I don’t know about you, but I want each year to be bigger and better than the last.

What would be your adventures?

In your relationships? With your business? At work? For your personal life?

C.S. Lewis said, “You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.” I’m never short on goals or dreams! In fact, I like to call them adventures, because the connotation is much more positive than the word “risk.” So here I’ve dreamed up 13 adventures for 2013.

1. Mentor a teenager in the foster care system. Did you know that thousands of kids “graduate” from the foster care system every year? At the age of 18, it’s off to the real world. And who is to support them? Who is to help them with job applications? Who can they turn to when they have questions about rent or college or dating or cooking? My heart is for these teens who are often unprepared and alone.

2. Take a nearby mission trip with my children. Over the summer, I’d like to pack up the kids, hook up the pop-up camper, and travel to another state. We’ll stay at a campground for a few weeks, but several times a week work alongside an existing ministry or organization. Perhaps we’ll read stories and teach art lessons to underprivileged children. Maybe we’ll work every night at a soup kitchen. Who knows! The fun will be in encouraging the whole family to participate in the planning process.

3. Go parasailing.

4. Take a 3-day backpacking and camping trip with the family. I’m not talking about the pop-up camper. I’m talking matches, sleeping bag, lantern, backpacks, and whining kids who ask, “When are we gonna get there?” as they traverse hills and rocky paths.

5. Acknowledge and praise people more often. Adventurous? Yes, for me.

6. Start Sunday Family Meetings. Goals for the week? Check. What’s going well? Check. What to work on? Hmmmm. Could be rough waters ahead.

7. Tempt the swing. Swing dance, that is. Here in my hometown, locals gather to swing dance. I tried it once last year, failed miserably, but am determined to learn. And this time, I’m forcing hubby to go with me. That should be an adventure in itself!

8. Got 4 little kids at home. Just got me one awesome dog. Had a great idea: Why not create a little chaos at the nursing home? Many elderly folks love kids and dogs. They remind them of their own grandkids or pets they had long ago. Plus, my kids could use a little lesson in empathy and service to others.

9. Help my children to identify ways they can help others, and then walk alongside them as they implement their ideas. (Example: sell cookies to raise funds for a child with cancer.)

10. Write a book.

11. Create a 5-year financial plan. (Is this adventurous or scary? I don’t know.)

12. Turn Bible verses into personal prayer petitions for myself and those I love.

13. Make new friends! Reach out to 10 women who inspire me. Ask them to lunch.

Now, it’s your turn. What would be your list of 13 adventures for 2013? Share one of them in the comment box below. I’d love to hear your ideas.

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