Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
I made some progress last week on my goals! Thankful for the opportunity move forward on my goals despite a busy 2012 first quarter. Since I have a conference for part of the week the list will be shorter.
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 each girl read 1 book to myself or Jake 5 days this week – the girls were sick this week
- Go on my Date Night with Jake (we got free movie tickets so excited to enjoy some time away together) – We gave away our free movie tickets because we had to cancel our Date Night, the kiddos got sick. 🙁 I am hoping to get it rescheduled soon.
Get the girls Birthday Party Details Started
Personal Goals
Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week– I did it again (victory dance). It has helped give me more energy throughout my days too!- Go to bed by 10:30 pm or earlier Monday to Thursday – was bad about this one, it was after 1 am one night
- Finish reading Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk – still working on it
Read and listen to the next section of Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (our church Community Group is going through this book together).Get my Travel Visa Application Sent
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu planned and written by MondaySpend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house- Dinner ready by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday) – it was closer to 6 pm a couple of days
Spend time re-organizing and de-cluttering the officeUpdate Family & Friends Contact Information– glad to have this information updated 🙂
Business Goals
Pay all bills that come in the mail this weekWork on ideas for upcoming blog postsSpend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my deskPlan new implementations for blog- Start working on 2011 business taxes – gathered the information and paperwork but nothing more yet
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- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses – moving forward on this goal
Start working on our personal 2011 taxes
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
- Spend some time with extended family
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
- Read and listen to the next section of Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (our church Community Group is going through this book together).
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
Business Goals
- Attend the Pro Ag Conference
- Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
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
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
- 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
Family Celebrations: Our Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary to my Handsome Man!
It is amazing to think we are celebrating 11 years of marriage today. I am thankful for the many wonderful memories we have shared. God has blessed our marriage and family. I am grateful for an awesome husband who loves me and takes care of me. He is my best friend and such a blessing in my life!
Thank You Jake for everything!!!
I look forward to spending many many more years with you!
I LOVE YOU so very much!
Happy Anniversary Handsome!!!!
Photo by Sarah Ackerman
Love It – Purple Heart Necklace
My Purple Heart Necklace, beautiful reminder of the blessings in my life! Thanks Handsome! My husband has known for years the impact the Little Purple Flower had on my life. We were dating at the time the incident occurred and he was delighted to see God use such a beautiful reminder to encourage me. Since that time Jake has on numerous occasions surprised me with a gift that had a purple flower or something similar on it as a reminder of how much He loves me. The gift is also a visual reminder that God daily gives me the many blessings I have in my life.
On Valentine’s Day my husband and I celebrated together at Winter Jam 2011. When I got up to go to the restroom before the concert started I came back to a small package on my chair. He gave me a beautiful purple heart necklace (totally surprised me) as a way to remind me of His love and the many blessings in our lives as a couple. I had no idea that he was even saving his money to get me such a sweet surprise.
He had been looking for the perfect necklace for awhile until he found the purple heart which he thought it would be a perfect fit for me. For those of you who know me personally I am not a glamour and glittery type of person. I grew up with three brothers on a farm and was more of a tomboy than a princess. I can count on one hand the pieces of jewelry I wear regularly. Every single piece I wear daily Jake picked out on his own for me (most of them were surprises too). I wear my watch, engagement & wedding rings, and my heart necklace he gave me for our 7th anniversary every day. The only other time I wear different or more jewelry is for a special event or Date Night when I an extra necklace, ring, or bracelet. So needless to say I was shocked to receive a necklace on Valentine’s Day and my heart about burst with love for him when I realized it was a purple heart meant to remind me of the little purple flowers in my life.
I am surrounded by many blessings in my life. Some days I have to look harder to find those blessings but they exist no matter how big or small. I am thankful for a God who extends love and grace to me every day. A husband whom I adore and kids that bring so much joy and laughter into my life. The best part is they all love me despite my imperfections and crazy days. Thank you babe for reminding me of the MANY blessing in my life. I am thankful for the amazing gifts God has given me!
“Love It” is a series of posts on items that I use regularly in my household that I love! There are some items in our daily lives that make life more enjoyable, efficient, or just plain fun. I will be sharing with you some of the products that have been given to us (or to me) that have made it to the top of my list. It’s my way of giving a huge thumbs up!
Family Celebrations: Valentine’s Date with My Man!
Winter Jam 2011 at Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, SC! Jake and I had the opportunity to celebrate Valentine’s Day on Friday, February 11, 2011. We had friends swap babysitting duties with us so we knew the girls would be in good hands while we were out for the evening. While we were brainstorming fun and unique ways we could spend our Valentine’s Date we realized that it was the same night that Winter Jam 2011 was coming to Greenville. Since neither of us had ever been to any concerts before we decided to give it a try since it only cost $10 per person to get in.
After deciding what to do we talked with a couple friends and realized that the concert usually sells out so we had backup plans just in case. That night Jake picked up Subway sandwiches and we ate while standing in line to get into the Bi-Lo Center. When we arrived the lines were pretty defined but after only a few minutes it soon became a crowd with standing room only. I am not a tall person and thankful that I don’t get claustrophobic in large crowds standing because every one was standing close together.
We made it into the Bi-Lo Center and managed to get front row balcony seats! When I went to the restroom Jake left a small pretty gold package on my chair…… I hadn’t realized it but he had saved up his money to buy me a necklace that I could wear with the other one he gave me for our 7th Anniversary for dressier events! He is so sweet and thoughtful! I share will with you in a later post a little more about the necklace!
We have never been to a concert much less a Christian Concert with so many people and artists! It was neat hearing their songs and testimonies throughout the night. The night starting off with Chris Sligh who is from Greenville, South Carolina. We also heard songs from Chris August, Sidewalk Prophets, NewSong, Red, Francesca Battistelli, Kutless, David Crowder Band and the NewsBoys. Tony Nolan gave an encouraging and challenging message and KJ-52 was an entertaining MC. Here are some pictures from our Date Night. It was a neat experience and moving to see so many people in attendance worshiping together.
Chris Sligh from Greenville, SC started the Winter Jam 2011 evening. 
Chris August at Winter Jam 2011 
"Sidewalk Prophets" started with their backs to us! 
"Red" had neat fire and smoke shooting through the air at various times. The speakers were blown on our side after their performance, it was pretty loud! 
KJ-52 was a great MC at Winter Jam 2011! 
"Newsong" at Winter Jam 2011! 
Francesca Battistelli at Winter Jam, neat songs and her husband plays the drums in her band! 
Tony Nolan sharing scripture & his testimony with everyone at Winter Jam 2011 
David Crowder Band at Winter Jam 2011 
Winter Jam 2011 - "Kutless" performing! 
"Newsboys" drummer at Winter Jam 2011! 
Newsboys singing at Winter Jam 2011 
Newsboys on risers at Winter Jam! 
Winter Jam 2011 was a sold out crowd at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, SC! Movie – “Secretariat”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4wvRAjTbm0
My husband and I had a relaxing evening together last night after a busy week of family visiting. Having some quiet time snuggling with my man and watching a wonderful movie together was a perfect way to unwind. If you enjoy animals, horses in particular, this is a great movie for you. The neat part is that it is based on a true story of a family and an amazing horse. The main character is a Housewife and Mom, Penny Chenery Tweedy, who after her mothers death takes over her parents Virginia-based Meadow Stables. She goes against all odds with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin, a loyal secretary, a gutsy rider, and a talented horse “Red” who has a personality of his own. Together they manage to navigate the male-dominated business and ultimately the first Triple Crown winner in twenty-five years. The triple crown hasn’t been won since “Red”. The only thing that made me twinge a couple times is her married name is “Tweedy” and when they said her name it sounded like “Mrs. Tweety” from “Chicken Run”! Really enjoy sharing this movie with my man and recommend that you check it out if you are looking for a great movie to see in the near future. Go here for more information about “Secretariat” .
