impressive.

My hard working husband tells me that it's a game really, these goals and objectives, just a way to show your work. But we all want to feel like we've got something to show for everything we do I guess. It's like that medal at the end of a race. If you gave the medal to someone else it really wouldn't mean anything to them, they would take no pride in hanging it on the wall...it wasn't their accomplishment.

I think it would be really weird to sit down and write out my goals and objectives...and I ask myself why? Why don't I like goals? Why not have an objective? It's not that I'm so laid back I don't need a plan and it's not that I don't have any dreams.

I started thinking about this one day when the kids asked me what was for dinner...my answer wasn't specific...in fact my family has learned by now that I honestly don't ever really know what's for dinner until I start cooking. I'm not a menu maker, I don't follow recipes, I don't know what I need at the store until I get there, I don't really have any set in stone plans for any day...to me it's all "subject to change".

Unfortunately this can drive a goal oriented husband crazy...but he is patient and we even balance each other out. Honestly though I ask myself why? Why can't I get better about making "plans".

I would love to say it's for good reasons, but if I look way down deep inside, at the parts of me that have a long way to go, I realize I don't have goals and objectives because I'm afraid to fail. I'm afraid of letting people down. Or I'm afraid of being let down. It's just safe to not be committed to anything. I learned this as a kind of survival tool when I was a little girl, "just get through today."

But, our days, weeks, months and even years are not about just "getting though" as much as they are not about "goal and objectives". Both ideas can suck the life out of us...like "the machine" in The Princess Bride.

So, I have a thought...instead of calling them goals, objectives, resolutions, etc. I'm going to call them Joys. Big sigh of relief...that doesn't sound so scary at all. In fact Jesus called His goals "Joys",

"for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross..." Hebrews 12:2

The Joy that was set before Him was Heaven...Heaven opened up and free for us because He endured the cross. 

I think our Joys in life are sweeter when our endurance is all wrapped up in the glorification of our Creator...when we accomplish something for Him that is a goal worth having and one to be beaming about.

The Joys set before me for 2015

hiking and camping with my loved ones
finishing our trailer
being a true friend
writing real letters
looking at my children
holding my husband
having a garden

that's it.

oh, and Heaven...always Heaven.

'tis the season

What compelled me to get him a pipe for Christmas? Memories. I have always associated pipes with good dad's and loving grandpa's...and this right here is the best man I know, so naturally he needs one too. 

No matter how old they get we will always love the Christmas tree hunt and James Taylor will forever be the soundtrack to our Christmas traditions. 

These two starring in the Evergreen Christmas play...a modern rendition of  A Christmas Carol. We were so proud of them.  Ben had to memorize over 90 lines! Now he has no excuse for forgetting his homework. 

This little angel was totally committed to her two parts, an angel and a mouse, in the Eugene Ballet Nutcracker performed at the Elsinore Theatre in Salem. She didn't miss one practice and the performances were exhausting even for me...but to watch her doing what she loves and to see her overcoming her obstacles of being shy and making new friends made it all worth while. 

Sweet AbbySue played her second season of basketball and loved it. She tells us that she looks forward to trying out for the freshmen team next year. Freshman! High School! sigh. 

Daddy could not wait to give Ben his Christmas present...and of course this boy loves it. He tells us it's his new favorite sport. We aren't surprised he's good at it...he's been pretending to shoot with a bow since he was only four years old. And it had to be a recurve bow...old soul you know. 

One Sunday, on the way home from church, December sunlight streaming in, and us...singing Christmas Carols at the top of our lungs...photo op worthy in my book.

Daddy and Ben up on the Mountain. I think this will be the first of many "father & son" ski trips. Daddy was impressed with how Ben "attacked" the slopes...kinda of a surprise from our most cautious child. 

She was just there...sitting on the couch next to me, and I couldn't believe my eyes...my daughter is taller than me and more beautiful than I ever imagined. What a treasure she is. 

I will say that this daughter is most like her mama. If you say, "smile Zibby", this is what she does. And I just look at her and know exactly what she's thinking, "I'll smile if I want to, but not because you told me to." And I love her for it. 

Something about this one almost makes me cry...it's like they are all walking ahead of Daddy and I in life right now and we are watching them grow more independent and individual and closer to testing out their wings. AbbySue and Ben, just a step ahead in life. And Zibby with that walking stick looking just fine in her place too...rounding things out with her spunk and determination. It's so hard to imagine that our time with these three all under one roof is coming closer and closer to an end...and it's very hard for my mama heart to let them go. But I will of course...
because I can't wait to see them soar.