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Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week was full for Christmas Celebrations, activities, and work travel. I am thankful to have Jake back at home with us and look forward to spending some quality time with my family over the Christmas Holidays. The girls are now out of school so I debated whether or not to do a goal list this week because I want to make sure to spend any “extra” time with them. I am going to try to keep it short this week for that reason.
Here is the update on last weeks goals:
Family Goals
Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everydayRead a book to the girls everydayHave the girls read 1 book to me 5 days this week- Do devotions with the girls every night (sometimes it gets late and we rush to get them into bed) – had a couple late nights, really need to work on doing better with this one.
Do the 25 Day of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activities with the girls this week
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week – did a few days
- Go to bed by 10:30 or earlier on Monday and Thursday – with Jake out of town I stayed up later to work on projects instead of going to bed on time
- Finish reading The 60-Minute Money Workout by Ellie Kay – got it started
Start Reading and listen to the next section of Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper
Home Management Goals
Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by MondaySpend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house- Dinner on the table by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday) – it was late a couple nights
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWrap and send out all Christmas Cards / Presents that need shipped or mailed
Business Goals
Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my deskPay all bills that come in the mail this weekWork on ideas for upcoming blog posts- Review my 2011 Business Goals and start planning ones for 2012 – didn’t even look at them this week with all the busy activities going on
Ministry Goals
Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requestsMeet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4- Pay off remaining debt – working on it
- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses – finishing up the debt so we can get rolling on this one
Here are my goals for the upcoming week:
Family Goals
- Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
- Read a book to the girls everyday
- Do the 25 Day of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activities with the girls this week
- Spend extra time with my family while the girls are on Christmas Break!
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
- Listen to Dave Ramsey’s Dumping Debt audiobook
Home Management Goals
- Get suitcase packed for our business / family trip
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Wrap all the Christmas Gifts
Business Goals
- Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
Ministry Goals
- Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
- Pay off remaining debt
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: “The Family Read-Aloud Christmas Treasury” selected by Alice Low
Several years ago I picked up this book The Family Read-Aloud Christmas Treasury selected by Alice Low at a local Goodwill store. The girls love getting this book out every year and reading through the many (over 50) Christmas stories and poems. It includes a mix of traditional Christmas stories. I like that it has The Birth of Jesus Luke 2:1-20 in the book and other religious stories as well as a few stories about Santa, Snowmen and more. I think the “make believe” stories are neat to read with the girls as long as they know the true meaning of Christmas. Probably one of my favorites is at the very end of the book:
The Joy of Giving
by John Greenleaf Whittier
Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you;
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart’s possessing
Returns to make you glad.
Gift Giving: 12 Days of Christmas
This year we decided to spread the Holiday Cheer out at our house this year by doing the 12 Days of Christmas again. I did this last year and it was a huge hit. Christmas morning can be so busy and this allows an opportunity to spread the fun over 12 days instead of packing everything into one day. Starting December 13th the girls will be able to open one a day until Christmas. The cost was less than $20 total, including boxes and wrapping paper. Most of the gifts were bought on clearance over the past year. We did a joint stack for both of our girls, however, you can choose to do a stack for each person.
Here is what our 12 Days of Christmas includes:
- Day 1: Christmas Ornament for each girl (purchased last year after Christmas on clearance with rewards).
- Day 2: Two Music CD’s by Suzi Shelton (received CD’s from doing a review and giveaway)
- Day 3: DVD Veggie Tales (DVD was free, but paid a small fee for shipping)
- Day 4: Two Giant Candy Canes, one Princess and 1 Cars (purchased with rewards)
- Day 5: Two Christmas Coloring Books (purchased on clearance with rewards)
- Day 6: Christmas Craft, painting ornaments (purchased with rewards on clearance)
- Day 7: Christmas Flower and Snowman (purchased with rewards on clearance)
- Day 8: Christmas Book God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren (purchased when it was on sale with Swagbucks gift card)
- Day 9: Two Christmas Headbands (purchased with rewards on clearance)
- Day 10: Game (found on clearance at Kmart and used gift card)
- Day 11: Two Hooded Bath Towels (used a coupon and picked them up on Black Friday)
- Day 12: PJs for each to wear Christmas Eve (picked up on sale and used a coupon)
Other Ideas for 12 Days of Christmas:
- Hair Accessories
- Facial Cleansers or Make Up – if you have a teenager just starting to wear makeup or want to update your collection my Mary Kay contact is doing a 12 Day of Christmas set! If your husband is looking for something awesome to get you he may want to contact Ann too.
- Socks or Tights
- Chapstick
- Socks
- Gloves or Scarf
- Card Game
- Construction Paper
- Markers or Crayons
- Matchbox cars
- Small Toys
- Baby Doll Clothes
- Christmas Underwear
- The ideas are endless!
Karlie & Brina excited about their 12 Days of Christmas
I wrapped them in the original boxes or found ones around the house to put the items into. The Christmas paper was purchased on clearance and I used a coupon. Many of the items we purchased on clearance throughout the year and / or used CVS – ECBs and Walgreens – Register Rewards, Swagbucks Gift Cards or Coupons. I cannot remember the price for all the items but with the rewards it may have been under $10 out of pocket for the entire set of 12 gifts and some days had multiple items in them. We did a joint stack for our girls to save money, however, the items we picked match their individual interests (for example the craft with one being princess and the other being cars). When the girls walked into the room and saw the stack of gifts they were super excited.
Song: “Do You Have Room?” by Shawna Edwards
I heard this song for the first time last week. It is a beautiful song with a wonderful Christmas message. The music is peaceful and asks an important question “Do You Have Room?” Are we making time for what really matters this Christmas Season? I sometimes find myself getting caught up on all the extra activities and stuff that needs to be done that I don’t take enough time to focus on the most amazing part of this Season. The phrase that hit home with me was “There was no room for Him in the inn. Do you have room for Him in your life?”
Do you have room for the Savior?
And do you seek Him anew?
Have you a place for the One who lived and died for you?
Are you as humble as a shepherd boy, or as wise of men of old?
Would you have come that night?
Would you have sought the light?
Do you have room?
There was no room for Him in the inn.
Do you have room for Him in your life?
Song: “Tomboy In A Princess Dress” by Suzi Shelton (Music Video)
Suzi Shelton’s newest music video has been released “Tomboy In A Princess Dress”. Click on the video above to hear her latest hit. Her songs are upbeat, cheerful, and enjoyable for kids and parents to listen to at home or in the car!
To learn more about Suzi Shelton and to enter a GIVEAWAY go to Review & Giveaway: “Tomboy in a Princess Dress” by Suzi Shelton! The winner of the giveaway will win Suzi’s newest release “Tomboy In A Princess Dress” PLUS 2 more CD’s by Suzi Shelton! These CD’s would be perfect for your kids or to give as a gift!
Book: “God Gave Us Christmas” by Lisa Tawn Bergren
I was excited a few weeks ago when God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren went on sale and we could buy this book for the girls with our Amazon Gift Cards I earned from Swagbucks to learn more about how to get started go here. Our family has a couple other books by Lisa that the girls really enjoy (God Gave us the World, God Gave Us Love , and God Gave Us Heaven) . I like that the books encourage the kids to ask questions and gives the credit back to God. Even though the girls haven’t received this book yet I read it as soon as it arrived and was thrilled to find it was written much along the same lines of the other books we enjoy from Lisa Bergren.
This is a great children’s book that emphasizes the true meaning of Christmas. The author created a pretty steady stream of “Questions” and “Answers” dialogue between Little Cub and her parents. The book addresses some of the most common questions kids will ask around the Holiday Season such as “Who ‘vented Christmas? Was it Santa?” Although Santa Claus, Frosty, and the other traditional Christmas stories are neat, it is important that our children know the true reason why we celebrate Christmas.
God Gave Us Christmas is a wonderful book to give as a gift to children. If you are looking at buying a Christmas book for fun or as a gift this season you should check this one out. You can also get it from the library to read with your kids.
Song: “While You Were Sleeping” by Casting Crowns
A great song to remind of all the amazing events that have taken place in history and a reminder of what is to come. It is a very peaceful yet powerful song.
Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you’re lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight, tonightIntentional Living: Weekly Goals
I was back to my regular schedule for the most part this week. It was a busy week with a lot of catching up to do from the Thanksgiving Holidays. I wasn’t able to get everything crossed off the list but made some headway.
Here is the update on last weeks goals:
Family Goals
Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everydayRead a book to the girls everyday- Have the girls read 1 book to me 5 days this week
- Do devotions with the girls every night (sometimes it gets late and we rush to get them into bed)
- Get the girls passport pictures taken
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week – started the week well but flopped when it got really cold outside
- Go to bed by 10:30 or earlier on Monday and Thursday – did it about every other night
Finish reading The Money Saving Mom’s Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year by Crystal Paine who has a blog called Money Saving Mom (VERY excited about the opportunity to preview this book by a blogger I have been following for years and thankful to be featured on her blog weekly with the Save A Lot Deals!)Listen to the next section of Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (I am going through this book with my Community Group)
Home Management Goals
Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by MondaySpend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house- Dinner on the table by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday) – it was late a couple nights
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day- File the receipts and coupons for the last couple of months. – started, but not finished
Business Goals
Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my deskPay all bills that come in the mail this weekWork on ideas for upcoming blog posts- Review my 2011 Business Goals and start planning ones for 2012 – pulled it out but didn’t get in depth time to work on it this week
Ministry Goals
Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requestsMeet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch- Make at least $25 towards my Creative Cash goal this week so I can give more to others. – didn’t meet my goal this week
Deliver a meal to a new Mom.was able to take meals to 2 new Moms! What a blessing to share and meet the new little ones! 🙂
Financial Goals
Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4- Pay off remaining debt – made progress this week
- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses – on hold until debt is paid off
Here are my goals for the upcoming week:
Family Goals
- Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
- Read a book to the girls everyday
- Have the girls read 1 book to me 5 days this week
- Do devotions with the girls every night (sometimes it gets late and we rush to get them into bed)
- Do the 25 Day of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activities with the girls this week
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
- Go to bed by 10:30 or earlier on Monday and Tuesday
- Finish reading The 60-Minute Money Workout by Ellie Kay
- Listen to the next section of Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (I am going through this book with my Community Group)
Home Management Goals
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
- Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
- Dinner on the table by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday)
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Start wrapping and send out Christmas Cards / Presents
Business Goals
- Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my desk
- Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Review my 2011 Business Goals and start planning ones for 2012
Ministry Goals
- Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Make at least $25 towards my Creative Cash goal this week so I can give more to others.
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
- Pay off remaining debt
- 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
Book: “Money Savings Mom’s Budget” by Crystal Paine
I had the privilege of reading a preview copy of Crystal Paine’s first book “The Money Saving Mom’s Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year” which will be released on January 10, 2012! I have been following Crystal’s blog Money Saving Mom for several years now and was thrilled to receive a copy of her new book to review. As I expected the book was full of practical advice on life, home management, and finances. Crystal discusses tips and resources that have worked well for her family as well as some of the challenges she has experienced along the way.
In the book Crystal shares a step by step process to financial success through seven rules:
- Rule #1 – SET BIG GOALS AND BREAK THEM DOWN INTO BITE-SIZED PIECES
- Rule #2 – STREAMLINE YOUR LIFE AND CUT THE CLUTTER
- Rule #3 – SET UP A REALISTIC, WORKABLE BUDGET
- Rule #4 – TAKE THE CASH-ONLY CHALLENGE
- Rule #5 – USE COUPONS
- Rule #6 – NEVER PAY RETAIL
- Rule #7 – CHOOSE CONTENTMENT
She has these rules broken out over 12 months so you can focus on one at a time and within a year you may see amazing results in your personal life as well as with your family finances. I like that Crystal gives manageable steps for someone starting out and challenges to those who are already practicing some of the principles in her book. In the back of the book she gives worksheets to help get you started on your goals, priorities, budget, and more. By making just a few changes you may start seeing positive results in your life right away.
I wear many hats throughout the week, however, if my priorities and life are a mess I will not have any time or resources leftover to help others. This book helps you streamline your life, household, and finances so you can be a blessing to your family, friends and to the people around you. Her quote “Stop trying to do it all” rang loud and clear when I read it. As women for some reason we feel like we have to be SuperMom or Superwoman yet we often fail because we cannot do everything. When our priorities are in order we will have the time to focus on things that truly are important.
Crystal wraps up the book perfectly by addressing her final rule, “Choose Contentment”. This chapter was my favorite, it is a good reminder to practice contentment in all areas of our lives. No matter what the circumstances are there is ALWAYS much to be thankful for in my life. “Choose to bloom where you’re planted – even if it seems like it’s among thorns.”
I am super excited to see how implementing a few key rules can make a positive impact in my family and hope to share them with you along the way. The Money Saving Mom’s Budget is a practical, encouraging, and motivating book. It would be a perfect gift for your Mom friends, graduates, or as a wedding gift.
The best part…..is that all the profit for the sale of this book are going to Compassion International. Compassion International is an organization that helps to feed and clothe needy children around the world. You can pre-order The Money Saving Mom’s Budget by Crystal Paine now at Amazon it’s $11.09 right now, with a price-guarantee that if the price goes down any between when you order and the release date, you’ll get the lowest price. Plus you can get free shipping with your Amazon Mom account.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed 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.”
Free Audio Book: “From Pearl Harbor to Calvary” by Mitsuo Fuchida
For the month of December Christian Audio is offering a free download of their audio book . This month the audio book is From Pearl Harbor to Calvary by Mitsuo Fuchida.
Mitsuo Fuchida was a Captain in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service who is perhaps best known for leading the first air wave attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Fuchida was responsible for the coordination of the entire aerial attack working under the overall fleet commander Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo.After World War II ended, Fuchida became an evangelist, Christian preacher and frequently traveled to the United States to minister to the Japanese expatriate community. He became a United States citizen in 1966. (information from Christian Audio)
If you have been wanting to a book to listen to throughout the day or while driving then this is a great opportunity to get a book for free when you download it from Christian Audio in December. Make sure to submit your order by December 31, 2011 to get your free audio book. Thanks Christian Audio!
