Kids
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
The girls were wrapping up their last full week of school so we had a lot of extra activities now we just need to get through the next few days and it will be summer break! It was hard to get everything done last week with all the year end activities therefore I am hoping to catch up this week. We have a lot of really great activities planned for this summer. It will be fun to travel a little and catch up with some family and friends too.
Last week’s goals:
Family Goals
Connect with each family member at least once a day- Prep for Summer Break – I got their summer reading wall put up now need to finalize all the other little details
- Read at least one book to the girls every day – didn’t get a chance on Monday night it was packed full with KOH, 1 John Ministry – Homeless Dinner, Girls 1st Grade Program and Swimming Lessons
- Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day – we missed Monday night but otherwise did well
Attend the Girls First Grade ProgramSpend some extra time catching up with family and friendsSwimming Lessons for the Kids- Confirm the Schedule / Flights for upcoming Family Reunion – schedules confirmed just need to get flights arranged
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week – getting closer
- Update my goals – didn’t get to it this past week
- Finish reading Am I Messing Up My Kids by Lysa TerKeurst – I keep leaving the book in random places so getting behind
Finish The Hunger Games by Susan Collins (recommended by several friends)– while the book captivated my attention I have a lot of mixed feelings about the book…..
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week- Spend 30 minutes every day picking up & cleaning the house – had a couple days I let it go with all the activities going on this past week
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attention- 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk – I ended the week with a stack of papers that need my attention
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchEmail the updated praises, prayer requests, and schedule to our Community GroupFeed & Serve Homeless – 1 John Ministry
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4 – so close but went over by $1.76
- Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses – getting closer
- Put aside cash for upcoming trips – on hold momentarily
- Save money for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – working on it
My goals for the upcoming week:
Family Goals
- Connect with each family member at least once a day
- Final Prep for Summer Break
- Read at least one book to the girls every day
- Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day
- Spend some extra time catching up with family and friends
- Confirm the Schedule / Flights for upcoming Family Reunion
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
- Update my goals
- Finish reading Am I Messing Up My Kids by Lysa TerKeurst
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week
- Spend 30 minutes every day picking up & cleaning the house
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Email the updated schedule to our Community Group
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
- Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses
- Save money for upcoming trips
- Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results
Book: “Dash” by J. Elizabeth Mills
Even though our girls are twins they have very different personalities. One of the few things they have in common is their love of horses! Both of them absolutely love anything about horses. Lately I have been noticing that more and more horse books have been pulled off the shelf to read and when we go to the used book store they are always on the look out for new “horse” books.
The other day I noticed that Karlie had been carrying this Scholastic book Dash by J. Elizabeth Mills around for several days and reading it over and over. I asked if she would be willing to read the book to me and she did! It is still hard to believe that my girls are old enough to be reading me books. Granted this one isn’t a huge book but it does have four short chapters.
The story is about a little girl named Jenny who wants to participate in a barrel racing competition. She and her horse Dash train really hard for the big day. Both of our girls love this book. If your child loves horses and is starting to read independently this would be a great book to add to your library.
Dinner Time – Change of Scenery
Have you noticed that sometimes when you add a slight twist to a normal activity it can make it super special for the kids? Occasionally we mixed things up a bit around our house just for fun. Our girls don’t watch a lot of TV so when they do watch a movie or show it is a special treat for them. We have found that after a busy week sometimes all you need to do is have a quiet evening with your family to unwind and relax.
It has been a crazy few months around our house so Jake & I decided to make up some of the kids favorite foods, put them on their TV / travel plate and eat while watching a movie together. The girls were super excited! Typically, we stop what we are doing for a family meal but as a treat every couple of months we’ll switch it up a bit and eat in front of the TV. While this meal may not be the most well balanced ones we have made it does have variety, it was simple to put together, we used up some items we had on hand, and most importantly the family enjoyed it.
On the Menu:
- Cheesy Noodles (as the girls call them) Mac & Cheese
- Yogurt Stick
- Canned Peaches
- Fresh Clementine
- Slices of Summer Sausage
- Cashews
Travel & Vacation: Trip to the Pirate Park & Charleston Creamery
Stopping to refuel…..so thankful the girls both travel so well!
We have been on some long trips with our kids (over 40 hours of drive time) which makes us very thankful that they both love to travel. They get excited when we tell them they will get to “sleep” in the van. The girls love it when the road trip is more than 5 hours because that means Daddy will put in the DVD player for them to watch movies while we drive. They stay entertained when we we take the 2 or 4 hour trips as well with books, games, music, and more. It is always an adventure no matter where we go and the girls love exploring different areas as well as going back to our favorite parks or places we have visited in the past. The pictures in this post are from our winter trip to Charleston, South Carolina. Love seeing their smiles, watching them play, and thankful that they had a chance to relax for a few days.
Karlie relaxing on the bench and blowing some bubbles.
Brina checking out the pirate treasure chest full of sand at the “Pirate” Park on Daniel’s Island.
Karlie (she is wearing the black shirt in the middle of the ship) is checking out the big sunken pirate ship
Brina climbing the lighthouse at the pirate’s park
Look out…..here comes Karlie!
Look out BELOW!!! I can hear Brina giggling as she comes zipping down the slide.
Getting ice cream from their favorite ice cream store – Charleston Creamery! In this picture Karlie is choosing her 1st topping. After they select their ice cream flavors and toppings a robot puts it together for them. The girls LOVE it!
The robot is getting ready to make the ice cream.
Mesmerized by the robot making the ice cream!
Ta….Da……the ice cream treat is now ready to eat! Thanks Robot! 🙂 The robot only serves soft serve ice cream but you can get one of their many homemade flavors in a cup, cone, or shake!
Charleston Creamery has a place for the kids to sit and play with toys while you enjoy your treat too. It’s a great family owned ice cream store. It is one of the girls favorite places to visit while in the Charleston area. For more information about their store, location, upcoming events, specials, or their newest flavor of ice cream you can find them on Facebook!
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Hanging Out on Daniel’s Island
One of our favorite places to visit….Daniel’s Island (near Charleston)!
Happy Brina Bee, she loves our trips to Daniel’s Island!
As I was going back over some of our pictures from the last several months I realized I didn’t share with you our winter trip to Daniel’s Island. The beautiful part about going to Daniel’s Island in the winter time is the weather is awesome. Majority of the time you don’t even need a jacket. The only thing the girls were disappointed about our winter visit is that the pool was closed (but that was only for a split moment)!
Karlie thrilled to be back in Daniel’s Island at the “turtle” park
Brina and Karlie hanging out in the white boat at the park
Oh boy……Karlie caught something and is bringing it over to show me, love the silly smile on her face as she brings the surprise!
Some serious discussions going on about how to take care of their big turtles
Brina and Karlie put together mini pizzas for our lunch together
Delicious Pizza! I snapped a picture before she wiped the pizza sauce off her face, but she’s all smiles after lunch!
Caught Brina doing twirls around the room after eating lunch….I think she’s ready for our next adventure!
Karlie loves spotting all the USA Flags. She insisted that I take a picture of the one flying over the tennis stadium.
Brina and Karlie standing in front of the “astronaut” in TGI Friday’s!
Brina played so hard today on Daniel’s Island she crashed instantly
Karlie is asleep with a smile on her face after a fun day
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Gift Giving: Kids Two Liter Surprise Gifts
Kids Two Liter Surprise Gifts
Are you looking for a unique birthday or fun gift for someone? These gifts were a big hit with our family! I had a blast brainstorming and coming up with these fun gifts for my nieces and nephews. I wanted something fun, unique, and easy to send in the mail. I recycled 2 liter bottles, stuffed them with all kinds of fun items as well as colorful shredded paper and mailed them! The kids absolutely LOVED them! 🙂
I was super excited to hear that my nieces and nephews overjoyed at getting these in the mail! I sent one 2 liter surprise gift to each family, so these four bottles were actually for 12 kids in all. This is a great way to get something special for a group of kids because they all have fun opening and discovering all the goodies in the bottle. Every bottle had a variety of items that all the kids would enjoy from candy to markers, erasers, glue sticks, paper clips, colored pencils, bouncy balls, stickers, and so much more!
View of the back of the bottles, you can see a lot of the fun items inside the bottles
I originally did these gifts for my nieces and nephews as their Christmas presents but since I have been asked by several people to duplicate these gifts I thought I would share them with you too. If you need to send a gift for an upcoming birthday, graduation, Christmas, congratulations, baby, wedding or for any occasion these would be fun to put together and bring a smile to the person receiving it! One lady in the post office wanted to know if I could put together one for each of her grandkids! 🙂 As you can see from the pictures above I did four at one time but it would be very easy to do one at a time too. The gift is unique, memorable, fun, and very affordable!
After cleaning out the 2 liter bottle I filled it with colorful shredded paper and all kinds of fun items then stuck bows to the lid, taped the address on the outside, and mailed them. They cost less postage then a box, were super fun to put together plus I got raving reviews from both those that seen them in transport and on the receiving end. I even had a postal worker from another office contact me to comment on the awesome gifts!
Once you get started and your creative juices get going the possibilities are endless with this two liter surprise gift. Here’s how I did it:
Empty and clean 2 liter bottle (I used clear and tinted bottles both worked well)
Everything you put into the bottle must got through the top opening where the cap screws onto the 2 liter. Put a little bit of colorful shredded paper in first to get some color and padding in the bottom of the 2 liter.
Gather a bunch of items that you think will fit through the 2 liter opening at the top. I like to have a lot of variety in my Two Liter Surprise Gift so here are some of the items that I put into mine. I used what I had in my stockpile from shopping sales, clearance racks, and using coupons so the entire gift was very affordable. Here are some of the items I used to get you started:
- Twist Lollipops
- Markers
- Glue Sticks
- Color Pencils
- Erasers
- Paper Clips
- Post-it Notes
- Crayons
- Highlighters
- Paint Brushes
- Mechanical Pencils
- Tattoos
- Pencils
- Stickers
- Magnets
- Balloons
- Ink Pens
- Binder Clips
- Bouncy Balls
- Small Toys
- Small Notebooks
- Decorative Bags
- And MORE!
Twist Lollipops were the surprise in the middle of the 2 liter bottle with all the other items and shredded paper packed in around them to protect them. I was glad to hear they did really well in shipping!
Filling the two liter bottle with surprises! The lollipops are wrapped inside the blue (with candy canes) tissue paper and put in the middle of the two liter for extra protection.
Packing the bottle full of goodies (another example). You can “stuff” a lot of fun items into a 2 liter bottle
I added the ribbon to the bottle and put a couple pieces of wrapping tape on it to help secure it to the lid. This bottle is a green Mountain Dew bottle with blue shredded paper in it.
Last step is to put on a label with your address and the recipents address and take it to the post office to mail out. (The addresses in the photo have been distorted on purpose for the protection of the kids to whom the gifts were sent to).
Every kid (who I am kidding every person, young & old) loves to get a special surprise in the mailbox. You will put a smile on the face of a family member or friend even though miles may separate you with this great, fun, and affordable gift!
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Our family was able to spend some time in Florida, visiting friends and seeing the area! We got to go to Kennedy Space Center, Sea World, and Disney Magic Kingdom! We had a blast visiting the amazing places and spending time with our friends. Thankful for the awesome opportunities to create memories!
Last week’s goals:
Family Goals
Connect with each family member at least once a day- Prep for Summer Break – working on it 🙂
- Read at least one book to the girls every day – didn’t do this every day we were on vacation
Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every dayPlan & go on at least one family Adventure– went on a adventure to Kennedy Space Center, Sea World, and Disney soooo much fun!Spend some extra time catching up with family and friends
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week – almost made it
Review my upcoming goals- Finish reading Am I Messing Up My Kids by Lysa TerKeurst
Finish reading No One to Call Me Home by Rev James J. Close
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day- Work on Spring / Deep Cleaning the House – work in progress
- Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week – didn’t get home until the middle of the week and with everything going on so didn’t get this done
Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attention1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my deskWork on upcoming speaking engagement
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchBe a blessing to a total stranger this weekEmail the updated praises, prayer requests, and schedule to our Community Group– emailed the updated schedule and information
Financial Goals
Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4- Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses – working on it
- Save money for upcoming trips – starting it
- Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – work in progress
- Save money for upcoming home projects – on hold temporarily
My goals for the upcoming week:
Family Goals
- Connect with each family member at least once a day
- Prep for Summer Break
- Read at least one book to the girls every day
- Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day
- Attend the Girls First Grade Program
- Spend some extra time catching up with family and friends
- Swimming Lessons for the Kids
- Confirm the Schedule / Flights for upcoming Family Reunion
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
- Update my goals
- Finish reading Am I Messing Up My Kids by Lysa TerKeurst
- Finish The Hunger Games by Susan Collins (recommended by several friends)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week
- Spend 30 minutes every day picking up & cleaning the house
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Email the updated praises, prayer requests, and schedule to our Community Group
- Feed & Serve Homeless – 1 John Ministry
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
- Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses
- Save money for upcoming trips
- Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes
- Save money for upcoming home projects
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results
Book: “No One to Call Me Home” by James Close
As I was going through a stack a books we had in the house and trying to decide which ones to keep, sale, giveaway, or donate I came across this book. I cannot remember where it came from and hadn’t read it before but it captivated my attention so I decided to read it. The book is called No One To Call Me Home by Reverend James J. Close and it is about Reverend Close’s ministry at the Mercy Boys Home in Chicago. His ministry provides a home, meals, clothing, and a loving environment for homeless teenage boys. The boys typically range between 14 to 18 years old (sometimes they take in younger siblings). There is also a Mercy Girls Home but Reverend Close lived and worked at the Boys Home so the majority of the book discussed not only the lives of the kids he impacted but some of their struggles as well as successes.
Some of the stories he told brought tears to my eyes…..stories of some of the obstacles small children and teenagers had to face such as starvation, stealing, crime, abuse, drugs, alcohol, neglect and so much more. None of these children asked to grow up in these families. The Mercy Home has reached out to many of these hurt teenagers and provided them a safe and healthy environment in hopes that they will be able to encourage the kids to heal and become successful adults.
As a parent this book made me not only appreciate the stable (although not perfect) home environment I was raised in and motivates me to pray for wisdom as I raise my kids as well as find ways to make a positive impact on the lives of other children. The book is short and a quick read but touches on many areas of the heart. Although I don’t have all the same religious beliefs as Reverend Close I think he is on the right track with providing a safe, stable environment for these teenagers. Not every story he has is successful but it is encouraging to know that through their ministry they are making a wonderful impact on many individuals and families. It really makes you think about the ways you can make a positive impact on the lives of others.
A few quotes that made an impact on me:
The Mercy kids are some of the most courageous and extraordinary persons I have ever met. Many have overcome immense odds to succeed in life. Others were not so fortunate. But each of them taught me about life and made me grateful for the simple blessings to be found in each day.
Our street was as big as the universe to me…..when it started getting dark, the other kids’ moms would lean out the windows and start calling to their kids – it’s time to come home. I would stay out there and keep playing until I was alone. I was always the last one to come home. I always had to decide when to go in. There was never anyone to call me in – to call me home.
Our kids have so few of the simple family experiences that most kids have growing up, it nearly boggles the mind. I’m not talking about ritzy family vacations and Christmas Eve around the fireplace. I’m talking about food in the refrigerator and the same bed every night.
If all you’ve known is disappointment, if all you’ve been told is what a loser you are, if all you’ve seen is poverty and life on the other side of the law – it is hard to believe things can ever change for someone like you.
I’m a strong believer in the power of prayer combined with effort and love.
They are just kids. They need a place to live and someone to love them unconditionally.
New Upromise eCoupons for June 2012
Upromise has posted their new eCoupons for the month of June 2012. Remember to activate your eCoupons to get additional savings. If you have not yet signed up for Upromise you can get more information regarding on our experience or directly at the Upromise website.
This month they have 41 coupons you can activate for bonus savings. Once you activate your eCoupons all you have to do is scan your rewards card or purchase the items at the store and the cash will be added to your account. You don’t even have to carry any coupons to get the rewards!
You can go to their website for more information on the Upromise program, it’s free to join.
Kids in the Kitchen: Ham & Pasta Casserole Recipe
The girls made dinner for us this week. They wanted to try a casserole so Jake found a recipe from Better Homes & Garden and adapted it for the girls. They got the items out of the fridge and pantry, measured, and added them to the casserole. I did help with getting it in and out of the oven but otherwise they put the casserole together on their own. It turned out really well!
Ham & Pasta Casserole:
- 1 1/2 cups Milk
- 1 can Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (10 3/4 oz)
- 2 cups diced cooked Ham
- 1 cup dried Elbow Macaroni
- 1 can sliced Mushrooms (4 oz)
- 1/2 cup chopped Onions
- 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
Grease a 8 x 8 pyrex dish and preheat oven for 375 degrees. Mix the milk and cream of chicken soup. Stir in the ham, macaroni, mushrooms, and onions. Cover the casserole and bake for 40 minutes or until the noodles are tender. Sprinkle the cheese over the top of the casserole and bake uncovered for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes prior to serving.
