New Year, New Goals: Aspirations for 2025 from 5 Sisters

Prairie Sisters Unscripted-

As the new year begins, many of us find ourselves dreaming of ways to “better” our lives – how we can improve our space, our time management, or simplify our busy lives.

Whether it’s managing a more efficient household, or carving out time for meaningful family activities, we have a desire to build a home that reflects our values and goals.

To kick off 2025, all five of us sisters will be sharing our personal aspirations for our homes this year. From homeschooling strategies to budgeting breakthroughs to attitude adjustments, we hope our goals offer inspiration for all of you seeking a fresh start.

New Year New Goals: Excerpts from Five Sisters

Kim J.

As the mental and physical restart of a new year approaches I’ve been thinking about what aspirations and goals I’d like to start working on in the new year. Although weight loss is always something I hope for each year I seem to always disappoint myself by January 4th. So, I usually skip that one other than aspiring to choose nutritional foods for my body as often as possible.

Instead, my hope is to focus on 3 other things. The first is to finish reading through the Bible chronologically. As you may have read in a recent post of mine, I’ve gotten through the Old Testament in a year a half. So, this year my goal is to get through the New Testament. Although the original hope was to read the Bible in a year, as I began going through the Old Testament I quickly realized a slower pace would be much more beneficial than racing through just to say I’d done it in a year.

Joshua 1:8 says “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

The second thing I plan on doing, at least for the first 3-6 months, is using cash only. We’ve been budgeting for a couple of years but things always seem to slide though or extra shopping trips sneak in. So I’ll be trying envelopes/ziplocks for a while to try and get back on track.

Luke 14:28 says “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?

The third, but obviously not the last, is to choose to find moments in life that bring great joy for our family. Oddly enough, I think this coincides with budgeting and reading through the Bible. If I can budget carefully, I can afford to plan adventures for my family. When we lived in Southern Ontario, we often went to one of the two Great Lakes we lived nearby for the day or once in a while on the weekend. Those days were highlights for our family. I’d like to make more memories like those here, in Manitoba, for our family as well. Along with creating exciting memories for my family I strive to better myself as a mom and wife. Reading through accounts of the Bible and growing closer to God has given me new perspective and helped align my thoughts and actions to what is written in the Bible for us to learn. I struggle daily with keeping calm amongst the chaos of 3 boys and its by God’s grace and strength that I get through most days mentally. This is an area of life that God has been working hard on with me.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 says “And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life — this is indeed a gift from God.” 

When I was looking through verses on how God wants us to use our money I came across these verses in Timothy that I’d love to share as well.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. 

When we use our lives to serve God and others instead of ourselves, that will bring us closer to God and our focus will shift when difficult situations come our way. I pray that this year you will grow closer to the Lord and live in His will for your life.

Kim B.

Last year I made a list of goals for the year, some of them stuck and some didn’t. But that’s ok! Life isn’t about perfection, just about doing the best you can in your season of life. One of my goals from last year was to stop colouring my hair dark and go back to my natural, dirty blonde hair color. I did that! As an ex-hairstylist, my hair has been important to me for many years. While I still enjoy styling my hair, I wanted to stop using the chemicals on my roots every 3-4 weeks (yes, that’s how often I coloured it!)

Last year I started the journey of decluttering my home and I want to continue it in 2025. I found The Minimal Mom on Youtube last year and have binged most of her videos. She helps you go through your house and gives helpful tips on decluttering and why it’s important! One of the main takeaways from her videos that’s stuck with me is that: the more stuff you have, the more you have to manage. While it’s obvious, it’s not something I thought about in that way before. If you want to check out her blog, click here https://www.theminimalmom.com/

So my goal for 2025 is to create a peaceful home with less to manage so I can spend more time with those I love and doing what I enjoy!

Courtney

2025: another year. It seems a little crazy that it’s almost here, although it seems to be that way every year. And while in reality, it’s just another new day. For a planner like me, I do like making goals and lists. I have learned overtime though that goals do have a way of discouraging even a planner like myself. So as a result, I’ve switched from goals to aspirations–thinking about areas of my life that I want (need) to change or grow in.  

Since becoming a mom in 2021, although noticing it more once my son was a toddler, I am definitely not always slow to anger. It is not natural for me to respond with gentleness when things don’t go my way or my children are disobedient. I am not a naturally patient person and being a mom has definitely shone some light on that harsh reality for myself. Once my oldest started to demonstrate that he liked to make his own choices (often not ones I wanted him to), and the real disciplining started in our own household, I was quick to notice that I too needed to start disciplining myself. Proverbs 15:1 was and still is a verse that quickly comes to mind when I am struggling: “a gentle answer turns away wrath.” I don’t want my kids (or my husband) to remember me being someone who is prone to anger and speaking harshly. I know that my behaviour sets a tone in our household and so I am continuing to work on my own reactions and behaviour. Another verse that convicts me in this area is James 1:19: “Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness”. 

These two verses are principles that I hope to instill in my children. I regularly pray that they grow in them as well. I know that one of the most effective ways to teach my children is to simply demonstrate and model it in my own life. My children have strong wills and big emotions. It is quite overwhelming at times but I’ve already learned and seen the effects of these principles over the last few years. My son seems to de-escalate quicker if I try to stay calm when he isn’t. And even if he doesn’t or it seems like everything is going wrong, when I am more focused on my own reaction and trying to model Jesus and less on the situation in front me, I find it easier to remain calm and not let one situation ruin my whole day. 

So this year, although I have grown in this area considering where I started, I know I still need to grow more. So that’s one of my “goals”. I don’t think it’s a goal that’ll ever be achieved because it’s something I’ll always continue to grow in. I know there’ll be highs and lows. But I’m thankful for the grace that God shows me when I fail and I am praying that He will continue to help me mature! I’m also going to try to read 50 books again–more about how that went this past year in an upcoming post! Happy new year! 

Janice

Looking back on the year behind us, I recognize many areas in my life that I desperately need to change. It’s overwhelming to think about! But I’ve narrowed it down to one daily practice that I need to focus on, which I believe will have a ripple effect and bring transformation to every area of my life.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” — Matthew 6:33

What I’ve learned this past year is that I’ve been striving on my own to “do better”, and I have been failing miserably. More often than not, I’ve forgotten that I am weak and need Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to lead and guide me through everything—from sticking to healthier daily habits, to loving my family well, to being more consistent and less distracted. The list could go on! I resonate so deeply with Paul when he says:

“And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” — Romans 7:18-19 NLT

But I am not hopeless!

“I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature, I am a slave to sin.” — Romans 7:21-25 NLT

Lisa

When we were talking about doing a New Year’s resolution post, I said, “what if I don’t have a resolution?” The reply was, “then write about that! Maybe some of our readers are in that space as well.” So here it goes–I have no resolution that will begin January 1st. 

Do I want to lose weight and pursue healthier choices? Yes. 

Do I want to have a more organized home? Yes. 

Do I want a better relationship with the Lord? Yes. 

I also want to work on my marriage, be kinder to my kids, be a better friend, take better care of myself. The list goes on and on. There are a million things I’d like to pursue and do better and I understand the new year is a great chance to reset. Unfortunately, I have tried New Year’s resolutions, but I easily get distracted and quickly forget what my goals are and by the time December rolls around, I probably couldn’t tell you what my goal was! But don’t worry; I’m not giving up. I think it is important to have a personal improvement plan. Mine will just look a bit more scattered throughout the year, because that’s the kind of person I am. I am currently working on taking better care of myself, advocating for myself, and facing conflict. And for all my imperfections and failings and lack of being able to attain a goal, I can rest in God’s Word:

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Conclusion

So as you set (or don’t set) a New Year’s resolution this year, remember you are not alone. We sisters all walk through a lot of life together and still have very different views and goals! One main theme you may see is a desire to be faithful to the Lord, our families, those around us, and ourselves. We have been so blessed and we want to use what we have been given well. And together, we at Prairie Sisters Unscripted, aim to challenge you (and ourselves) to idealize simplicity, inspire contentment, and instill community! So as the new year begins, whatever you choose, be kind to yourself. Challenge yourself, celebrate the things you achieve, and forgive the things you fail at. Remember you are loved by God, just the way you are. 

“You can’t expect to be perfect

It’s a fight you’ve gotta forfeit

You belong to me whatever you do

So lay down your weapon, darling

Take a deep breath

And believe that I love you

Be kind to yourself” 

~Andrew Peterson

Do you have aspirations for your home in 2025? Share them in the comments below! If you share in the comments below and are subscribed to our blog, you’ll be entered to win a little goodie basket to kickstart your year! Let’s inspire one another to make this year one of growth, joy, and simplicity!

Happy New Year from Prairie Sisters Unscripted!

New Year New Goals