Sunday, December 27, 2015

2015 Year in Review

Long post, be warned.  I love goals. This is no secret to those who know me well.  How'd I do on my 2015 goals?  Great on some, not so great on others.

2015 Goals:
  • Make three baby quilts for gifts  Check!  I made 5; 3 for gifts and 2 to charity.
  • Make a remembrance quilt for my co-worker Check. From her late husband's shirts.
  • Make a friendship quilt from my retirement blocks Check!  Designed the pattern and it's hanging in my foyer.
  • Run at least 600 miles in 2015 (did 561 in 2014)  Nope. Close, but didn't make it.  I'm at 551 miles as of 12/27/2015, and no, I won't get in 49 miles in the next four days.
  • Run a half marathon, a 15k, and a few 5ks Check!  Ran two half marathons, a 15k, and five 5k's
  • Run faster in 2015  Nope. Not sure I'll ever get faster.
  • Work on a morning routine of stretches, lunges, and planks Nope.  I don't think that lasted a week :/
  • Attend more book club and quilt club meetings at church ?? Not sure if I attended more than 2014, but I did make it to 2-3 book club meetings and most of our quilting group meetings.
  • Continue with daily bible readings (Spurgeon's daily Morning & Evening, Beth Moore's Praying God's Word Everyday, and Jesus Calling) ?? Didn't like what I started with and reverted back to MacArther's daily bible reading. Got a little off in December.
  • Work on being more like Jesus ?? This is a toughie.  Our Sunday School lesson today was about using the power of the Holy Spirit to help us live more like Christ.  I try to do it on my own way too much, and always mess up.
  • Shop grocery sales and cut our food budget ??  I did really well on this until I went back to work in May.  After that, the grocery budget went back to my pre-retirement days.  We have never been ones to eat out a lot, but since I've gone back to work part-time, we eat out more.
How about you?  Do you make goals? I have some for 2016 but I'll save those for another post.

I was very productive in my quilting.....here are some pictures of quilts made in 2015....



I started designing my own quilts and I have one in McCall's Quick Quilts, coming out tomorrow! I have another one scheduled for Fons and Porter's Easy Quilts, coming in 2016.

Here is the recap of my running in 2015.



And I can't end the year without thinking of the little girl who stole my heart. I was able to visit her in March and then enjoyed her visit with us in December. Looking forward to spring/summer, when I'll be visiting them again.


When I look at these pictures I'm reminded of how blessed I am. 

Stay tuned for the 2016 goals and I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes, "Life doesn't get better by chance, it gets better by change."  You don't like something about your life?  You have the power to change it. I encourage you to seek the Lord and ask for help to change your life.




3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love your quote! For myself I would only add that sometimes we just need to change out attitude about what is happening in our life. I pray lots for God to help me have an attitude "adjustment". Looking forward to seeing your 2016 goals. I love setting goals - I just have to be better at keeping them :)
Anne D.

Rachel said...

Anne, I definitely agree about the attitude thing! I was all stressed last week, went for a run, did some praying while out there, and came back a new woman! Do you blog? If so, I'd love to follow you....then I'd get to see your 2016 goals....lol.

Anonymous said...

Rachel,
Sorry I don't have a blog, but love to read blogs during my break at work. Came across yours and love it. I love quilting but never seem to get enough time. I just grab the time when I can.
I feel a connection to you with our "grands" across the ocean :(
Anne