Books
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week was crazy with Jake being out of town part of the week and having a sick little one complaining of right side and shoulder pain which resulted in us going to the pediatrician followed by a visit to the hospital for an ultrasound to see if something was wrong with her appendix. The actual ultrasound itself took over an hour with two different people trying to get a good picture of her appendix. They never did get a good picture, but they didn’t see anything abnormal either. Thankfully she is starting to feel better now. I am really ready for the warmer weather and praying for healthier weeks ahead! Despite all the busyness I was able to get some items done this week.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
- Read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 6) – working on it
- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2) – last was so busy we didn’t get a chance to start it yet
Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesPlan one special Activity with the FamilyCelebrate at Girls Birthday PartyVolunteer One Day at Girls School
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – didn’t get it done
Drink 8 glasses of water each dayContinue my YouVersion plan(s)- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – its been so busy this one’s been on hold
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read) – got through more of it
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekPay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attention- Work completed for clients – had to put some on hold because I had a sick little one a couple days this past week
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4 – honestly with the week being so busy and various visits to the doctor, hospital, pharmacy, and store I didn’t keep track, but I am pretty sure we went over this week
- Payoff the Van – working on it
- Pay medical bills in full – making payments
- Complete 2012 Taxes – making progress
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 6)
- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Volunteer One Day at Girls School
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4
- Payoff the Van
- Pay medical bills in full
- Complete 2012 Taxes
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.
By The Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I just finished reading By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The girls loved this book and hearing more about Laura’s adventures. By the Shores of Silver Lake is the fifth book in this series. The story continues as Laura and her family move from Plum Creek to the Dakota Territory. Through family Pa found a job working on the railroad which helps makes ends meet until they can file their claim on their homestead.
Once the girls who were sick with scarlet fever were well enough to travel they took the train to meet Pa in the new area. Their first winter in Dakota was cold but they were able to stay in the surveyors house that was stocked with supplies without anyone around for many miles. At the first sign of Spring many men started coming through so they could file a claim on their homestead. Ma and the girls cooked many meals for men traveling through while Pa was away hoping to get the piece of land he wanted to start their new homestead. The town of De Smet started popping up right before their eyes and even Pa built a building in the new town that he could rent or sell later.
The girls enjoyed listening to another story about Laura and her family. After each chapter they always want me to read another one. They thought it was neat that Laura got to spend some time with their cousins and they especially loved reading about Laura riding the horse. It was a cute book and the girls have loved these books so much that they are already planning on reading the series again after I finish reading them.
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week was busy with Jake being out of town part of the week in Charleston and special events I think we were only home together one night the whole week. Hoping this week is more productive for me.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
Read By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls– finished and they are ready to start the next one!Read Imagination Station: Voyage with the Vikings by Marianne Hering– read most of this book while in the doctors office with the girls and finished the rest later that evening
Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesPlan one special Activity with the FamilyPrepare for the Girls Birthday
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – didn’t do 5 days
Drink 8 glasses of water each dayStart with my new YouVersion plan(s)- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – paused reading this book because another took priority, hoping to read more this week
Finish reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan- going through this book with a group of friends
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week – Jake was in Charleston or had other events in most of the evenings, we had a special event with the girls one night too so the menu just didn’t get done
Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attentionWork completed for clients
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group EmailEmail a meeting notes for Alms & Legs Ministry Team meeting
Financial Goals
For my February 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.– I finished up over 7 weeks of No Grocery shopping, we are starting to low on a few items so I will need to make a grocery run soon- Payoff the Van – made a payment this week
- Pay medical bills in full – paying on them
- Complete 2012 Taxes – working on it
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 6)
- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Celebrate at Girls Birthday Party
- Volunteer One Day at Girls School
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4
- Payoff the Van
- Pay medical bills in full
- Complete 2012 Taxes
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.
On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Last week I finished reading On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls. This is the fourth book of the Little House series. In this book Laura and her family start their time in Minnesota on Plum Creek in a little sod house. Later Pa builds a new house with manufactured boards, glass windows and a hinged door.
The wild game at Plum Creek was more scarce because it was a more settled area but they did find plenty of fish in the creek. They were close enough to town that the family could attend church on Sundays and Laura and Mary could go to school. The land was good and the wheat crop looked great until the grasshoppers came which meant Pa had to look for work elsewhere.
It has been a lot of fun reading about Laura’s adventures with the girls. I am reading the same books to the girls that I read as a little girl. They are always eager to have me read the next chapter to them.
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week I was finally feeling better so I was able to get caught up on a few items. Thankful for some time together with my family while we were all healthy and back to the normal schedule. We celebrated Valentine’s Day by flying up north to Vermont visit Jake’s Mom and grandparents. The girls were super excited to play in some snow!
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
Read On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls– finished the book with the girls, they are ready to start the next book of the series nowRead Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume to the girls– finished the book, the girls loved it so much they wanted to know if there were any more in this series! 🙂- Read Imagination Station: Voyage with the Vikings by Marianne Hering
Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesPlan one special Activity with the FamilyGirls Dentist CheckupPick up Brina’s GlassesCelebrate the Valentine’s Day HolidayPrepare for the Girls BirthdaySpend Extra Time with Extended Family
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – didn’t get a chance to walk all 5 days, need to get back into the routine
Drink 8 glasses of water each dayStart with my new YouVersion plan(s)– staying up to date with the plan- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – working on it
- Finish reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan- going through this book with a group of friends
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekPay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attentionWork completed for clients
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
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.- Payoff the Van – working on it
- Pay medical bills in full – started making payments
- Complete 2012 Taxes – started preparing
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls
- Read Imagination Station: Voyage with the Vikings by Marianne Hering
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Prepare for the Girls Birthday
- Spend Extra Time with Extended Family
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Start with my new YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan- going through this book with a group of friends
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
- Email a meeting reminder for Alms & Legs Ministry Team meeting
Financial Goals
- 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.
- Payoff the Van
- Pay medical bills in full
- Complete 2012 Taxes
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.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
I started reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume to the girls while we were on the cruise. The girls loved hearing about Peter, Fudge, and their adventures so much that they begged me to continue reading it. I finished reading this book to the girls earlier this week. They thought the book was hilarious and wanted to know if there were any more books.
The book is about a fourth grader Peter Hatcher and his little brother Fudge. Fudge was always getting into Peter’s things, messing up his school work, playing with his turtle, and many other things to embarrass Peter. Every chapter contains the daily interactions and adventures of the Hatcher family. The story is fun and silly which captivates the young listeners attention. We have the older version of this book from when I was a kid. The girls love that they are reading books that I read as a kid too.
Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure by Jeff Brown
While on the cruise last week I read the book Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure by Jeff Brown to the girls. Before leaving we had them color and laminate their own Flat Stanley’s to take with them. Both Flat Stanley’s had a blast on the cruise and were often seen looking out the window in our room at the ports, sneaking a snack from the shelf, and other random places throughout the week.
The book was a really quick read but the girls loved it. One afternoon as we were relaxing for a little bit before dinner I read the entire book to them. They thought it was silly and enjoyed taking their very own Flat Stanley on adventures with them.
In this book Flat Stanley wakes up one morning flattened by the bulletin board that fell on top of him during the night. The book goes through the adventures that encounters while being flat from being a kite for his brother to being mailed to a friend and even helping in a museum robbery investigation.
Whether you read the book to the kids or they read it on their own it will be a fun one for them.
Brina and Karlie’s Flat Stanley’s waving at them from the window in our room. The girls were tickled pink they could see them from the dock. It definitely made our room easier to spot (I didn’t see any other Flat Stanley’s in any other windows, ha).
CONGRATULATIONS to Our “Significant Work” Winners!
The names have been drawn for the giveaway!
CONGRATULATIONS to
Laurita
Heidi
Amanda
Ashley
Maria
for winning the book
Significant Work by Paul Rude!
Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!
Enjoy your new book!
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*Giveaway must be claimed within 5 business days of the prize being announced. Failure to claim the prize within the allotted time frame means you forfeit the prize. The actual gift card may or may not be identical to the one pictured above.
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week was crazy busy with doctor appointments, activities, and everything else. Jake was out of town again for a couple days so packing and unpacking for him done as well. Thankfully this week we’ll be spending extra time together since he doesn’t need to travel for work. Hopefully, we’ll get in some extra quality family time too! This week will be different than normal because our schedule is switched up a little bit, but I still plan to set some goals and have fun with it! We’ll be spending some extra time with extended family members too this week! 🙂
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
- Read On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls – we got started but were not able to finish it this week, it may take us a little longer because it is a bigger book. The girls are loving it!
Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesPlan one special Activity with the FamilyFinish going over our 2013 goalsDoctor Appointments
Personal Goals
Exercise at least 5 days this weekDrink 8 glasses of water each dayStart with my new YouVersion plan(s)- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – made a little progress
- Finish reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan- going through this book with a group of friends so not quite down yet
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekPay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attention
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group EmailEmail a meeting notes from Alms & Legs Ministry Team meeting
Financial Goals
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. – wrapped up week 3 of this goal (WooHoo!!!) 🙂- Payoff the Van – made another payment
- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses – didn’t make any headway this week but at least we’re holding steady
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls
- Read the first book of the Imagination Station set Voyage with the Vikings by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker to the girls
- Spend quality time with my family and extended family
- Take extra pictures so we can remember our time together
- Plan a special activity
- Play at least one game
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue reading my YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
- 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.
- Payoff the Van
- 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.
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I just finished reading the book Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls. They were a little confused when we first started this book because they expected the next book in the series to be about the little girl Laura and her family, not about a boy named Almanzo. Although they were unsure about it at the beginning it only took a chapter to get them hooked and back into the series.
Farmer Boy is book three of the set we are currently reading through with the girls. The book introduces Almanzo, Laura’s future husband. While Laura growing up in a little house on the prairie with her parents and two sisters Almanzo was living on a big farm in New York State with his parents, one brother, and two sisters.
The book is written from Almanzo perspective and goes through many of the things he did as a boy from chopping wood, cutting ice, planting corn, raising a prize pumpkin, training his steers, and much more! The girls found it fascinating reading about Almanzo’s days. They especially liked that he was found of horses.
If you are looking for a fun book to read to your kids (both boys and girls) or have your children read themselves this is a great book. I know the girls will be going back and reading these books again on their own after we finish with the series. They have really enjoyed this series and learning a little bit about how Almanzo grew up fueled their excitement even more!
