A Few Goals for 2024

I didn't plan on spending the first part of 2024 with Covid. I've had a few goals in mind for the New Year, but this kind of illness wasn't really on my radar. Aren't we all supposed to be past this by now? Regardless, this particular Bible verse, from Proverbs 19:21, has been on my mind these last few days:

You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail.  

Isn't that the truth? Or, as Scottish poet, Robert Burns, wrote way back in 1785 in his poem, "To a Mouse," The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. No matter how carefully we prepare for a particular project, something may go wrong with it, or things may go even better than we had hoped. We can make all the plans we want, but only God knows whether we will prosper or struggle, live or die. 

I'm feeling a bit healthier now, and my Covid test was finally negative this morning, so the end seems to be in sight. I rarely make New Year's resolutions, but my forced quarantine at home has given me plenty of time to think about some goals for 2024. There are several things I would like to accomplish in the next year or so, but I'll have to let you know in 2025 if I was able to accomplish anything I planned for 2024, or if God has something completely different in mind for my future.


So, here, in no particular order, is a list of some of my current goals for 2024:

I need to maintain my walking, exercise, dietary, and therapy regimens so my physical health remains good enough for me to actually accomplish some of these goals.

I plan to read through the entire Bible again throughout the coming year, this time using the Chronological Bible Plan on YouVersion.

I want to finish writing my current book, a memoir entitled The Hotel Kids, and start on a children's book called What is God?

I need to market my most recent children's book, Shine!, to coincide with Easter and this April's total eclipse that will be visible across much of the USA.

I want to go camping several times with my family.

I hope to see Erin's family often enough that I don't miss out on Anna's babyhood, or Will's growth.

I want to spend some time in Fairbury so Laura and I can finish sorting through a mountain of photographs, as well as Dad's collections.

I need to give Bill the support and help he needs as he and his sister decide what to do with his dad's belongings, and as he works on a new building project.

I hope to finish some home improvement projects soon.

I need to offer emotional support and help to each of my kids and their families, and several friends, as they need it.

I want to write a few more songs, and continue to sing and play bass for worship at my church.

I need to keep ahead of the garden this summer.


The list is a little longer than I would like, but that's typical. It would certainly be easier to plan for the coming year if I knew a little bit about what the future holds, but it's better that some things take us by surprise. No matter how many times I write "I need," or "I want," or even "I plan," I know that God is ultimately in charge of my future. No matter what happens, I know that God will walk with me each step of the way, and that's enough.


God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
Psalm 18:30

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Three Weddings and Too Many Funerals

Image
It's been fifteen years since my middle daughter, Meagan, married Andy. Fifteen years of living and working in and around Gering, and five, almost six, children later, everyone they know would say that they are happily married. Their wedding was big and formal, and held in our church, like many weddings were then, at least here in Gering, with a sit-down dinner and dance afterward at the Civic Center. They both grew up here, and were well-known in the community, so many local people attended their wedding. In addition, they each had large extended families who were willing to travel quite a distance to be present for their big day. It was a memorable day, for sure. Fifteen years ago, our family was quite small. They both settled in to teaching, living in an old house on Andy's family's farm before building a house at the same location about ten years ago. Now, Andy continues to teach at Gering High School, while Meagan has been focusing her teaching skills on her own childr
Read more

Introducing Anna

Image
Anna Elizabeth Tyler was born almost three weeks before her due date, at 10:53 a.m. on Monday, October 30th, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. She weighed 5.45 pounds, and was 17.25 inches long. Her entrance into this world was more dramatic than we had hoped, since she had to spend eleven days in the NICU to monitor her breathing. But, after the initial scare, she is nursing well and growing appropriately at home. Anna at just a few days old Anna is the only one of our eight grandchildren who has spent any time in NICU. At one month of age, she is still small, but she is finally outgrowing her preemie clothes and moving on to newborn sizes. It's hard to be more than 1200 miles away from family when they need help, but contemporary forms of communication make that much easier than it used to be. Nevertheless, Bill and I were glad to join our daughter, Erin, her husband, Reed, our grandson, Will, and baby Anna, for Thanksgiving. We got to see for ourselves how their whole family is thriving.
Read more

A Little Covid

Image
Like so many of you, I am tired of hearing about Covid-19. As I look back to 2020 and the intervening years since then, I can't help but think that our government, along with many others throughout the world, may have overreacted, insisting on too many, perhaps unnecessary, restrictions. However, the fact remains that I am currently quarantined at home because, for the first time, I officially have Covid. I would never have known I have Covid except that it morphed into a sinus infection. So, I dutifully made my way to Urgent Care because I knew I would need an antibiotic to get over it. And, of course, I had to have a test to rule out Covid and Influenza A. Except, even though my vaccinations are up-to-date, the test was positive for Covid. My Covid symptoms have been minimal, probably because I’ve been vaccinated: some fatigue, some sneezing, and a headache that won't quit. Initially, I passed off those symptoms as my normal allergy symptoms, aggravated by the windy condition
Read more