The Rehomesteaders’ 2014 Goals

There are a lot of different sentiments when it comes to goals.  Some people loathe them (New Year’s Resolutions anyone?) but I happen to love being able to check something off and feel like a list helps keep me accountable by tracking my progress.  As usual, I’m a bit early with my 2014 goals but why wait?  I know my list is lofty and ambitious but many of the goals will be pursued over a lifetime (which is why some are repeats!).  Personal goals will be kept, well, personal but I assure you, I’ve got plenty of virtues and attributes I’d like to work on.  Never fear about my sanity–I still manage to find plenty of time with friends, family, church, service, naps on the couch and time to just be.  So, what are YOU hoping to accomplish in this upcoming year?

I don’t care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don’t harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there you’re never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants.

Personal (mostly just for fun!)

• Master watercolors
• Enter a writing competition
• Make croissants from scratch The first attempt wasn’t terrible… Croissants: First Attempt 4 Nov 2014
• Attend a book signing
• Be a participant on The Amazing Race
• Learn to paint with oils
• Visit all 50 states
• We’ve lived in Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, and Indiana and have recently visited Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.  More to come soon (I hope!)
• Learn to water ski
• Visit every continent
• Attend a filming of a game show
• Enter an art competition
• See the redwoods
• Donate hair to Locks of Love I think that was my 4th or 5th donation! Someone Else 29 June 2014
• Make a hammock
• Complete a cross stitch and frame it Took about three years but I did it! Cross Stitch 2 Aug 2014
• Become a better knitter
• Assemble 72-hour kits for each family member Better safe than sorry! 72-Hour Kit 8 Sept 2014
• Get professional family portraits She did a great job capturing our family’s personality! Amy Silva Photography 2 Nov 2014
• Sell something on Etsy
• Go canoeing What a fun trip! Canoeing at Cagles Mill 27 July 2014
• Be a bone marrow donor All signed up! Bone Marrow Donor 8 May 2014
• Blow glass
• Go fishing with the girls–and catch one We caught THREE! A Catch 1 June 2014
• Downhill ski
• Take a train ride
• Learn to crochet
• Take a family vacation to Table Rock Lake in the Ozarks
• See the Northern Lights
• Build a piece of furniture
• Be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune
• Prepare a will
• Take up photography
• Go back to Montreal (and swing by NYC to see Kristin since we’d be close anyway!)
• Enter something in a State Fair
• Paint a portrait
• Be an extra in a movie (preferably on horseback)
• Attend a major music concert (other than MoTab)
• Go to the Rolex Event…again! One of the most fun goals! Rolex #2 27 April 2014
• Take up pottery
• Take a tropical family vacation
• Restore Jack’s Mustang
• Invent something functional and useful
• Visit France (and I suppose the rest of Europe looks pretty fascinating too, haha!)
• Rock a short hair cut Someday I’ll go even shorter… Someone Else 29 June 2014
• Take a self-defense class
• Make or buy a dressform
• Design and sew an outfit
• Sew a quilt
• Dance on stage.  Get video proof.
• Have a year of food storage
• Make the girls Easter dresses
• Be able to do the splits….
• Prepare at least a four generation family history chart

Home Improvements

• Redo girls’ room
• Carpet or flooring
• Curtains and bedspreads
• Trim and doors
• Etc
• Redo our room
• Paint, trim
• Carpet
• Curtains and bedspread
• Build shelves Got a place to put our books, photos, etc. Stack My Stuff 24 Jan 2014
• Etc
• Redo master bath
• Shower
• Tub
• Tile
• Paint
• Vanity
• Closet
• Etc
• Redo girls’ bath
• Shower/tub
• Tile
• Paint
• Vanity
• Etc
• Redo Kate’s room
• Window
• Paint
• Trim
• Carpet
• Etc
• Kitchen
• Paint
• Cabinets and counters
• Tile
• Electrical, plumbing, etc
• Great room
• Paint, 
• Carpet/tile
• Trim
• Stair rail, etc
• Downstairs guest bath
• Redo shower
• Tile
• Paint, etc
• Exterior
• Siding Getting started! Up Goes the Siding! 2 July 2014
• Paint
• Columns
• ETC, ETC, ETC

• Continue to train Dancer
• Take Stoney and Dancer on a trail ride
• Dye, spin and knit an item from homegrown wool
• Adopt a dog (or maybe two…) Oh, yes, Jack did! Welcome Home Raven! 21 March 2014
• Get MORE hens I forgot to tell Jack but he didn’t mind 🙂 Three Adorable Chicks 6 May 2014
• Get some goats! Or maybe sheep…
• Learn to operate a tractor A combo of good timing and a generous neighbor made this possible! Tractor Driving Lessons 28 Nov 2014
• Get a harness and cart for the horses
• Take the girls to a leadline class
• Plant a garden Backbreaking but worth it!  Multiply and Replenish 19 May 2014
• Get a new hive Too cold this winter! Poor Bees 24 Feb 2014, New Girls 16 May 2014
• Move second beehive out They didn’t make it either...
• Teach Stoney and Dancer to pull a cart or carriage
• Get pigs
• Breed Dancer
• Go on a cattle drive
• Get a milking cow
• Get a beef steer
• Build another horse pasture (or two!) Got a start thanks to our kind neighbor! An Angel With A Tractor 5 Dec 2014
• Build a horse shed
• Build a barn
• Build a chicken coop and yard Wasn’t planning on it, but it happened and we’re glad it did! Chicken Fortress 17 June 2014
• Build a goat/pig, etc enclosure
• Build a riding arena or round pen
• Ride an elephant (for more than three minutes…)
• Feed sharks
• See the salmon run
• Watch a cheetah chase down prey
• Swim with dolphins
• Take a whale watching expedition
• Be in a dog sled race
• Ride an ostrich
• Ride a camel

• Run another 5k First race of the year and I PRed! Polar Bear Run 22 Feb 2014
• Run in a Fun Run, Color Run, etc. Lots of mud, lots of hills, but lots of fun! The Great Pumpkin Run 11 Oct 2014
• Run a 10k It was a chilly run, but still fun! Capital Warrior Run 15 Nov 2014
• Run a half marathon I was close to death (or so it seemed) but I finished! 13.1 7 June 2014
• Run a full marathon
• Complete a triathlon
• Take Dancer to a show
• Compete in a dressage show
• Compete in a jumping show (either show jumping or hunter classes)
• Compete in a two day horse trial
• Compete in a three day horse trial
• Compete internationally (a girl can always dream…)

• Pay off credit cards
• Pay off Rachael’s student loans
• Pay off Jack’s student loans
• Build a $1000 emergency fund
• Build a one month emergency fund
• Build a six month emergency fund
• Pay off mortgage