A New Year, A Holier Us

+J.M.J.+

A new year is coming up, and instead of my usual “lets write down some resolutions at 10:30 p.m. on December 31st!” routine, Ethan and I are putting some thought into our family’s hopes and dreams for 2018 now.

Last year one of my resolutions was to try and celebrate special feast days in the Church intentionally. I tried to hit the big feasts like the 100th anniversary of Fatima, our name days, the Assumption, Immaculate Conception, St. Joseph, and more. I set up pretty themed tables, made special meals and desserts, and tried to help Philomena get excited for them. Maintaining Advent as a season for preparing our hearts and homes for Christmas is always a special thing for our family as well.

For this next year I have personal goals such as continuing my health and fitness journey (which I will fill you in on soon), working on Philomena’s eczema with continued gut healing and clean eating, reading more, using my addicting cell phone less, and learning more about blogging, which I have come to truly enjoy.

Most importantly, though, I want our family to grow in joy and holiness. 

I want to take our liturgical living a step further this year by starting to incorporate some crafts for Philomena on special feasts, starting a book collection of great children’s books to read on those days, and going to Mass on those days more than last year.

We also want to continue our daily family Rosary which we got firmly scheduled in place this last Lent. I also want to continue my commitment to the girl’s and I’s morning prayer that I talked about here.

I want to try to be more present with the girls in the moment. We have committed to trying to give them the gift of a slow childhood, but still sometimes I miss the beauty in my frantic running from this to that, checking my phone, and just doing one more quick thing before I come read that book or play with those toys.

Finally, I want to better commit to my mental prayer life. My quiet prayer has kind of become this last minute thing before sleep as I’m nursing Zelie down, not paying attention well. I want to work at carving a time each night out where I am truly focused on my conversation with God, without it being an afterthought as I am falling asleep.

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, Ethan and I will continue our tradition of consecrating our family to the Sacred Heart then sharing a kiss, grateful for another year of blessings behind us, and with hopes of growing in holiness for the next.

What are your hopes for the next year?

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This post is part of the Catholic Women Bloggers Network Bloghop. For more writing on this topic by other Catholic bloggers, click here.