2013 Reading Goals, Plans and Resolutions

Welcome! Opening this new blog with this theme feels so significant. 2013 is just beginning, and the air hums with expectation. A new year brings a new life, new possibilities, and in my case, a brand-new blog.

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Reading Goals

Let’s start with my reading goals for 2013. Last year wasn't too bad, even though I didn't get to read as much as I wanted. Still, 72 books and 20,062 pages felt like a decent achievement!

This year, I am pushing myself to finish 75 books. Every month will feature a halo-halo (mix) of selections:

• an F2F Book of the Month,
• one or two titles from a series I’m following,
• a literary award winner,
• a Filipino-authored book,
• and a random pick (which I'm very fond of!).

To keep myself accountable, I’ll be posting a required reading list for every month—fingers crossed!

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Plans

This new blog is central to moving on to my plans. I realize I’ll be leaning on this space heavily over the coming months—and perhaps years. Beyond being a mom, a teacher, and an avid reader, I need something of my own to focus on. My husband is heading abroad for God-knows-how-long, so I’ll be clinging to this blog like a leech to vent my feelings, rants, and raves since he won't be here to listen to them all. I hope you'll bear with me! I’ll also be setting up a dedicated "My Bottle" page to host those personal reflections.

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Resolutions

While I was conceptualizing this blog, Neil Gaiman shared his New Year’s wish on Goodreads and his journal: Bravery and Joy. For someone who is usually afraid of scattering herself across the web, stepping fully into blogging is my first act of bravery. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers so I can find true joy in blogging regularly rather than moping around and missing my husband.

My second step into bravery is leading our church ministry on my own. Well, not entirely alone—I’m just so used to serving alongside my husband as a team. We will still be serving together in spirit: me on this side of the planet, and him on the other, with a fervent prayer that everything works out.

Wish me luck and Godspeed!