• What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    https://blessingsmultiplied.com//wp-content/uploads/2011/09/4088699532_ae44f04b7dc.jpg

    Thankful for extra time with family.  It was a week with a little bit of an adjustment with the girls on the summer camp schedule.   They had a blast.  This week is going be another fun adventure for them.  Thankful for the opportunity to spend extra time with the girls during the summer schedule.  While they are in camp I will be at work so we can have time after work and camp.  I want to keep our menu fairly simple and easy not only to save time, but to not heat up the house too much.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree): Holiday Event
    • Tuesday (Seafood, Soup, Salad, or Sandwich Entree):  Baja Fish Tacos, Fresh Salad
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):  Sweet & Spicy Teriyaki Chicken, Steamed Rice
    • Thursday (Pork Entree or Kid‘s Night to Cook):  Seasoned Pork, Grilled Summer Squash
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or pasta entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    It was a whirlwind week of work, summer camp, and activities.  We had a lot of fun, got items done, and made progress along the way.  Even though we were exhausting by the time Friday hit we were very thankful for a relaxing and productive weekend at home.  Glad to have some time with my family and get some projects moving along at home too.    Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein to the kids. – almost done!
    2. Read 7 more Stories from the Bad Pets on the Loose by Alan Zullo book to the kids.
    3. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids. – did some of them
    4. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.- did not make it through 7 pages
    5. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    6. Plan one special activity with the family
    7. Play a Game with the Kids
    8.  Attend After Work Activities
    9. Lunch Boxes packed the night before work & other planned activities
    10. Prep for upcoming Family Adventure(s)
    11. Prep & Figure out Schedule for upcoming Summer Break
    12. Ride Bikes with the Kids – the girls road, but we did not get a chance
    13. Work on family projects togetherthe girls were a big help getting items done around the house and yard this weekend
    14. Unpack suitcase from last family adventure
    15. Daily 15 minute “Speed Clean” for entire family to keep the daily clutter under control – we did a lot of cleaning, but didn’t get to the speed clean everyday (some days by the time we got home, ate dinner, took showers, we were ready to just hit the bed).

    Kid Goals

    1. Have kids do Summer Workbook(s)
    2. Encourage Kids to read independently at least 30 minutes a day
    3. Sign up kids for the Easley, Anderson, & Greenville County Summer Library Reading Programssigned up for all 3 counties Summer Reading Programs near us since we are in each county eve
    4. Sign up kids for Barnes & Noble and other similar reading programs
    5. Have kids work on our approved educational websites to encourage growth (at least 2 hours for the week)
    6. Have kids work for at least 1 hour on this week on improving their typing skills
    7. Each kid finish creating at least 2 blogs posts for their Fun with Sis blog
    8. Spend time Monday –Friday encouraging the kids to find creative ways to learn and grown their skills
    9. Kids start packing suitcases for next family adventure
    10. At least 30 minutes of outside play, fresh air, or activity time a day

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Keep up with my FitBit Goals – some days were better than others
    3. Do yoga at least 5 times a week – did it three times during the work week, but had a couple mornings that other priorities popped up
    4. Go to my Appointments Scheduled this week
    5. Update Counting My Blessings and Other journal entries daily
    6. Tackle some lingering projects on my “to do” list

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayit took 2 days because we were busy working on other projects together as a family
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Clean House (Focus – Normal Maintenance Cleaning)
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Start getting the Laundry Room back together and organized so we can clean up the family room downstairs)
    5. Yard / Garage Cleanup (Focus – Plant Lilly Flower and Blueberry Bush – weather permitting)
    6. Pet Care (Focus – Refill Skipper’s Feeder)
    7. Repairs – (Focus – Check on Water Heater Recall Notice we received)

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients
    5. Notes typed for work – want to get caught up on some of my notes for easy reference
    6. Meeting regarding work goals and upcoming tasks completed – worked on some of these items but need to fine tune it
    7. Folders Labeled for work – got some of them labeled but need to get more
    8. Desk drawers organized – getting closer
    9. Do at least 5 blog posts this week – did my regular posts but was not able to get the additional ones that I wanted to done
    10. Catch up on Hootesuite
    11. Upload pictures from last few weeks and update – got some of them completed, needs more work

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. One-on-one quality time with Jake (talking, date night, or doing an activity together)
    3. One-on-one quality time with Brina (talking, date night, or doing an activity together)
    4. One-on-one quality time with Karlie (talking, date night, or doing an activity together)

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the Financial Advisor – narrowing down some dates with Jake so can confirm our schedules
    2. Payoff Other Outstanding Debt  – working on it
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Go grocery shopping one time this week and stay within budget
    5. Sell, giveaway, donate, or through away items no longer use – getting through some of the items we need to get organizes
    6. Take items to the recycling distributor – hopefully taking those in this week
    7. Make meals with items from pantry, refrigerator, and freezer to use up what we have and eliminate any extra spending – doing better this week

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein to the kids.
    2. Read 7 more Stories from the Bad Pets on the Loose by Alan Zullo book to the kids.
    3. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    4. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    5. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    6. Plan one special activity with the family
    7. Play a Game with the Kids
    8.  Attend After Work Activities
    9. Lunch Boxes packed the night before work & other planned activities
    10. Prep for upcoming Family Adventure(s)
    11. Prep & Figure out Schedule for upcoming Summer Break
    12. Work on family projects together
    13. Daily 15 minute “Speed Clean” for entire family to keep the daily clutter under control

    Kid Goals

    1. Have kids do work in their Summer Workbook(s)
    2. Encourage Kids to read independently at least 30 minutes a day
    3. Have kids work on our approved educational websites to encourage growth (at least 2 hours for the week)
    4. Have kids work for at least 1 hour on this week on improving their typing skills
    5. Each kid finish creating at least 2 blogs posts for their Fun with Sis blog
    6. Spend time Monday –Friday encouraging the kids to find creative ways to learn and grown their skills
    7. At least 30 minutes of outside play, fresh air, or activity time a day

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Keep up with my FitBit Goals
    3. Do yoga at least 5 times a week
    4. Go to my Appointments Scheduled this week
    5. Update Counting My Blessings and Other journal entries daily
    6. Tackle some lingering projects on my “to do” list
    7. Read over the kids blog posts

    Home (Yard & Pets) 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. Clean House (Focus – Clean Living Room)
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Label & Hang Up Kids Necklaces)
    5. Yard / Garage Cleanup (Focus – Pick up Sticks found in the yard from the past couple of storms)
    6. Pet Care (Focus – Work of the Goat & Dog Fences)
    7. Repairs – (Focus – Check on Water Heater Recall Notice we received)

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients
    5. Notes typed for work
    6. Meeting regarding work goals and upcoming tasks completed
    7. Folders Labeled for work
    8. Training on new projects
    9. Desk drawers organized
    10. Do at least 5 blog posts this week
    11. Catch up on Hootesuite
    12. Upload pictures from last few weeks and update

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. One-on-one quality time with Jake (talking, date night, or doing an activity together)
    3. One-on-one quality time with Brina (talking, date night, or doing an activity together)
    4. One-on-one quality time with Karlie (talking, date night, or doing an activity together)

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the Financial Advisor
    2. Payoff Other Outstanding Debt
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Go grocery shopping one time this week and stay within budget
    5. Sell, giveaway, donate, or through away items no longer use
    6. Take items to the recycling distributor
    7. Make meals with items from pantry, refrigerator, and freezer to use up what we have and eliminate any extra spending

    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

  • Be Prepared & Avoid The Oops! Walmart & SheSpeaks #AvoidtheOops

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    Have you ever been in the middle of hosting an event at your house and realized you are out of napkins?  Gone to brush your teeth only to discover you are out of toothpaste?  Went to start the laundry only to find out that you are out of laundry soap?  All of these are possible scenarios and can be quite frustrating.  I speak from experience!  It is not cool to run out of essential items when you really need them!

    At the time it is not funny when you realize you need something and do not have it on hand.  It can be a big inconvenience because you may have to stop what you are doing and go to the store to pick up the missing product. You may need to be creative with your available resources because you cannot pick up the missing item (using cloth napkins while your guests are still visiting or napkins).  Whatever the resolution in those crazy times it simply would have been easier to just have the item already at the house!

    Avoid the Oops

    No one likes that sinking feeling when you reach for something only to realize it’s all gone. Avoid those oops moments by stocking up at Walmart.

    One of the best ways to “avoid the oops” and running out of staple items is to keep a stock of essentials from Protector & Gamble.  Whether it is an impromptu summer event, gathering, or last minute outing.  It is always great to keep the daily or regularly used items on your list and small stockpile (one or two spares). The best way that we  have helped to “avoid the oops” in our household is to create and use a system.

    First, we try to keep at least 1 extra of the essential items that we use regularly in our house.  Whenever, any member uses or opens up the last of an item they automatically add it to our shopping list.  It doesn’t matter if I use the last item, my husband or kids, everyone has the freedom to update the list.  It helps us keep what we need in stock.  Until recently I would pick up any items on our shopping list around town, however, using WalMart’s “avoid the oops” program would save me the time and energy of running errands.  Plus, I get the opportunity to order great products and have them delivered directly to our house (extra bonus)!

    Save Time and Money:

    Who doesn’t want to have a little extra time at the end of the day or extra money left in the budget at the end of the month!  Some weeks it takes everything you have to balance schedules and all the activities (school, work, family, extra curricular, and more).  If you could have something already in place that would allow you to quickly and easily order quality staple products online for a reasonable price and have them delivered to your home it may reduce some of the unnecessary stress in your already busy schedule.  Most shoppers don’t realize they have the option of shopping for the same great household essentials at Walmart’s everyday low prices on Walmart. And by doing so, they’ll also save time so they can enjoy more of that summer sunshine.

    Share Your “Oops” Moment:

    Have you ever had an “oops” moment?  Please share!  We are all human and have had those moments at various times throughout our lives.  We can laugh or cry together about them!

    I was thrilled to hear that SheSpeaks teamed up with Walmart to showcase their “Avoid the Oops” program.  Practical products are awesome!  I love it when my house is stocked with the basic necessities and the house looks as well as smells fresh!  Thank you Walmart and SheSpeaks for helping me tackle my shopping list and clean my house!  It is always great to find products that are useful and easy to get.

    She Speaks, WalMart, Avoid the Oops Review

    AMAZING Household, Cleaning, and Health & Beauty Items from Walmart that we Received:

    • 2 – Pampers Baby Fresh Baby Wipe Tubs (72 count each)
    • 6 – Bounty Basic Big Roll Paper Towels (95 sheets per roll)
    • 9 – Charmin Basic Toilet Paper Bulk Rolls (319 sheets per roll)
    • 1 Box – Gain Powder Laundry Detergent Original
    • 1 Pack – Gillette Simply Venus Disposable Razors (4 count)
    • 3 – Crest Cavity Protection Toothpaste 6.4 oz each
    • 10 – Ivory Original Soap Bars
    • 2 – Mr. Clean Magic Kitchen Scrubbers
    • 4 – Puffs Ultra Soft Strong Non-Lotion Boxes of Facial Tissues (56 sheets per box)
    • 4 – Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Original
    • 2 – Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Power House Cleaning Pads
    • 1 – Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Original Scent
    • 1 – Mr. Clean Hawaiian Aloha Multi-Purpose Liquid Cleaner (40 fl oz)
    • Sample goodies to try too!!!!

    I received ALL these products shipped directly to my house for under $60!  They were super easy to order online at Walmart and arrived quickly.  It was a big time savings for our family!  Head on over and try out avoid the oops today so you will be stocked up on your products for tomorrow!

    You can shop in all of the following categories:  Kitchen, Laundry, Cleaning, Health & Beauty, Baby, Bathroom and More!!!

    Additional Information Can be Found About This AWESOME Program at:

    As a member of the SheSpeaks Blogger Society, I was given samples of these products and program to write an informed review.  The opinions expressed in this post are my own.   A special thanks to SheSpeaks and Walmart for providing the products to review.

  • Counting My Blessings: Week In Review

    It was a wonderful week packed with adventures and memories with family and friends.  We were able to spend time with people we hadn’t seen in quite awhile and meet some sweet little ones (new nieces and nephews that we are meeting for the first time).  The girls have had a blast meeting the sweet babies, playing with family and friends, spending time with cute animals, and making memories with a lot of people in our lives.  Thankful for an opportunity to travel and catch up with family from a variety of different areas.

    I want to be accountable to you so the following are snip-its of some of the things I am thankful for this past week.

    Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:

    Monday –Thankful for an opportunity to spend a day with my cousin Renelle and her family.  We even were able to go to Estates Park, a hike, and visit to Bear Lake.  It was great spending time with family and in the Rocky Mountains!

    Tuesday – Thankful for a chance to explore the Denver Museum of Science and Nature.  The girls especially loved the Robotic Revolution exhibit!  We spent a few hours there prior to going to the airport.

    Wednesday – Thankful for safety as we flew back on South Carolina.  Our flight was delayed, but we made it home with about 2 hours to spare before heading into work.  Grateful for our friends who took really great care of our house and pets while we were away!

    Thursday – Thankful for the girls help in getting the suitcases unpacked from our trip and for a full nights sleep back in our own beds!

    Friday – Thankful that the kids had a chance to hang out with their friends from church at a pool party.

    Saturday – Thankful for an opportunity to spend time with Jake’s cousin and his family, Luke and Kristen!  Always great catching up and the kids played well together!

    Sunday – Thankful for a chance to celebrate Father’s Day with Jake.  We spent actual Father’s Day with extended family and waited until we were back home to celebrate with Jake.  It was fun hanging out together and having fun.  Thankful for Jake and everything he does for our family!

    What are you thankful for today?  I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today.  It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    https://blessingsmultiplied.com//wp-content/uploads/2011/09/4088699532_ae44f04b7dc.jpg

    Thankful for extra time with family and friends.  It was a whirlwind of work and various activities when we arrived back home.  The girls were a big help with unpacking.  I anticipate this week to be full but good!  The girls have summer camp and Jake and I have work.  Hopefully, we’ll be back into a routine and rhythm very soon!  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree): Cube Steak, Baked Potatoes
    • Tuesday (Seafood, Soup, Salad, or Sandwich Entree):  Pita Pockets, Fresh Salad  
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):  Fried Chicken, Steamed Veggies
    • Thursday (Pork Entree or Kid‘s Night to Cook):  Hot Dogs, Fruit Salad
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or pasta entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    We had a wonderful time with family and friends!  We covered a lot of miles over the past week and half.  First, we arrived in Vermont went to Connecticut, Boston, Maine, Kansas, and Colorado!  Thankful for the time and good memories!  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein to the kids. – still working through it. 
    2. Read 7 more Stories from the Bad Pets on the Loose by Alan Zullo book to the kids. – read some of it
    3. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    4. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Spend extra time with family and friends

    Kid Goals

    1. At least 30 minutes of outside play, fresh air, or activity time a day

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Keep up with my FitBit Goals

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Maintenance items only

    Business Goals

    1. Maintenance items only

    Financial Goals

    1. Maintenance items only

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein to the kids.
    2. Read 7 more Stories from the Bad Pets on the Loose by Alan Zullo book to the kids.
    3. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    4. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    5. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    6. Plan one special activity with the family
    7. Play a Game with the Kids
    8.  Attend After Work Activities
    9. Lunch Boxes packed the night before work & other planned activities
    10. Prep for upcoming Family Adventure(s)
    11. Prep & Figure out Schedule for upcoming Summer Break
    12. Ride Bikes with the Kids
    13. Work on family projects together
    14. Unpack suitcase from last family adventure
    15. Daily 15 minute “Speed Clean” for entire family to keep the daily clutter under control

    Kid Goals

    1. Have kids do 1st week in Summer Workbook(s)
    2. Encourage Kids to read independently at least 30 minutes a day
    3. Sign up kids for the Easley, Anderson, & Greenville County Summer Library Reading Programs
    4. Sign up kids for Barnes & Noble and other similar reading programs
    5. Have kids work on our approved educational websites to encourage growth (at least 2 hours for the week)
    6. Have kids work for at least 1 hour on this week on improving their typing skills
    7. Each kid finish creating at least 2 blogs posts for their Fun with Sis blog
    8. Spend time Monday –Friday encouraging the kids to find creative ways to learn and grown their skills
    9. Kids start packing suitcases for next family adventure
    10. At least 30 minutes of outside play, fresh air, or activity time a day

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Keep up with my FitBit Goals
    3. Do yoga at least 5 times a week
    4. Go to my Appointments Scheduled this week
    5. Update Counting My Blessings and Other journal entries daily
    6. Tackle some lingering projects on my “to do” list

    Home (Yard & Pets) 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. Clean House (Focus – Normal Maintenance Cleaning)
    4. Organize Chaos (Focus – Start getting the Laundry Room back together and organized so we can clean up the family room downstairs)
    5. Yard / Garage Cleanup (Focus – Plant Lilly Flower and Blueberry Bush – weather permitting)
    6. Pet Care (Focus – Refill Skipper’s Feeder)
    7. Repairs – (Focus – Check on Water Heater Recall Notice we received)

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients
    5. Notes typed for work
    6. Meeting regarding work goals and upcoming tasks completed
    7. Folders Labeled for work
    8. Desk drawers organized
    9. Do at least 5 blog posts this week
    10. Catch up on Hootesuite
    11. Upload pictures from last few weeks and update

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. One-on-one quality time with Jake (talking, date night, or doing an activity together)
    3. One-on-one quality time with Brina (talking, date night, or doing an activity together)
    4. One-on-one quality time with Karlie (talking, date night, or doing an activity together)

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the Financial Advisor
    2. Payoff Other Outstanding Debt
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Go grocery shopping one time this week and stay within budget
    5. Sell, giveaway, donate, or through away items no longer use
    6. Take items to the recycling distributor
    7. Make meals with items from pantry, refrigerator, and freezer to use up what we have and eliminate any extra spending

    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

  • Counting My Blessings: Week In Review

    It was a wonderful week packed with adventures and memories with family and friends.  We were able to spend time with people we hadn’t seen in quite awhile and meet some sweet little ones (new nieces and nephews that we are meeting for the first time).  The girls have had a blast meeting the sweet babies, playing with family and friends, spending time with cute animals, and making memories with a lot of people in our lives.  Thankful for an opportunity to travel and catch up with family from a variety of different areas.

    I want to be accountable to you so the following are snip-its of some of the things I am thankful for this past week.

    Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:

    Monday –Thankful for the an opportunity to spend time with Jake’s cousin and family.  See a little bit of Boston with its great history.  As well as a chance to catch up with our great friends Mike and Ashley with their little ones in Maine.

    Tuesday – Thankful for friends that are like family that we can spend time with and have a blast whenever we get together.  It was wonderful catching up with Mike & Ashley.  The girls were thrilled to meet Savannah, sweet girl with lots of personality, and Bradley. Grateful for the ability to fly as we head out to see my family in the Midwest, even though going through airports can be an adventure it does save time if were are wanting to see people that are spread out over many miles and more on a specifically on a limited time frame.

    Wednesday – Thankful for a chance to spend some time on the farm in Kansas with my parents and family.  The girls always love time spending with the family and animals.

    Thursday – Thankful for time in the Midwest with extended family.  Grateful that we can see a number of people in this area.

    Friday – Thankful for another day with extended family.  The girls have grandparents, great grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and more people to enjoy time with during our stay.

    Saturday – Thankful for a safe trip to Colorado to see my cousin Renelle and her family.

    Sunday – Thankful for some time to hang out with extended family in the Denver, Fort Collins, Johnston areas.

    What are you thankful for today?  I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today.  It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day!

  • Song: Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBwXHpKVS5I

    I am thankful for my Dad, my husband who is a wonderful Daddy to our girls, and many other Father figures in my life from Grandparents to friends and more, but there is one perfect Father.   Our earthly Father’s will stumble, God never will.  We can be grateful for the Father’s God has chosen to give us, however, our focus should be on our Heavenly Father.

    I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think you’re like
    But I’ve heard tender whispers of love in the dead of night
    And you tell me that you’re pleased
    And that I’m never alone

    You’re a Good, Good Father
    It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
    And I’m loved by you
    It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

    I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
    But I know we’re all searching
    For answers only you can provide
    Cause you know just what we need
    Before we, we say a word