Recommendations

  • Hold My Heart by Tenth Avenue North

    How long must I pray
    Must I pray to You
    How long must I wait
    Must I wait for You
    How long till I see Your face
    See You shining through

    I’m on my knees
    Begging You to notice me
    I’m on my knees
    Father, will You turn to me

    One tear in the driving rain
    One voice in a sea of pain
    Could the maker of the stars
    Hear the sound of my breaking heart
    One life, that’s all I am
    Right now I can barely stand
    If You’re everything You say You are
    Would You come close and hold my heart

    So many questions without answers
    Your promises remain
    I can’t see but I’ll take my chances
    To hear you call my name
    To hear you call my name

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    We are back into the normal school and work schedule again.  It was great getting a chance to see my parents this past weekend and celebrate my nephews birthday.  It is going to be a fun week with a couple extra kiddos around!

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 9)
    2. Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
    3. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    4. Play a board game
    5. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    6. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    7. Attend After School Activities
    8. Volunteer One Day at Girls School
    9. Prepare for Upcoming Visitors
    10. Finish the girls Bookshelf

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week – didn’t stay on top of it with everything going on this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read) – getting closer and taking notes along the way (has a lot of good information, some of which I have implemented and seems to be going well)

    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. Pay all upcoming bills
    4. Work on Spring Cleaning

    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 completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4 – went over budget again this week as we prepared for company
    2. Payoff the Van – making payments
    3. Pay medical bills in full – making payments

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read Imagination Station: Peril in the Palace by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 3)
    2. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    3. Play a board game
    4. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    5. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    6. Attend After School Activities
    7. Take care of, play, and enjoy extra time with the little ones staying with us this week

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)

    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. Pay all upcoming bills
    4. Work on Spring Cleaning

    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 completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email
    3. Send out the Alms & Legs Meeting Reminder

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van
    3. Pay medical bills in full

    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.

  • Little Town On The Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

    A couple weeks ago I finished reading Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls.  It is the seventh book in the Little House series.  It is hard to believe we are flying through this series and before long we’ll be done.  The girls loved these books so much I am already thinking about if I should do another series or something similar next.

    Now that the long winter of blizzards is over the Ingalls family is heading back out to the homestead to work the land.  Laura got a new job, attended some fun parties in town, and began to spend time with Almanzo Wilder.  She continues to study hard for the teacher’s test so she can help Pa and Ma keep Mary in school.  Mary is going to college for the blind.  Even though Laura is fifteen years old she past the test and receives her teaching certificate early.

  • Go Light Your Candle by Chris Rice

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmquDS65YZs

    There is a candle in every soul
    Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
    There is a Spirit who brings a fire
    Ignites a candle and makes His home

    So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
    Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
    Hold out your candle for all to see it
    Take your candle, and go light your world
    Take your candle, and go light your world

    Cause We are a family whose hearts are blazing
    So let’s raise our candles and light up the sky
    Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
    Make us a beacon in darkest times

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    We had a wonderful Spring Break with the girls.  Last week Jake had to work for a few days in the Charleston so we went with him.  It was nice to hang out together with family and create new memories.  This week we are back to the normal schedule with school back in full swing.

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 8)
    2. Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2) – almost finished, started reading it this past weekend
    3. Ride bikes / scooters / skates / roller blades with the family – rode at home and took our bikes & skates to Charleston to ride as well
    4. Go on a picnic with the kids – had a picnic with the girls at the Easter Egg Hunt & while in Charleston
    5. Play in the park together – played several parks in Charleston with the girls
    6. Visit a Museum – went to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry and the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
    7. Plan one special Activity with the Family – spent time together in Charleston doing special activities including the Cooper River Bridge Kids Run on Friday!
    8. Go on a family walk – took walk through Battery Park
    9. Get together with Family and/or Friends – had some family and friends over
    10. Play a board game – played several games with the girls
    11. Go on a special road trip – went to Charleston
    12. Slumber party
    13. Go out to dinner one evening – went out to eat while in Charleston
    14. Watch a movie or TV show together one evening – since we finished reading the Little House on the Prairie books we introduced the girls to the TV show, they were sooo excited!

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week – lots of bike riding, walking, and even a mile  jog in the Kids Run
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)

    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 – since we were traveling most of the week I didn’t plan out the menu
    3. Pay all upcoming bills
    4. Start Spring Cleaning

    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 completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van – made another payment
    3. Pay medical bills in full – got one of the bills paid off, working on the other ones now

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 9)
    2. Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
    3. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    4. Play a board game
    5. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    6. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    7. Attend After School Activities
    8. Volunteer One Day at Girls School
    9. Prepare for Upcoming Visitors
    10. Finish the girls Bookshelf

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)

    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. Pay all upcoming bills
    4. Work on Spring Cleaning

    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 completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van
    3. Pay medical bills in full

    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.

  • Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by Noodleboro

    The girls have had the Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by Noodleboro (Playskool) for several years now.  They love it!  It is a unique game with a picnic blanket board, a picnic basket, games pieces, a story they can read, and a cd to listen too.  Many times as we are setting up the game someone will read the story and after playing the game the girls like to listen to the cd. It is a cute game about using your manners, being kind, and polite.

    • Colorful with neat game pieces (how many games come with a cool picnic basket)
    • Book  to read during story time with fun character who are learning their manners
    • Audio CD with more about the story and songs regarding using manners
    • Easy to play (recommended for ages 4 and up)
    • 2 to 4 Players
    • Object of the game – use your manners and be the first to collect all the items you need at your picnic!
    • Learning Benefits – social skills (say “please” and “thank you”), taking turns, listening, reading, and more

    We love games!   We have found that playing games is beneficial for many reasons.  It gives us quality time together as a family.  The kids learn that they will not always win (which is not always an easy lesson to learn), but the game can still be fun even if you are not the victor in every game.  It provides opportunities for us to talk and create memories together.  Games teach and help our kids practice a variety of useful skills like following directions, reading, writing, counting, taking turns, and more.

  • I’m Alive by Peter Furler

    When I was locked inside my head
    When I was lost in a maze of doubt
    You called my name and woke me up
    You called my name and led me out

    And when I chased one more mirage
    ‘Til I was tired and parched again
    You gave me one more cup to fill
    And sent me one more desert rain

    I’m alive, I’m on fire
    And my spirit burns with desire
    You set me alight, bright eyed
    And with no way to hold it inside
    I wanted to thank You
    Thank You, thank You

    I wanted to thank You
    Thank You, thank You
    I wanted to thank You
    Thank You, thank You
    I wanted to thank You
    Thank You, thank You

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    We had a great Easter weekend with the family.  I am super excited about spending some extra time with the kids since they will be out for Spring Break this week.  A lot of my goals for the upcoming week center around time spent with the family.

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 8) – still reading through with the girls
    2. Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2) – haven’t started it yet
    3. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    4. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    7. Volunteer One Day at Girls School
    8. Easter activity & celebration
    9. Get together with Family and/or Friends

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – hoping to get back into it soon
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read) – reading through it

    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. 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 completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4 – went a little over with the Easter items
    2. Payoff the Van – made another payment
    3. Pay medical bills in full – making payments

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 8)
    2. Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
    3. Ride bikes / scooters / skates / roller blades with the family
    4. Go on a picnic with the kids
    5. Play in the park together
    6. Visit a Museum
    7. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    8. Go on a family walk
    9. Get together with Family and/or Friends
    10. Play a board game
    11. Go on a special road trip
    12. Slumber party
    13. Go out to dinner one evening
    14. Watch a movie or TV show together one evening

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
    5. Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)

    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. Pay all upcoming bills
    4. Start Spring Cleaning

    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 completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email

    Financial Goals

    1. Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van
    3. Pay medical bills in full

    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.

  • The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

    Recently I finished reading The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls.  The Long Winter is book sixth book in the Little House series.  The girls LOVE reading these books.  I try to read at least a chapter to them every night and they always want me to keep on reading! Glad the girls are enjoying this series as much as I did as a little girl.  This was probably one of the hardest ones to read because the Ingalls family went through a lot of tough things during this winter season (from near starvation, freezing, and more).  The book teaches a lot about being creative with the resources around you, helping others, and working together to get through the rough season.

    Laura Ingalls and her family continue their adventures in the town of De Smet, South Dakota.  They got their homestead, but didn’t have time to winterize the little shanty before winter so they moved into the town of De Smet to live in the building that Pa had built last year.  Thankfully they had a place to stay in town because blizzard after blizzard hit the little town and cut off all the supplies for several months, including anything that was suppose to be arriving on the train.  Pa, Ma, Laura, Mary, Carrie, and baby Grace did their best to enjoy each day.

    It was a hard winter for the family with low food supplies and the cold from the  blizzards.  The book introduces many new characters into the series from their interactions with people in town during the winter months.  Almanzo Wilder and Cap Garland made a dangerous journey to find wheat so the families in town would not starve.  Even though it was a tough season many good friendships were established during these months.   The Ingalls family was creative with their cooking, heating the home, and finding ways to stay entertained while they were stuck inside during the blizzards.

  • You Never Let Go by Matt Redman

    Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
    Your perfect love is casting out fear
    And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
    I won’t turn back
    I know you are near

    And I will fear no evil
    For my God is with me
    And if my God is with me
    Whom then shall I fear?
    Whom then shall I fear?

    Oh no, You never let go
    Through the calm and through the storm
    Oh no, You never let go
    In every high and every low
    Oh no, You never let go
    Lord, You never let go of me

    And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
    A glorious light beyond all compare
    And there will be an end to these troubles
    But until that day comes
    We’ll live to know You here on the earth