Last week, Jason and I sat down for our annual planning and goal-setting meeting. This has become a long-standing tradition for us, and it has made such a difference in keeping us on the same page and making sure our top priorities truly stay our top priorities.

If you'd like to peek behind the scenes, you can read about how we do our annual planning session here — and how we do a year-end review (which is honestly one of the most important steps in the whole process).

Today, though, I wanted to share a few encouragements for those of you who are newer to planning or goal setting and then I'll share our family's goals for 2026.

If you're just getting started, I highly recommend choosing only a couple of small goals. When we try to pile on too much at once, it quickly becomes overwhelming, and overwhelm almost always leads to quitting.

Big change rarely happens all at once. It happens through small, steady habits built over time.

For example, rebuilding my reading habit has been more than a decade in the making. I was always a big reader as a kid, but something about college knocked reading right out of my everyday rhythms. Years later, Jason and I decided to intentionally pick it back up again, and I was thrilled when I managed to read 20 books that first year.

Eventually, that became 45 books… then 60… and now my slightly insane goal of 104 books (which breaks down to two books a week). That goal feels challenging but realistic for me now, because the habit has been built slowly over many years. And just to keep things honest: in 2025, I absolutely did not hit that goal. And that's okay.

But exercise? That's a completely different story for me.

That's a habit I'm still actively trying to cultivate. I'm working on rebuilding strength, finding workouts I actually enjoy, protecting my body from injury, and strengthening my pelvic floor again. Some days it feels like a victory just to fit in a short walk or stretch. This is not the season for me to sign up for a marathon. This is the season for small, steady consistency.

And that's exactly how goal setting should work.

If you're a goal-setting olympian who loves mapping out big dreams across lots of areas, have fun and go for it.

If you're brand new to planning, maybe start with just one or two small goals this month and gently build from there as the year allows.

There truly is no one right way to do this. In fact, one of my friends, Crystal (who is an absolute mega-planner), isn't setting any formal goals at all this year. Her season simply calls for margin and flexibility instead of targets and benchmarks. And that's wise.

The most important thing is this: do what is right for your family in the season you're currently in.

Some seasons are for building and stretching. Some seasons are for healing and stabilizing. Some seasons are for dreaming big. Some seasons are for simplifying and catching your breath.

All of them are valuable. Planning isn't about pressure or performance, it's about stewardship, clarity, and making small intentional choices that support the life God has placed in front of you. Start where you are. Take the next small step. And trust that steady faithfulness adds up more than you realize.

READING:

• Jason and Jami both set the goal of reading 104 books this year
• J&J both set an additional goal of reading 35,000 pages overall
• Jami wants to read both The Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as The Wheel of Time series this year
• Jason has set a goal of reading 50% fiction and 50% non-fiction this year

BIBLE READING:

• Jason is doing the Bible in a Year via the Bible App
• Jason has timers set throughout his day that remind him to stop and pray for various things
• Jami is reading the Bible in a Year by reading through the ESV Reader's Bible. A special version of the Bible that contains no chapter or verse titles or references. So it looks and reads like a regular book.
• Jami does her devotional time after Bible reading by praying through the Psalms and writing in her prayer journal.
• For family worship, Jason's goal is 5 nights a week. He reads a chapter of his current devotional book, reads a Proverb per day, practices catechisms, and sings a hymn.

HEALTH:

• Jami's goal is to lose 30lbs
• Jami will be starting off the year following the Trim Healthy Mama diet and will reevaluate as needed
• Jami's exercise plan is to do the Nourish Move Love 30 Day Beginner Workout plan in January. Then to repeat it in February with heavier weights.
• Jami's goal is to start weight lifting at some point this year.
• Jason's health goals include losing weight, eating Carnivore diet, and weight lifting at the gym 3 times per week.
• Jami's goal is for the whole family to eat 3-5 probitoic rich foods a day like yogurt, kefir, kombucha, fermented veggies, etc.

FAMILY GOALS:

• Restart monthly date nights with individual kids
• Weekly family worship
• Better schedules for kids bedtimes
• No sugar January to reset after sickness

MORNING ROUTINES:

• Jami's goal is up by 6am during weekdays: coffee, Bible reading & prayer, workout, shower and dress
• Jason's goal is out the door by 5am, 3 times per week to do the gym. Otherwise out the door by 6:15am
• Kids up by 7:30am, school starts by 8:10am!

JAMI'S PERSONAL GOALS:

• Start a garden at their new house
• Grow 3 new things
• Start beekeeping by catching a wild swarm
• Start meat rabbits
• Finish setting up her office/craft room
• Finish the punch needle stockings
• Make a rug for the little kids room

If this list feels inspiring — wonderful. If it feels overwhelming — please hear this with grace: these are our goals for our season, not a template for anyone else to copy.

Your season, your capacity, your family rhythms, and your energy levels may look completely different, and that's exactly as it should be.

The point of sharing this isn't comparison. It's simply to show what intentionality can look like when two people sit down, dream together, and commit to small faithful steps over time.

You don't need a perfect plan or a packed goal list to move forward. You just need one small step in the right direction.

So maybe today that looks like jotting down one thing you'd love to grow in this year. Maybe it's having a simple conversation with your spouse over coffee. Maybe it's choosing one tiny habit to practice consistently for the next month.

Start where you are. Stay faithful in the small things. And trust that God will multiply your steady obedience in ways you can't yet see.

If you'd like hands-on help with planning and goal setting, I'm hosting live trainings January 12–16 inside our Planning & Goal Setting course.

Each day we'll meet live, I'll teach you how to:

• set realistic goals

• break them into action steps

• plan in a way that works with your life (not against it)

You'll also receive all of my planning worksheets so you can take immediate action.

If you've struggled to make goals that stick—and you want 2026 to be different—join me for our 3rd annual planning retreat. We'll do it together.

There's something about a fresh notebook, a warm cup of coffee, and a quiet conversation with your husband that makes you believe anything is possible.

Once a year, Jason and I carve out intentional time to sit down together and talk through our family — what worked, what didn't, what God might be inviting us into next, and what needs to gently be laid down. It's not fancy. There's no color-coded planner system or perfect spreadsheet. Just two tired parents, a lot of dreaming, and a deep desire to steward our family well.

Every time I share a glimpse of these planning days online, I get flooded with messages asking how we actually do it. So today, I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing exactly how Jason and I plan our family goals and why this rhythm has become one of the most grounding practices in our home.

For years, I did this planning mostly on my own. I would ask for his input or run ideas by him, but he just wasn't a natural planner in the same way I was.

I hear this often from wives who wish their husbands were into planning like Jason is now. But don't push it. Everyone's personalities are different, and some people naturally find more value in planning than others. Eventually your husband may come around and get on board, but invite him into it gently, and don't be upset if he doesn't want to jump in right away. You can absolutly plan and goal set by yourself!

We do a big meeting every New Year, but we also do "big picture" check-ins throughout the year as needed. Don't fret if this doesn't happen on January 1st, or even February 1st. It is never a bad time to pause, plan, and be intentional with your time and your family.

Your planning session doesn't need to be fancy or follow any sort of curriculum. We've slowly developed a system that works well for us simply through trial and error.

We sit down together and just start chatting about our year. We take turns sharing what worked really well in the previous year that we want to carry forward and what didn't work so well and needs a new solution (like eating out less, getting more consistent with school rhythms, etc.).

At this stage, we're not looking for all the answers yet. We're simply opening the conversation and getting ideas flowing. It can sometimes take us a while to hit our groove with planning.

From there, Jason pulls up our goals from the previous year on his phone, and we go through them one by one.

This year, there were several goals I never even started. 2025 ended up looking very different than we anticipated, and some of those goals just didn't fit anymore and that's okay. Release those goals and move on… or carry them into the new year if they still feel worth pursuing.

We break our goals down into categories, so we review them category by category and decide what we want to adjust or set fresh. For example, we always set reading goals. So we talk through how we did last year, which books we loved, what didn't work, and what we want to change moving forward. As we talk, we write down the new goals for the year.

You think you'll remember everything you talked about… but you won't. Write it all down so your goals are actually usable and not just floating around in your head.

We keep our goals in shared notes so we can easily pull them up throughout the year and review them together. It's actually really fun to look back and see several years of goals listed out — you can see growth, patterns, answered prayers, and seasons of change.

As we enter 2026, life feels full and busy in the very real sense of the word. We have eight kids ranging from 13 down to 1. We're juggling doctor's appointments, more surgeries for Radley, eye appointments, everyday life, and school. We also run our business together, which tends to fill any spare moments we thought we had. And oh yeah — we also want to prioritize our marriage, exercise, eating well…you get it.

Life moves at a breakneck speed. And those of us who are parents know how quickly the years fly by. There's no room to drift through life unintentionally.

A few years ago, we realized we were saying yes to almost everything, opportunities, commitments, projects, and quietly wondering why we felt so exhausted and disconnected. When we finally slowed down and really talked through our priorities, it became clear that some good things were crowding out the best things. That one planning conversation reshaped our entire year.

Slowing down to plan together helps us stay on the same page, which is huge for our marriage and our family. It also helps us clearly see what we need to say yes to…and what we need to lovingly say no to. In a full schedule, there are so many good things that simply don't fit the season we're in. Planning helps us recognize that with clarity and peace.

Ultimately, our planning isn't about productivity. It's about stewardship. These years with our children are precious and fleeting, and we want to walk through them awake, grateful, and aligned, trusting God to guide our steps even when the plan changes.

Tomorrow, I'll be sharing what our family goals are for 2026 as well as my personal goals for the year.

If you've never done a planning conversation with your spouse before, start simple.

• Pick a quiet evening or weekend morning.

• Make coffee or tea.

• Grab a notebook and pen.

• Ask each other:

  • What worked well this past year?

  • What felt heavy or stressful?

  • What rhythms do we want to protect?

  • What is one area we want to grow in as a family?

  • What new skill do you want to learn this year?
  • What are you currently excited about for the year ahead?

You don't need a perfect system. You just need a willingness to start the conversation.

If you'd like hands-on help with planning and goal setting, I'm hosting live trainings January 12–16 inside our Planning & Goal Setting course.

Each day we'll meet live, I'll teach you how to:

• set realistic goals

• break them into action steps

• plan in a way that works with your life (not against it)

You'll also receive all of my planning worksheets so you can take immediate action.

If you've struggled to make goals that stick—and you want 2026 to be different—join me for our 3rd annual planning retreat. We'll do it together.

Sign up at: FindingJoyinYourHome.com/Planning

If you've been following along in this goal-setting series, you already know I'm not interested in hype-y, pressure-filled planning that burns you out by week two. I want plans that actually fit your real life and help you grow in faithfulness, peace, and purpose.

And that starts with something most of us skip.

Before we make new goals… before we build new routines… before we write a single list for the year ahead… we need to do the very first (and honestly, most clarifying) step:

Look back on last year with an accurate view.

Not through the lens of guilt. Not through the lens of "I should've done more." But with honesty, gratitude, and wisdom, so we can see what really worked, what quietly wasn't working, and what God may be inviting us into next.

Because you don't need a perfect fresh start date to move forward. You need clarity. And clarity almost always begins by looking back.

Most of us skip straight to the "new year plan." New routines! New schedules! New systems! New goals!

But if you don't pause to look back first, you'll almost always do one of two things:

1. Repeat the same patterns (because you never identified what actually wasn't working), or

2. Make an unrealistic plan that looks great on paper and falls apart by week two (ME! I do this!!)

A year-end review helps you slow down and ask:

• What actually helped our home feel peaceful?

• What consistently made things feel chaotic?

• Where did my priorities drift?

• What's one small change that would make life noticeably better?

That's where real planning begins.

Before you evaluate what needs to change, start with what's good.

Not because everything was easy, but because gratitude reorients your heart. It helps you see that God was present, even in a hard year.

Try writing down:

• A few things you're thankful for from this past year

• A handful of answered prayers (big or small)

• Small joys you don't want to forget

And if you have the energy? Keep going. Some of the sweetest year-end reviews happen when you turn the paper over and just keep writing.

Gratitude doesn't erase the hard things. But it keeps your review from becoming grumbling, complaining, or self-condemnation.

This part surprises people every time. Because we tend to assume we know what mattered most, what made the year "good" or "hard", but your husband and kids might remember something completely different.

Ask them:

• "What was your favorite memory this year?"

• "What are you thankful for from this year?"

• "What did you love doing as a family?"

And don't be surprised if their answer is something simple. Not the big trip or the elaborate holiday moment.

Sometimes it's: "Remember when you played Legos with me?" And you're like… Really? That's the moment you held onto?

Yes. And that's such a sweet reminder of what actually lands in your kids' hearts.

A year-end review isn't complete without honesty.

Write down the hardest thing about the year: just a sentence or two.

• Was it a hard season emotionally?

• Health issues?

• A new baby?

• A move?

• A stressful schedule?

• A lack of routine that slowly turned into chaos?

You don't have to process your whole life on one sheet of paper. The goal is simply to acknowledge reality. Because naming the hard thing helps you stop carrying it like a fog you can't explain.

This is where year-end review becomes deeply grounding.

Instead of starting with "my home" (which is where many of us start), evaluate in this order:

1. My relationship with God

2. My marriage and parenting

3. My home and homemaking

Because you can have the most perfectly clean house in the world… and if your heart is dry and your relationships are hurting, a sparkling kitchen doesn't fix that.

So ask three simple questions in each category:

• What worked?

• What didn't work?

• What needs to shift?

This doesn't have to be dramatic. It might be:

• What worked: "I found a Bible reading plan I actually liked."

• What didn't work: "I didn't make time for it consistently."

Even that insight is valuable, because now you're not stuck in vague guilt, you're seeing a clear next step.

• What strengthened connection this year?

• What consistently caused tension?

• What rhythms do we need more of?

Sometimes the issue isn't that you need a better routine. Sometimes you need more margin, more communication, or more intentional time together.

This is where you can finally get practical:

• What routines brought peace?

• What areas spiraled into overwhelm?

• What one or two "pain points" made everything feel harder?

For many women, the big culprits are:

• Laundry

• Meal planning / kitchen rhythm

• Bedtime / sleep habits

• Morning routine (which is often tied to evening routine)

And here's what I've found: often there are one or two small changes that would make your whole home feel lighter. But you can't see them when you're overwhelmed and thinking, "Everything is awful." A year-end review helps you pinpoint what's actually happening.

You're not doing this review to judge yourself. You're doing it to notice patterns.

For example:

• If you're always stressed in the morning, check your evening routine.

• If your home feels chaotic, look for one "keystone habit" (like laundry or dishes) that affects everything else.

• If you keep falling off routines when life gets hard, your next plan needs more flexibility, not more intensity.

This is where a lot of women have a breakthrough: They don't need a bigger plan. They need a smaller plan they can actually stick to.

This is the part that changes everything. Because many of us want to set a 30-point checklist… or a 130-point checklist… and overhaul our whole life in one week. And it doesn't work. (Ask me how I know.)

Instead, as you plan your next year, ask:

• What's one priority God is putting on my heart right now?

• What's one routine that would serve my family well in this season?

• What's one tiny habit that would make the biggest difference?

Small changes feel insignificant in the moment, but over time they build a completely different home.

If you read this and realize, "Wow, I really didn't do the planning I wanted to do," let me remind you: It's not too late. Not even a little bit. Today is a new day. God's mercies are new every morning.

So don't beat yourself up. Don't wallow in guilt. Don't throw in the towel because you missed an "ideal" start date.

Just take the next faithful step.

If you want a quick place to start, here you go:

• What am I thankful for from this past year?

• What are my 5 favorite memories?

• What was the hardest thing about this year?

• What worked in my relationship with God? What didn't?

• What worked in my marriage/parenting? What didn't?

• What worked in my home/homemaking? What didn't?

• What is one small change that would make the next season feel more peaceful?

Then pray:

"Lord, give me clarity and wisdom. Show me what matters most. Help me take action with humility and joy."

If you'd like hands-on help with planning and goal setting, I'm hosting live trainings January 12–16 inside our Planning & Goal Setting course.

Each day we'll meet live, I'll teach you how to:

• set realistic goals
• break them into action steps
• plan in a way that works with your life (not against it)

You'll also receive all of my planning worksheets so you can take immediate action.

If you've struggled to make goals that stick—and you want 2026 to be different—join me for our 3rd annual planning retreat. We'll do it together.

If you've been following along in this goal-setting series, you already know I'm not interested in hype-y, pressure-filled planning that burns you out by week two. I want plans that actually fit your real life and help you grow in faithfulness, peace, and purpose.

And that starts with something most of us skip.

Before we make new goals… before we build new routines… before we write a single list for the year ahead… we need to do the very first (and honestly, most clarifying) step:

Look back on last year with an accurate view.

Not through the lens of guilt. Not through the lens of "I should've done more." But with honesty, gratitude, and wisdom, so we can see what really worked, what quietly wasn't working, and what God may be inviting us into next.

Because you don't need a perfect fresh start date to move forward. You need clarity. And clarity almost always begins by looking back.

Most of us skip straight to the "new year plan." New routines! New schedules! New systems! New goals!

But if you don't pause to look back first, you'll almost always do one of two things:

1. Repeat the same patterns (because you never identified what actually wasn't working), or

2. Make an unrealistic plan that looks great on paper and falls apart by week two (ME! I do this!!)

A year-end review helps you slow down and ask:

• What actually helped our home feel peaceful?

• What consistently made things feel chaotic?

• Where did my priorities drift?

• What's one small change that would make life noticeably better?

That's where real planning begins.

Before you evaluate what needs to change, start with what's good.

Not because everything was easy, but because gratitude reorients your heart. It helps you see that God was present, even in a hard year.

Try writing down:

• A few things you're thankful for from this past year

• A handful of answered prayers (big or small)

• Small joys you don't want to forget

And if you have the energy? Keep going. Some of the sweetest year-end reviews happen when you turn the paper over and just keep writing.

Gratitude doesn't erase the hard things. But it keeps your review from becoming grumbling, complaining, or self-condemnation.

This part surprises people every time. Because we tend to assume we know what mattered most, what made the year "good" or "hard", but your husband and kids might remember something completely different.

Ask them:

• "What was your favorite memory this year?"

• "What are you thankful for from this year?"

• "What did you love doing as a family?"

And don't be surprised if their answer is something simple. Not the big trip or the elaborate holiday moment.

Sometimes it's: "Remember when you played Legos with me?" And you're like… Really? That's the moment you held onto?

Yes. And that's such a sweet reminder of what actually lands in your kids' hearts.

A year-end review isn't complete without honesty.

Write down the hardest thing about the year: just a sentence or two.

• Was it a hard season emotionally?

• Health issues?

• A new baby?

• A move?

• A stressful schedule?

• A lack of routine that slowly turned into chaos?

You don't have to process your whole life on one sheet of paper. The goal is simply to acknowledge reality. Because naming the hard thing helps you stop carrying it like a fog you can't explain.

This is where year-end review becomes deeply grounding.

Instead of starting with "my home" (which is where many of us start), evaluate in this order:

1. My relationship with God

2. My marriage and parenting

3. My home and homemaking

Because you can have the most perfectly clean house in the world… and if your heart is dry and your relationships are hurting, a sparkling kitchen doesn't fix that.

So ask three simple questions in each category:

• What worked?

• What didn't work?

• What needs to shift?

This doesn't have to be dramatic. It might be:

• What worked: "I found a Bible reading plan I actually liked."

• What didn't work: "I didn't make time for it consistently."

Even that insight is valuable, because now you're not stuck in vague guilt, you're seeing a clear next step.

• What strengthened connection this year?

• What consistently caused tension?

• What rhythms do we need more of?

Sometimes the issue isn't that you need a better routine. Sometimes you need more margin, more communication, or more intentional time together.

This is where you can finally get practical:

• What routines brought peace?

• What areas spiraled into overwhelm?

• What one or two "pain points" made everything feel harder?

For many women, the big culprits are:

• Laundry

• Meal planning / kitchen rhythm

• Bedtime / sleep habits

• Morning routine (which is often tied to evening routine)

And here's what I've found: often there are one or two small changes that would make your whole home feel lighter. But you can't see them when you're overwhelmed and thinking, "Everything is awful." A year-end review helps you pinpoint what's actually happening.

You're not doing this review to judge yourself. You're doing it to notice patterns.

For example:

• If you're always stressed in the morning, check your evening routine.

• If your home feels chaotic, look for one "keystone habit" (like laundry or dishes) that affects everything else.

• If you keep falling off routines when life gets hard, your next plan needs more flexibility, not more intensity.

This is where a lot of women have a breakthrough: They don't need a bigger plan. They need a smaller plan they can actually stick to.

This is the part that changes everything. Because many of us want to set a 30-point checklist… or a 130-point checklist… and overhaul our whole life in one week. And it doesn't work. (Ask me how I know.)

Instead, as you plan your next year, ask:

• What's one priority God is putting on my heart right now?

• What's one routine that would serve my family well in this season?

• What's one tiny habit that would make the biggest difference?

Small changes feel insignificant in the moment, but over time they build a completely different home.

If you read this and realize, "Wow, I really didn't do the planning I wanted to do," let me remind you: It's not too late. Not even a little bit. Today is a new day. God's mercies are new every morning.

So don't beat yourself up. Don't wallow in guilt. Don't throw in the towel because you missed an "ideal" start date.

Just take the next faithful step.

If you want a quick place to start, here you go:

• What am I thankful for from this past year?

• What are my 5 favorite memories?

• What was the hardest thing about this year?

• What worked in my relationship with God? What didn't?

• What worked in my marriage/parenting? What didn't?

• What worked in my home/homemaking? What didn't?

• What is one small change that would make the next season feel more peaceful?

Then pray:

"Lord, give me clarity and wisdom. Show me what matters most. Help me take action with humility and joy."

If you'd like hands-on help with planning and goal setting, I'm hosting live trainings January 12–16 inside our Planning & Goal Setting course.

Each day we'll meet live, I'll teach you how to:

• set realistic goals
• break them into action steps
• plan in a way that works with your life (not against it)

You'll also receive all of my planning worksheets so you can take immediate action.

If you've struggled to make goals that stick—and you want 2026 to be different—join me for our 3rd annual planning retreat. We'll do it together.

sign up here: https://findingjoyinyourhome.com/planning

Boom. It's January.

The month where we all set wildly impossible New Year's resolutions… burn out by January 3rd… and then spend the rest of the year feeling vaguely guilty about it.

Obviously, that's not the way we're meant to approach change.

But what I've noticed this year is something interesting. After years of failed resolutions, a lot of people have swung hard in the opposite direction. They're done trying. Done planning. Done setting goals altogether.

"No resolutions." "No goals." "No pressure."

And while I understand the exhaustion behind that response, I don't actually think it's the answer either.

You don't have to set New Year goals, but I do think thoughtful planning and goal setting is a very good and very healthy practice. The key isn't whether you plan. It's how.

When people talk about New Year's resolutions, there's usually an assumption that January 1st is somehow magical. Like you wake up as a brand-new person who suddenly has more discipline, motivation, and willpower than you did on December 31st.

That's obviously ridiculous. So instead of trying and failing again, many of us swear off making changes altogether. But here's the thing: the New Year is a natural time to reassess, not because it's magical, but because of what comes right before it.

We're coming off Christmas. A season of feasting, celebrating, late nights, disrupted routines, and full calendars. By the time January rolls around, most of us are craving rhythm again. Simplicity. Structure. Normal bedtimes. Regular meals. It's completely natural, after a season of celebration, to want to reestablish healthy routines.

That's often when we start thinking about things like:

• eating better

• moving our bodies

• getting up earlier

• having more energy

• being more intentional with our time

• diving back into Bible reading
• cleaning routines and household management and more

That desire isn't shallow. It's human. The problem isn't wanting change. The problem is how we've been taught to pursue it.

I've never set a New Year's resolution in my life.

Why?

Because resolutions feel like wishes you throw into the universe and hope will somehow happen on their own.

"I want to lose weight." "I want to get fit." "I want to be healthier."

Those aren't bad desires, but they're not plans.

Let's say someone makes a resolution to "lose weight." By December, they're often frustrated, discouraged, and sometimes heavier than when they started. Not because they're lazy, but because there was never a clear target or a path forward.

A goal, on the other hand, changes everything.

Is it semantics? Maybe. But it's semantics that matter.

One of my personal goals for 2026 is to lose 30 pounds.

The number itself is somewhat arbitrary. What I really want is to:

• fit into my pre–baby #8 clothes again

• have less pain and stiffness

• regain my energy

• rebuild my strength

If that happens at 25 pounds or 35 pounds, that's fine. But having a concrete number gives me something to aim for. More importantly, making this a goal instead of a resolution allows me to create action steps—and that's where real change happens.

My end goal is simple:

Be down 30 pounds by December 31, 2026.

That tells me two important things:

1. This isn't going to happen overnight.

2. I don't need to rush or punish my body to get there.

So instead of demanding instant results, I ask a better question: "What small, realistic steps can I take consistently over time?"

Here's what that looks like for me right now:

Step #1: Diet I had good success with Trim Healthy Mama in 2025 (and in years past), so I'm starting there again. This feels doable because it's familiar. If it weren't, I'd make only diet my focus for January and add other steps later as I got this into an easy to manage habit.

Step #2: Strength training I'm doing Nourish Move Love's 30-day beginner workout. And yes, it's humbling. I'm using 2.5lb weights (don't laugh!) and taking it slow. After baby #8, my core and pelvic floor need rebuilding. My goal for February is to repeat the program with 5lb weights. Eventually, I want to get into weight lifting this year, but not at the expense of healing.

Step #3: Walking I'm walking the two-mile loop at our local lake two to three times per week, weather permitting. Nothing fancy. Just movement and getting outside with the kids!

Step #4: Gut health I'm back to daily kefir (December took me off track) and plan to slowly reintroduce cultured vegetables in February and beyond. This is a key piece for me right now. But I'll take this one slowly with all my other goals I have.

That's it. Four steps. No perfection required.

As I move through January, February, and March, I'll reassess.

Do I need to adjust my eating? Increase strength training? Pull back and rebuild basics? Check iron levels again? (Getting my iron up helped me lose 10 pounds at the end of 2025.)

I would have loved to lose all 40 pounds in 2025. That didn't happen. And instead of spiraling, I learned something important: my body needed support first. Now I feel poised to make real progress in 2026, not because I'm forcing change, but because I'm working with my season, not against it.

Throughout this week, I'm sharing a short series on planning and goal setting. Here's what's coming:

• How to evaluate last year without guilt or discouragement

• How Jason and I plan family goals

• A breakdown of our family goals and my personal for 2026

• My word for 2026 and a prayer for the future

If there's an area of goal planning you're struggling with, or a goal you don't know how to break down, tell me. I'd love to address it in this series.

If you'd like hands-on help with planning and goal setting, I'm hosting live trainings January 12–16 inside our Planning & Goal Setting course.

Each day we'll meet live, I'll teach you how to:

• set realistic goals

• break them into action steps

• plan in a way that works with your life (not against it)

You'll also receive all of my planning worksheets so you can take immediate action.

If you've struggled to make goals that stick—and you want 2026 to be different—join me for our 3rd annual planning retreat. We'll do it together.

Sign U Here: https://findingjoyinyourhome.com/planning

You can read the article here: https://findingjoyinyourhome.com/i-dont-want-to-forget-this-year-what-god-taught-me-in-a-hard-season/

You can read this blog post here: https://findingjoyinyourhome.com/still-learning-recultivating-the-habit-of-reading-in-a-full-season-of-life/

Read the article here: https://findingjoyinyourhome.com/this-is-me-starting-again-returning-to-the-work-of-home-faith-and-everyday-faithfulness/

Big changes are happening — a new home, new routines, and a whole new season of life! In this honest and encouraging episode, Jami shares how she's rethinking her homemaking rhythms and routines as her family transitions into a new home (and a new chapter).

Whether you're moving, welcoming a baby, starting a new schedule, or simply realizing your old routines aren't working anymore, this episode will help you refocus and find peace in the middle of change. Jami walks through nine practical and faith-filled steps — from praying over your priorities to simplifying systems, involving your kids, and holding your plans with open hands.

If you've been craving a fresh start or just need gentle encouragement for your current season, this is the perfect episode to listen to while folding laundry or brewing your morning coffee.

🎧 Listen in and be reminded: change doesn't have to steal your peace — it can be the perfect opportunity to invite God into your home's rhythm.

• Join our private community to chat about this podcast episode: FindingJoyCommunity.com
• Watch the podcast on YouTube if you want! Finding Joy in Your Home on YouTube
• Check out our amazing new app at https://joyfulhomeapp.com/
• We are undergoing a huge website redesign. We will be moving things up a ton and will have a super fun relaunch soon - big giveaways and other fun stuff. Stay tuned!
• Our Sponsor: Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/HOME! #honeylovepod

Ever find yourself exhausted in the very life you prayed for? In this week's episode, Jami opens her heart about seasons of weariness and how to trust God when joy seems out of reach. Drawing from a listener's heartfelt question, she offers both spiritual encouragement and practical wisdom for tired moms—especially those in the thick of little years and endless noise.

You'll hear Jami's own stories of fatigue, faith, and God's sustaining grace through motherhood, plus encouragement to check your physical and spiritual health, invite your husband into your struggles, and find joy in everyday faithfulness.

✨ Topics covered:

• Finding purpose when motherhood feels heavy

• The difference between physical and spiritual exhaustion

• Encouragement for moms with multiple young children

• Training kids in chores (without losing your mind!)

• Why God's strength meets us right where we're worn out

Listen in for fresh encouragement and truth: your work in the Lord is never in vain.

• Join our private community to chat about this podcast episode: FindingJoyCommunity.com
• Watch the podcast on YouTube if you want! Finding Joy in Your Home on YouTube
• Check out our amazing new app at https://joyfulhomeapp.com/
• We are undergoing a huge website redesign. We will be moving things up a ton and will have a super fun relaunch soon - big giveaways and other fun stuff. Stay tuned!

Do you ever feel like your days at home are stuck on repeat? They're mundane, overwhelming, or just plain boring? You're not alone! In this episode of our Back to the Basics Homemaking series, Jami shares honest struggles from her own journey (including the diaper years with back-to-back twins!) and offers four practical, faith-filled steps to help you recover joy in your home. From memorizing Scripture and filling your house with worship to seeing homemaking as a ministry and caring for your body, you'll find encouragement to approach everyday tasks with renewed purpose and delight.

• Join our private community to chat about this podcast episode: FindingJoyCommunity.com
• Watch the podcast on YouTube if you want! Finding Joy in Your Home on YouTube
• Check out our amazing new app at https://joyfulhomeapp.com/
• We are undergoing a huge website redesign. We will be moving things up a ton and will have a super fun relaunch soon - big giveaways and other fun stuff. Stay tuned!