Part 1: Reflecting on the Past Year—Wins, Challenges, and Lessons
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you don’t need a fancy hotel, endless snacks, or uninterrupted hours to plan your family’s year (although uninterrupted hours do sound dreamy). Trust me—I love the idea of a weekend getaway to brainstorm goals, reflect, and set intentions, but most of the time? That’s just not realistic.
So what do we do instead? We sit down, right in our own home—sometimes with kids running around in the background—and we make it work. Planning doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be intentional. And let me tell you, those messy conversations with coffee in one hand and Legos scattered around the room? They’ve been some of the most meaningful planning sessions we’ve had as a family.
Start With Reflection
Before you can plan where you’re going, you have to look at where you’ve been. This is where we start—by reflecting on the past year. Grab a notebook (or a whiteboard if you’re fancy) and ask these questions:
- What worked well this year? Celebrate the wins—big or small. Did one of your kids grow more confident in their learning? Did you build in more family time? Write it down and thank God for it.
- What areas felt challenging? Maybe schedules got too packed or there were areas of growth that didn’t quite happen the way you hoped. Be honest and open without focusing too much on what went wrong.
- What lessons did we learn? Life teaches us constantly, and looking back helps us see where God was moving—even when things felt chaotic.
Why Reflection Matters
Reflection isn’t about nitpicking what didn’t go perfectly; it’s about celebrating what did and learning from the rest. It gives you clarity and helps you move forward with intention. And let’s be real, looking back reminds us how faithful God has been in every season—even the tough ones.
This past year for me? It was a year of reflection and growth—not just in my family but personally. And let me tell you, the growth I experienced personally made a huge impact on how I showed up for my kids, my husband, and myself. Sometimes the best way to lead your family is to start by working on yourself. God really did some refining work, and looking back, I can see how that shaped the vision we’re carrying forward.
Scripture to Reflect On:
- Lamentations 3:22-23 – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
- Psalm 90:12 – “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”