Loving Life

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    I am getting back in the swing of things now that schedule is returning to the somewhat normal.  One kid is in school and the other one is home recovering from surgery.   Last week my goals were pretty basic.  I did get a lot of items done and I am hoping to make some big headway this week (fingers-crossed).

    Last week’s goals

    • Bring in the 2013 New Year – Celebrating with Family and Friends
    • Spend some one-on-one time with my man
    • Spend Quality time with the girls
    • Daughter’s Surgery
    • Go over our goals for 2013 – started, but with a little one recovering from surgery and Jake having to work extra this weekend we were not able to get it completely done

    There were a few more noteworthy ones on the list that I didn’t write out that I was able to do as well:

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls
    2. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    3. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    4. Attend After School Activities
    5. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    6. Take care of the little one recovering from surgery
    7. Write Thank You Notes
    8. Finish going over our 2013 goals

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Start with my new YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Finish Wrapping & Prepping for the Christmas Events
    4. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Complete a current client work project

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email
    3. Email a meeting reminder to the Alms & Legs Ministry Team

    Financial Goals

    1. For my January Grocery Budget I am replacing my typical Groceries $40 for 4 with my Life Simplified: No Grocery Shopping in order to use up some extra items in my fridge, freezer, and pantry.
    2. Payoff the Van
    3. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses

    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.

  • Giveaway & Review: “Significant Work” by Paul Rude (5 WINNERS)

     

    Deep down inside all of us we want to know what we are doing is significant.  How do we know if our lives are making an positive impact on others?  An eternal impact.  As we go from day to day – working, doing laundry, household chores, and a myriad of other daily activities-living our regular everyday lives how do we know even these daily routines are significant in the whole scheme of life?

    I am excited to introduce you to Paul Rude’s new book Significant Work!  Paul has worked the full spectrum from Fortune 500 companies to mission fields of Alaska and is struck with the conviction that everyday of the Christian life is significant.  This led him to to launch Everyday Significance, an organization dedicated to helping people connect Christ-centered faith to everyday life.  Paul along with his wife, Misty, and his five kids live in beautiful rural Alaska.  When he is not speaking, consulting, or writing, you might find Paul rafting whitewater rivers or climbing mountains.

    My husband and I met Paul and Misty many years ago at our church.  Paul was the head of  our church’s Awana Outreach program in South Carolina.  It has been really neat seeing God call his family to Alaska and the amazing journey he has led them on over the past few years.  His book was refreshing to read and I know it will be a blessing to many people.

    5 lucky readers will win a FREE copy of the Significant Work book by Paul Rude!  ENTER NOW for a chance to win a copy of this great book (it only takes a couple seconds to leave a comment and be entered into the giveaway, please see all the giveaway details below)!

    Why I love this book:

    Paul’s book hit home in many areas.  As a child of a loving God, wife, Mom, homemaker, blogger and all the many other roles the days can seem a little crazy.  Some days it’s all I can do to find the floor when I am standing in front of a pile of dirty laundry and have trail of toys and books scattered throughout the house it is hard not to wonder……is it worth it?  How does all the day-to-day picking up, meal planning, cleaning, working, and everything else leave an eternal imprint?  Does it really matter?

    So often we believe the lie…..the lie that those directly in ministry fields are the ones who have a direct connection with God, that they are the ones making the biggest impact on the lives of others for eternity.  As I look around me I see many people that I interact with regularly – my husband, kids, family, friends, neighbors, and strangers.  While all the little never-ending activities can seem mundane with little significance when my heart is all-in I will slowly see pieces of eternity shaping not only in my heart and life but in the lives of those who I interact with regularly.

    Many of us work in the everyday marketplace from truck drivers, waitresses, pilots, accountants, and more.  Our work is a gift from God.  We want to do work that matters to God, but the everyday demands of life constantly pull us in the opposite direction.*  Life is a balancing act.  Each of us wants to know that what we do every day counts.  We’re busy measuring externals, but all the while, God is looking directly at our hearts.

    We burn more time and energy at work than anything else we do in life by far.  Our jobs, along with the daily grind of errands and household chores, will consume the majority of the waking hours in our adult lives.  The hours consumed are not our second rate hours-our highest energy, peak creativity, and sharpest intellect.  Once all the necessary activities are done for the day there isn’t much time or energy left for doing work for eternity.  Sure we may have an opportunity to volunteer at church, go on a mission trip, or some other great activity but the majority of our days are filled with work and other obligations.  Can the normal everyday tasks be my way of making an impact on eternity?

    …..God usually chooses not to tell us the specific game plan for our lives.  He doesn’t swoop down in a fiery cloud and explicitly tell us what to do in life’s pivotal decisions.  How do we know we are doing God’s will for our lives?  Some people seem to know exactly what they are suppose to be doing while others struggle with knowing what they should be doing.  God does not play cruel little games, taunting us with his plan while holding it just out of reach….If he wants us to know something we will know it – absolutely and without any doubt. 

    While many people work outside of the home some people have the opportunity to stay home with their children.  Many moms feel guilty, because they don’t have the time or energy to volunteer more hours at church-hours that impact souls and make a lasting difference……How does washing a load of laundry change eternity? …….The truth, however, is stunning.  God uses our regular, daily, earthly work to forge the very shape of eternity.  I am so thankful that the time and energy we invest in our family really does have an eternal significance.  God can work in our hearts whether we are folding clothes at home or overseas on a mission trip.  Isn’t it awesome how he can use even the simple stuff to help shape eternity!

    No matter how obscure our lives may seem today, we will one day radiate the glory of God before redeemed humankind and all the mighty hosts of heaven.  No one will be forgotten, ignored, or belittled as insignificant to God.  The work you do today matters!

    God is forging his masterpiece with our random-arrow lives.  He’s given each of us an unique life to live – a particular place to strike the white-hot ingot of eternity.  We each have our very own place in his story.  Like master to apprentice, he entrusts the hammer to our hands.  He says, “Strike it. Strike it right here.  This is your place.  This is where I want you to shape eternity.  Live the life I gave you to live.”  In stammering awe, we take up the hammer.  We live our regular, everyday lives.  The hammer falls.  Sparks fly, and the Master, our Father, is delighted. 

    *Information that is in bold and italics are quotes from Paul Rude’s book.

    After reading Significant Work I think it will help inspire and encourage you as well.  I really like how Paul is upfront and honest with his readers.  I know many of you will enjoy this book!

    Giveaway Details

    As a way to say thank you to my readers and to share Paul Rude’s book I am hosting a giveaway!  5 WINNERS will receive a free copy of  Significant Work book by Paul Rude!

    Enter the Giveaway (up to 4 entries per person)!

    1. Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied.  Put a separate comment for each way you follow Blessings Multiplied (Email, Twitter, or Facebook) plus an extra entry for your bonus answer!   Each comment counts as an entry into the giveaway.

    All comments must be made by January 31, 2013 at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.  Good Luck!

    I encourage you to check out more information about  Significant Work by Paul Rude if you are interested in reading it.   This book book may give you the just right dose of motivation to get you on the road more eternal significance!  What are you waiting for…….get a copy and start reading today!

    More information about Significant Work by Paul Rude can be found:

    Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from the author. The book, specific product information, and photo were provided by Paul Rude, however, the opinions expressed in this post are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”   A special thanks to Paul Rude for providing me a copy of his  Significant Work book to review as well as five to giveaway to my readers!
     

  • Welcome 2013!!!

    Happy New Year!!!!  I am thankful for a great 2012 and looking forward to an awesome 2013 packed full of fun, memories, and adventure!  Wishing you and your family the very best during this new year! 🙂

    Photo credit

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    It has been wonderful having extra time with the girls since their out of school for the Holidays!!!!  With the New Year Holiday this week I have a few more days with the kids before school starts back up.  I am taking the time to really focus on spending extra time with my family this week.

    Although it will be quieter this week on the blog I wanted to share my top 5 goals:

    • Bring in the 2013 New Year – Celebrating with Family and Friends
    • Spend some one-on-one time with my man
    • Spend Quality time with the girls
    • Daughter’s Surgery
    • Go over our goals for 2013

    While my goals are still important and I will be doing a lot of them throughout the week my highest priority is my family.   January is filling up FAST, but I am super excited about some upcoming adventures!!! 🙂  I will be back to my regular goal updates  and posts soon.

    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.

  • Blessing Lives Everyday with Special Surprises (B.L.E.S.S.): 25 Days of Christmas Blessings (Week 4)

    We had a blast playing the 5 Second Rule game by Patch with extended family today!

    We just finished our fourth and final short week of  25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. (Blessing Lives Everyday with Special Surprises).   It was a really busy week and I didn’t have as much time to take pictures (and a couple of the ones I took didn’t turn out).  It has been an awesome doing the daily activities and finding ways to be a blessing to those we meet.  Seriously, I feel like we walk away from an activity feeling more blessed then we did going into it because it is so much fun bringing cheer to the people around us.   What a joy it has been participating in intentional acts of kindness during the Holiday Season.

    In some cases we get to see who receives our B.L.E.S.S. gift and in other cases we will never know who is on the receiving end.  We pray that whoever receives or finds these gifts will experience joy during this Holiday Season.  Each night we take down the B.L.E.S.S. activity for the next day and read the verse and the activity then pray for those who have and will receive our little BLESS’ings.  Throughout the week we also try to find additional ways to brighten people’s days so sometimes we do multiply activities during the day.

    Our B.L.E.S.S. Activity Adventures:

    • Day 22 – went to the store to purchase a couple items for Christmas Dinner.  Spent some time talking with the cashier and person bagging our groceries, including asking them about their families and Christmas plans.   She thanked us for waiting to check out and for asking about her family.
    • Day 23 – went to church with the family and ran a few errands afterward.  We were able to run in and pick up a couple things we needed, but towards the end of our errands Jake got a phone call from work and had to head home to handle some work issues.  Every where we went we made a point to smile at everyone we met and ask them how they are doing.  A smile and kindness will go a long way during a busy day.
    • Day 24 – was able to spend some time with extended family today.  We ate a delicious dinner, played, and had the kids exchange gifts.  Thankful for our family and the opportunity to spend time together.  Sometimes the best gift or blessing you can give to others is the gift of time. 

    Shortbread cookies ready to go into the oven!

    • Day 25 – Enjoyed some time with my family.  I actually didn’t go out at all on Christmas Day so today I decided to make a special treat for my sweet, hardworking, kind, loving husband. I am thankful for him and all he does for our family.  He is my best friend and I always love my time with him.   I made him one of his favorite Christmas cookies – shortbread (with sprinkles on top)!  🙂

    It has been a lot of fun working on ways we can be a blessing to others.  This verse talked about “humility” which can be difficult at times because sometimes we want people to notice us.  We talked about why it is important to demonstrate humility.  One of the ways we decide to practice humility was by leaving gifts anonymously if we don’t know who was on the receiving end of the B.L.E.S.S. it is a lot easier to not be proud.  We all agree that leaving “surprise” gifts are one of our favorite activities because we completely leave-it-up-to-God to choose the person to get the blessing.

    It is fun be to be a blessing to others not because we anticipate any rewards or benefits from it, but because we were given the greatest gift of all.  God’s love, grace, and mercy.  He wants us to give cheerfully from the heart.

    I am super excited to see how great this B.L.E.S.S. activity is going already.  It has been a true joy sharing with others (many of whom we’ll never meet).  It has been a great experience and I look forward to seeing what will happen with our fun adventures this week.

    The main purpose of this activity is to teach our family the joy of giving and sharing to those around us.  I plan to do another update on our fun B.L.E.S.S. adventures next week.  Sometimes it’s the little stuff that can make the most positive impact.  I would love to hear how you are spreading the Christmas cheer this Holiday Season.

    To learn more about our 25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activity and what we have done far check out the links below:

    Below are the printable versions of the  25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activities, verses, and sheets to handout so here they are for your family to enjoy as well:

  • Cousins Night Out!

    We ended our fun adventures in town that evening with a special treat! Ice cream cones!!!! This is the only picture of the 5 of them, everyone was having so much fun playing I didn’t want to make them stop to pose for a picture! 🙂

    Paul and Mirm were able to get away one night to meet friends and spend some quiet time together so we kept the kids.  Since Jake was working when Paul & Mirm left I took the crew to Par Tee Time which has bounce houses, batting cages, and miniature golf for the kids.  After Par Tee Time we picked up some pizza, had a picnic in the park and played.  We ended our night out with the cousins at Bruster’s for ice cream cones than headed home to get everyone showered and ready for bed.

    Whose up for a game of miniature golf?

    Sweet girl having a blast on the bouncy castle!

    The three older chickies having a blast giggling and playing

    Come on NOAH!  We know you can dunk that ball!

    Even my sweet little niece joined the big kids in a game of miniature golf!

    Concentrating hard on getting the ball into the hole!

    Practicing his swing in the batting cage

    Next one up to bat

    Karlie taking a whack at it

    Got those frogs…..Brina having a blast playing with her little cousin!

    Getting some extra air on that jump!

    Look out here she comes!

    Snapped a quick picture of Brina as she zoomed to the bottom of the slide!

    Karlie Cool Cat having a blast

    Did you just see me dunk that ball!

    Goofy girl, she makes me laugh!

    Eating pizza at the park

     

    Playing at the park

    I had a blast with the kids.  They did really well bouncing around and playing together.  Thankful for some extra time with my nieces and nephew.  The girls always enjoy their time with their cousins. A lot of great memories of their time with us!

  • Jesus Born on this Day by Avalon

    Today a child is born on earth
    Today the glory of God shines
    Everywhere for all of the world
    Jesus, born on this day he is our light and salvation
    Jesus, born on this day he is the King of all nations
    Behold the Lamb of God has come
    Behold the Savior is born sing of his love to everyone
    Jesus, Born on this day heavenly child in the manger
    Jesus, born on this day He is our Lord and Savior
    Today our hearts rejoice in him
    Today the light of his birth thrills us with hope
    Brings peace on earth
    Jesus, born on this day He is our light and salvation
    Jesus, born on this day he is the King of all nations
    Today a child is born on earth
    Today the glory of God shines everywhere for all of the world

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    So thankful for my family.  We decided to celebrate our Christmas over the weekend since Jake had off and could spend more time with us.  He did get a few calls, emails, but the girls were great and were willing to take a break to play, read a book, or help make a snack whenever he had to get away for a few minutes.  Thankfully he was able to do everything he needed from home and didn’t have to go into the office.

    With the girls being out of school and the Christmas Holiday this week I am taking the time to really focus on spending time with my family.  While my goals are still important and I will be doing a lot of them throughout the week my highest priority is my family.  I love having the kids out of school so we can do more together.   It is really important that I give the kids (and husband) my attention and create memories so it will be quieter this week on the blog.  I will be back to my regular goal updates  and posts soon!

    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.