2014 Goals!

Introducing my goals for the year of 2014! Phew, these took me a while... sorry y'all! I have been working through my set of PowerSheets and the last thing I wanted to do was to rush through them just to have goals when I thought I needed them. Goals and checklists are how I like to work. I love the feeling of checking off a little box that I made for myself. Of course, some-days I am overly excited about making those little boxes and it can get overwhelming. 
Powersheets are a great way to keep your goals in front of you while not completelyyy overwhelming yourself with lists of tasks. This year is a life changing year. This year I will graduate from college, start a career, potentially move away from home and launch my business. 
One of my first steps for this year was to work through Lara Casey's Goal Setting Series. Through this intensive series you get to reflect on 2013 as well as look forward to 2014! One of the steps in the series is to pick a word that you want to live out in 2014.

I picked the word "trust" because 2014 will be a year of change and change is not something I am confident in. I need to learn to trust in God because "His will is good, pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2 My goals are all based in the Word because I truly want God to be evident in my life throughout 2014.

GOAL ONE | For 2014 I want to spend more time reading the bible and writing in my journal. I am the worst about continually going, going, going. I just love being busy! But, I need to learn to be still and to spend time with Him without distractions or letting my mind wander elsewhere. I plan to do this by going through the new testament in 2014 and reading three(ish) chapters a month! Read more about being still here

GOAL TWO | Going back to my word for 2014, this goal is to TRUST more. To trust that God has the plans for my life all under control and that I do not need to spend my time worrying or being fearful about not knowing those plans. Being a planner, it is extremely hard to trust and let go of trying to plan out my life. 

GOAL THREE | I know this one is not a bible verse but doesn't Teddy Roosevelt just say it so perfectly?! I am unique and I am fearfully and wonderfully made and I do not need to compare myself to anyone else. We all have different life stories that make us who we are and to compare ourselves to each others is not possible! This year I want to embrace the fact that I do not need to be like anyone else and I do not need to make my brand to be like anyone elses!

GOAL FOUR | Contentment. This year I am challenging myself to be content with the worldly possessions that I do have. I want to push myself to give wholeheartedly without regret whether it be things, time or money. I will post more on this later!

GOAL FIVE | This year I want to bring glory to God by using the gifts and talents He gave me to bring joy to others through what I make. There is no better time than now to reveal that I am going to be launching a new brand and a shop in the spring! MorganAlexandra.com will be launching in a few weeks and will be a place where people can find meaningful prints, design, and stationery that can and will bring joy into lives and homes! Small can make a HUGE difference in the world we live in and my brand will have goals to do just that. I want to create a meaningful brand that helps people focus on what truly matters in their lives!

What are your goals or visions for 2014? I would LOVE to hear them!

 

January Goals

2014, goodness gracious I can not believe it is 2014! This year holds many big changes for my life and as a girl who is not to fond of change that is quite scary. I learned many things in 2013 and one of the most important things I learned was to not try to plan out my future. I know only one person knows the future and I know I am safe in His arms. Before I get into my January goals (2014 goals are in the making), I want to look back on my December Goals.

December Goals:

Design the family Christmas Card this is one of my favorite things! I love paper and sending handwritten mail to family and friends

Practice my calligraphy  calligraphy is very challenging but I am working on practicing for a little while each day

Get a present for an Angel Tree child  my roommate Emily and I got a sweet angel a beautiful Belle princess dress

Build a gingerbread house {or barn}  attended the Southern Weddings gingerbread barn building competition with my roommates see our creation here

Wrap Christmas presents beautifully {no rushing!} as usual ran out of time... maybe next year!

Join Lara for Present December I intend on keeping this going!

Practice Adobe Creative Cloud Programs I am learning my way around Indesign, Photoshop, Lightroom, Muse, and Illustrator

Buy or make 5 darling ornaments to give away  I loved doing this! see the lovely ornament I made here

Slowwwdown, spend meaningful time in the Word I still need to set aside time daily in the word. Wanting to start my day with a candle burning, coffee or tea in hand, journal writing, and bible reading!

Begin to work on my new website design I am SO excited about this! A domain has been purchased and I will start sharing sneak peaks soon

Start working through Lara Casey's PowerSheets  I began my PowerSheet journey on December 29, 2013 and PHEW it is kicking my tail into shape! I am so excited about digging deep in this journey and facing my fears head on.

Buy a stranger Starbucks  This was so much fun! I loved the sneakiness of surprising the family in the minivan behind me that their drinks were taken care of by a stranger!

Craft...something! & post a how to  I made and ornament! See how you can too here

Drive around neighborhoods to see Christmas lights  My family did one better! We drove around James Island Holiday Festival of Lights in Charleston, South Carolina. It was absolutely incredible... I highly recommend this light show and the fireworks on New Years Eve!

Coffee or Cupcake dates with friends over finals week  This goal was a favorite of mine. I loved the sweet time I had with two of my best friends to take a second, slow down and be present in each others lives. You can read about it here

Phew, What a month! Now that January is here and a bright, shiny New Year is in front of us, it makes goals that much more exciting. While my 2014 goals are in production, I will leave you with my goals for January!

January Goals

work through Lara Casey's Goal Setting series

continue working on my personal goals for 2014

be completely transparent and honest while working through my set of PowerSheets

begin working on some lovely paper products

keep practicing Adobe programs

work on my new website, YAY!

DAILY quiet time in The Word and my journal

dance around my room to music daily

go on more friend dates

SIMPLIFY

volunteer and serve at a local charity

continue to BE PRESENT

Happy January friends, I would love to hear some of your goals! May this month be the beginning of a great year :)

Sitting Quietly

As a senior in college, life has many worries... especially worries about the future. Jesus Calling is my favorite daily devotional. I have had it for years and even though the daily devotions repeat year after year, I feel that they continually speak differently to me. Lately, the devotions about worrying or trying to plan for the future have been hitting home. The devotion below really spoke to my heart and I wanted to share it. Maybe some of y'all are also struggling with worrying about the future ahead. 

"For I know the plans I have for you,”declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11