Last year instead of resolutions, I thought in terms of projects, lots of projects that I wanted to complete in 2008. I wouldn’t say I was any more or less successful with my projects than most people are with resolutions, but I like the tradition anyway and plan to to continue it this year. So here are my twelve projects for 2009, with evaluations of how I did on some of the same projects in 2008.
1. BIble Reading Project. Last year’s BIble reading project was a qualified success. I didn’t read every day, and I didn’t study the books and passages I chose as intensely as I wanted, but I did read and study some. This year’s BIble reading plan is the same as last year’s: choose a book or part of a book of the BIble for each month of the year, read it daily, and study it using some good study tools. Take notes in my Bible and maybe this year in a journal, too. The selections for this year:
January: II Samuel 1-8 Last year I read and studied I Samuel, so II Samuel seems to be next.
February: I Thessalonians
March: II Samuel 9-16
April: II Thessalonians
May: II Samuel 17-24
June: I Timothy
July: Joel
August: II TImothy
September: Amos
October: Titus
November: Psalms 1-5
December: Psalms 6-10
2. Pulitzer Project. This one will have to be a repeat from last year since I read only one of the books on my list, The Optimist’s Daughter by Eudora Welty. I didn’t review it because I didn’t really care for it much.
3. My Newbery Project for last year was also something of a bust. I think I got stuck because the winners for 1925 and 1926 were both story collections, and I don’t like story collections. I may skip the storybooks and get back on track this year.
4. My Madeleine L’Engle Project also failed to get off the ground last year. I think I just have so many good books to read, and not enough time. Anyway, this is another one I want to try again this year.
5. Operation Clean House. I figure if I take a room or area of the house and concentrate on that section each month, I might get somewhere with the de-cluttering and cleaning. Maybe.
January: My closet and dressing area.
February: The rest of my bedroom.
March: Front hallway and entryway.
April: Living Room.
May: Kitchen.
June: Laundry room.
July: Half of the gameroom.
August: The other half of the gameroom.
September: Front bathroom.
October: Z-baby’s bedrooom.
November: Karate Kid’s bedroom.
December: Sit back and enjoy my reorganized home?
I might even, if I’m brave enough, post before and after pictures to keep myself motivated.
6. LOST Reading Project. I really want to get back to this project this year.
7. The U.S. Presidents Reading Project has a list of all of the U.S. presidents and suggested reading selections (non-fiction) for each one. The challenge is to read one biography of each one. I would really like to start this project this year.
8. American History Project. In conjunction with the U.S. Presidents Reading Project, I’ll be teaching American history at home and at co-op next school year. So I’m working on planning a high school level literature/history class for co-op and condensing the Sonlight third and fourth grade curriculum suggestions for American history into one year for my little girls.
9. Poetry Project: I would like to get my urchins memorizing and reading poetry. I would like to read and memorize poetry. I would like to have more Poetry Parties.
10. Prayer Project. I need to spend some daily concentrated time in prayer and meditation. My plan is to pray and read my Bible before I get on the computer each day so that I can bathe all these projects and all my children and my husband in prayer.
11. Book Club Project. I’m really, really, truly starting my book club this year. We’re having our first meeting to discuss the books for the year this afternoon. If any of you are interested in participating (virtually), email me at sherryDOTearlyATgmailDOTcom, and I’ll send you the details. I’ll also be posting the book club selections for each month of 2009 here at Semicolon soon.
12. VIdeo Project. Engineer Husband and I are s-l-o-w-l-y watching the series Band of Brothers at night after the urchins are asleep. After we finish those videos, we’re planning to watch the HBO adaptation of David McCullough’s biography of John Adams, recommended here.
Bonus Project: I’ll keep blogging, the Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, and I’ll keep you all updated on all my projects for 2009.
How ingenious to think in terms of projects instead of resolutions! For the decluttering, you could use FlyLady’s crisis cleaning to get you started. She’s been a big help in tackling the clutter in my home. Her web site is at http://www.flylady.net
Ambitious projects. You seem to have your priorties in the right place, and you’re already well organized. I wish you every success.
Glad to have found your site….a kindred spirit, I think. I love the idea of “projects” instead of goals. I had planned to have a read-through-the-Bible ‘goal’ for 2009, but I like your idea of focusing on a specific book each month. I also greatly admire Madeleine L’Engle…I’ve found, though, that I actually like her non-fiction better than her fiction. Her journals are some of my favorites, especially Two Part Invention: The Story of a Marriage. I’m reading Walking on Water off and on right now. She greatly inspires me to write, seek God, and love my family. I had a similar monthly clean/declutter my house list for 2008…didn’t go so well, I’m afraid…it will definitely be back on my list for 2009! Thanks for sharing. B.
This is a great list, Sherry. I like the idea of projects instead of resolutions, too. It’s more forward-thinking and proactive; instead of this is what I WON’T do, you have some good, constructive this is what I WILL do’s. I like it.
I’m not quite sure how you would keep up with all of that but I do find you to be rather amazing. I like the idea of Operation Clean House. Good luck with that! =D
BTW, I nominated you for “Kreativ Blogger” (I hate typing that up with a ‘k’) on my blog.
Thanks for all the effort you have poured into your blog and your readership this past year! It really does take time and attention to pull projects and blogs off and I appreciate it!
Oh, Carrie and all, I do have rather ambitious plans and dreams. Then, I get into the doldrums of unfinished projects and unrealized dreams and realize that I aimed much too high. Nevertheless, I enjoy the planning and listing and daydreaming. Thanks for all the kind words of encouragement.
By the way, I tried Flylady, but she wore me out and I felt guilty and discouraged with all the daily emails. So I quietly let FlyLady go away.
These all look interesting, especially #7. Good luck!
I love your projects! And I really like that approach. . .
How does that study Bible translation compare with the NIV and New Living Translations? I really like the concept behind it, but haven’t actually seen an ESV.
Funny, I loved The Optimist’s Daughter! I think it’s the only book I ever read twice in one week — I finished it the last night of vacation in Santa Fe, and then read it aloud to my family the next day on the 10 hour road trip back home. Yes, the whole thing. I did voices and everything. They all loved it.
Nice memory.
I want to do a book club this year, too. Really, Really, Truly Do.
Rachel, I actually don’t know. I put the picture on the post as a hint to someone that I’d like to have one of those Bible, in spite of my making fun in the very next post of the plethora of specialized Bibles. I don’t have one and haven’t looked closely at the ESV either, although I’ve heard good things about it.
Pingback: Across the Page » TBR in 2009: A nonbinding resolution
Awesome list. I love that John Adams flick. I would pay big $$$ for the pine tree flag they use in the intro to all the sessions. However, I will say that you might feel a bit sad watching it… especially in light of current politics and world events.
Praying you’ll have success in 2009 with all your projects! 😉
Great list! I love how you have organized them all.
That is a mighty list of goals…i mean projects for the coming year. I wish you luck!
I like your idea of “projects” too, esp the house cleaning one LOL Knowing my own weaknesses, I made up a simple list of 10 things I aim to do in 2009.
Have just included a “Read A Book a Month” Challenge in the hope that my fellow countryfolks (famous for only read about 1.5 books a year) to join in!
Happy New Year!!!
Pingback: Best Books of 2008 « Hope Is the Word
Pingback: TulipGirl » Blog Archive » 2009 Daydreaming
Pingback: Bookish Plans for 2009 « Hope Is the Word
Pingback: Semicolon End of the Year/Beginning of the Year List of Lists at Semicolon
Wow you are ambitious!
I had read that tackle one room per month notion in a book which referred to it as the Danish way of cleaning but it included touch everything stored in that room and reorganize it, purge, and deep clean everything (including walls). I set out to do that in 2008 and I actually did accomplish the task! Focusing on one room per month was not hard at all.
Good luck with all the projects!
I am going to have to bookmark you answer. I loved the project ideas.
I journal when I study the Bible. I find it helps me think things through. I also study using concordances and dictionaries, and I chart out passages. I pray God will reveal Himself on a deeper level to you this year.
I like your project idea. It has been interesting reading about them.
I sent you an email to join in on the book club project. Sounds like fun.
Robin of mytwoblessings
I understand about FlyLady wearing you out. I just couldn’t take all those e-mails, and that 15-minutes a day thing? Bosh! I was running around all over trying to get all her stuff done. I found Houseworks, by Cynthia Townley Ewer, and it has been great for helping me get back on track. It’s a straighforward, no-nonsense books that doesn’t overwhelm
I would like to read and watch John Adams, too. I hope you are successful on your many projects!
Pingback: 7 Quick Takes Friday at Semicolon
This is a great idea. It’s so much easier to say “I’ve got a project to do”. I like your list too. I am going to start out much smaller but “projects” don’t have to start Jan. 1!
Thanks for sharing.
Pingback: Semicolon » Blog Archive » Semicolon’s Old, New, and Ongoing Projects