Loving Life

  • Song: “Grace” by Laura Story

    This is a great song by Laura Story.  At times I find myself weak, discouraged, unfocused, and stressed.  It is especially during those times that  I am thankful that I have a Savior to pick me up and give me the strength I need to get through each day.

    My heart is so proud. My mind is so unfocused.
    I see the things You do through me as great things I have done.
    And now You gently break me, then lovingly You take me.
    And hold me as my father and mold me as my maker.

    I ask You: “How many times will You pick me up.
    When I keep on letting You down.
    And each time I will fall short of Your glory.
    How far will forgiveness abound.
    And You answer: ” My child, I love you.
    And as long as you’re seeking My face.
    You’ll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace.

    At times I may grow weak and feel a bit discouraged.
    Knowing that someone, somewhere, could do a better job.
    For who am I to serve You, I know I don’t deserve You.
    And that’s the part that burns in my heart and keeps me hanging on.

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Last week we went with Jake to Charleston.  It was great spending time together!  The girls had a blast in Charleston….it was their last week before school starts again.  Thankful for a great summer with our girls.

    Last week’s goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Read regularly to the girls and have them read to me
    2. Participate in at least 2 fun Summer Activities with the Kids
    3. Spend time with family before the kids go back to school – went to Charleston with the family
    4. Get the girls items packed for school
    5. Go to the pool / beach – went to the pool, park, and beach
    6. Doctor Appointments complete before school starts – had a lot of appointments (teeth, eyes, ears, etc…)

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week – went to the pool, park and beach this week!

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week – didn’t get it done with all the traveling this week
    3. Prep for my Fall Organizational Schedule – wasn’t able to get it done
    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

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses – temporary on hold
    3. Car Fund – save money for another vehicle to replace the one that was totaled – working on it
    4. College Fund – put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – on hold momentarily

     

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Read regularly to the girls and have them read to me
    2. Participate in at least 2 fun Summer Activities with the Kids
    3. Girls Packed and Ready to Start School on Tuesday
    4. Get into the School Routine

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Attend a Beth Moore Conference with friends

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week
    3. Prep for my Fall Organizational Schedule
    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

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Prep for upcoming Alms & Legs Meeting

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses
    3. Car Fund – save money for another vehicle to replace the one that was totaled
    4. College Fund – 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.

  • Hug in the Mail

    Karlie sending a hug in the mail to Daddy!

    When Jake was away on a trip the girls wanted to send him a hug since they couldn’t hug him in person.  If you cannot read the card it says:

    Since we cannot be there to “hug” you in person we are sending you a “mail hug”. I love you Babycake! Spread out the hands in the card and that is the biggest hug the person who did it can give you. XOXO

    Laying down with her arms spread out as wide so she can give Daddy the biggest hug possible!  I traced her hands on the paper and cut a string of thread the length of her arms and taped it to the back of the hands after she decorated it.

    Karlie showing off her giant hug!

    Karlie’s Message – “I love you Daddy. You are the best. Good is fun. I love you.”

    Brina decorating her mail hug for Daddy!

    Brina showing off her hug that she is sending to Daddy!

    Sending my Handsome Man a hug in the mail!

  • Song: “You Keep Givin Me” by Brian Littrell

    There are so many reasons to be thankful in my life.  I have been blessed with a wonderful husband, two kids, my health, extended family, friends and so much more.  Many times its easy to look at the little stuff that drives us crazy but when we take an honest look around us we really have a lot to be grateful for in our lives.

    So many reasons to be thankful
    So many blessings that I can’t repay
    And I never would’ve made it here without You
    Sending angels to guide me on my way

    You keep givin’ me joy
    You keep givin’ me happiness
    You keep givin’ me hope
    You keep givin’ me everything I wish
    You keep givin’ holding me
    When I’m about to fall
    And if even all of that was not enough
    You keep givin’ me love

    I know that I’m not always easy
    And I know I put You through some trying days
    But in spite of all the worries that I gave You
    You never let my Angels get away

    Have I told You lately
    How Your love has saved me?
    It takes me to place I’ve only dreamed
    I’m so thankful, Lord, for sending me angels

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    It was great to have some time back home last week catching up with the pets, housework, appointments, and more!  The girls had fun playing with the animals and hanging out at home. While waiting at the doctors offices the girls and I read a bunch of  books together too.  This is the girls last week at home before going back to school so are spending some time having fun and creating memories this week.

    Last week’s goals:at

    Family Goals

    1. Read regularly to the girls and have them read to me
    2. Participate in at least 2 fun Summer Activities with the Kids
    3. Plan out the Girls “Swim Into Reading” Summer Reading Goal (total 2,000 Reading minutes) Grand Prize for Completion
    4. Spend time with extended family

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week – didn’t get it all in this week
    2. Pick out my next book to read

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week – didn’t get it done
    3. Work on My Summer Organizational Schedule
    4. Pack for upcoming trip
    5. 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. Work on projects with the family business

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses – temporarily on hold
    3. Car Fund – save money for another vehicle to replace the one that was totaled – working on it
    4. College Fund – put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – temporarily on hold with the car

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Read regularly to the girls and have them read to me
    2. Participate in at least 2 fun Summer Activities with the Kids
    3. Spend time with family before the kids go back to school
    4. Get the girls items packed for school
    5. Go to the pool / beach
    6. Doctor Appointments complete before school starts

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week
    3. Prep for my Fall Organizational Schedule
    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

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses
    3. Car Fund – save money for another vehicle to replace the one that was totaled
    4. College Fund – 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.

  • Kids in the Kitchen: Fruit Cars

    Apple Cars

    The kids loved these fruit treats.  It was a fun snack and craft to do at the girls birthday party too.  At their party we set out a bowl of apples, oranges, grapefruits, and grapes so the kids could put together their own cars.  The cars we’re a lot of fun and you could even drive them (so cute with their wobbly wheels).

    Orange Car

    Cute little fruit cars made by the kids.  All it takes is some fruit and toothpicks (broken in half for the wheels).  If you have smaller kids you may want to help them put them together and take out the toothpicks for them before they eat their fruit car.

  • Gift Giving: Welcome Home Basket for My Sweetheart

    Basket full of goodies for my handsome man!

    When Jake goes away on a business trip I try to have something special for him when he gets back home.  Recently I had this basket full of goodies waiting for him on the couch upon his return.  The basket included:

    • Love Note
    • 2 bags Original Chex Mix
    • 2 pack Hand Sanitizer
    • Sheets Energy Strips – Cinnamon and Berry Blast
    • Peanuts
    • Rolo’s wrapped in a red Love Note

    Inside the wrapping paper – “I love the way you roll!”

    I am thankful for a husband who loves me, works hard to provide for our family, and is an amazing Daddy to our girls.  These little gifts are just one of the ways I love to remind him of how much he means to us.  The kids have a blast helping pick out something special to “welcome” Daddy back home whether it is a balloon, a favorite food, special drink, sign, drawings, cards and more.  Every time I try to do a different surprise and in various locations in the house to mix it up a little bit for him.  I have a lot of fun doing it for him and I know it is appreciated too.

  • Creative Kids: Random Notes of Love

    Cute little surprise note!

    On one of our trips this year the girls hid a note in my backpack.  I love finding fun notes from my girls.  So who do you think put this note in my bag?  If you guessed Brina you are correct!  Jake got one in his backpack from Karlie.  It’s the little stuff like this that makes me so thankful for my sweet girls!

    Sweet note hidden in Daddy’s backpack!