• Travel & Vacation: Rides & Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade (Orlando, FL)

    Karlie having a blast shooting laser during the Buzz Lightyear ride

    We went on several rides at Disney with the kids and had a lot of fun!  We were thankful for friends who guided us in the right direction and recommended certain rides for the kids.  There were some hilarious shows we went to as well.  A few rides the kids loved so much we went on them several times! 🙂  You can read more about our trip in the Walt Disney World post.

    Mommy and Karlie’s screen shot from the picture they took during our first game, hilarious!

    Daddy and Brina’s screen shot from the picture they took during the first game!

    What did the four older ones get themselves into now!?  Such fun exploring the place with friends!

    It threatened to rain as the parade was starting but we were prepared with disposable ponchos

    Disney – “Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade!”

    Mickey and Minnie Mouse – Your Invited, Celebrate Today!

  • Travel & Vacation: Walt Disney World (Orlando, FL)

    We made it to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

    A few months ago we had the opportunity to go visit friends in Winter Park, Florida.  While we were there we took a day and explored Walt Disney World – Where Dreams Come True.  The girls were so excited!  Jake and I still have passes leftover from our honeymoon (which was my first time to see Disney World) so we only had to get tickets for the girls.  It was so neat taking the kids and seeing their reactions to all the amazing rides and adventures at Disney World.  We arrived right about opening time and stayed until they closed the park at midnight.  It was a full day packed full of great activities and amazing memories!

    Three girls watching all the people in front of us get onto the Frontier log ride

    My seat buddy Karlie is loving the ride.  Smiling the whole time but not taking her eyes off all the stuff around her.

    Brina mesmerized by all the stuff to look at.  Was the wolf scary B?!  Good thing she has Daddy to protect her!

    Karlie found a small purple flower that had dropped off a tree and gave it to me.  Sweet girl!

    Our family at Disney World

    Ready for the next adventure, this time we need our 3D glasses!

    Daddy and the girls in front of the Disney Castle.  It was bright, hot, and crowded, but we managed to snap a quick picture!!

  • Travel & Vacation: Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas

    Our ship was the biggest one that stopped at Grand Cayman today

    We have been on three Royal Caribbean ships in the past few years.  The Independence of the Seas is the biggest one that we have been on.  I didn’t realize how big it was until we stopped at Grand Cayman next to several other boats and ours was the biggest one.  The girls enjoyed looking at the other boats too, they spotted a Disney one as well as one that had a face.  Since we couldn’t dock directly at the Grand Cayman Island we took a ferry over which gave us a chance to look at all the other neat boats that day.

    Look Mickey Mouse is in the Grand Cayman Islands!  The Disney ship was right next to us when we stopped for the day.  It was smaller than our boat, but they did have a pretty neat horn (instead of a horn it played Disney music).

    That circular piece in the top left of the picture is actually a hot tub hanging out over the ocean.  Yes, when we were in it I was thinking about how far it would be if we dropped!

    We were in a water taxi looking up at the boat.  You can see how little the people look on the balconies.  The yellow items are the life boats.  Thankfully we never had to use one!

    Our big boat – Independence of the Seas

    A view as we are leaving the boat and heading to Grand Cayman.  The little ferry boat beside ours holds 200 people and it looks so tiny.

    Passing in front of the boat, I wouldn’t want to get in its way if it was moving!

    The girls thought this boat was pretty funny next to us at port because it has a face.  The eyes and lips are awesome!

    A view of our boat next to the Disney one from Grand Cayman’s shoreline.

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Our family was able to spend some time in Florida, visiting friends and seeing the area!  We got to go to Kennedy Space Center, Sea World, and Disney Magic Kingdom!  We had a blast visiting the amazing places and spending time with our friends.  Thankful for the awesome opportunities to create memories!

    Last week’s goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Connect with each family member at least once a day
    2. Prep for Summer Break – working on it 🙂
    3. Read at least one book to the girls every day – didn’t do this every day we were on vacation
    4. Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day
    5. Plan & go on at least one family Adventure – went on a adventure to Kennedy Space Center, Sea World, and Disney soooo much fun!
    6. Spend some extra time catching up with family and friends

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week – almost made it
    2. Review my upcoming goals
    3. Finish reading  Am I Messing Up My Kids by Lysa TerKeurst
    4. Finish reading No One to Call Me Home by Rev James J. Close

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Work on Spring / Deep Cleaning the House – work in progress
    3. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week – didn’t get home until the middle of the week and with everything going on so didn’t get this done
    4. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk
    4. Work on upcoming speaking engagement

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Be a blessing to a total stranger this week
    3. Email the updated praises, prayer requests, and schedule to our Community Groupemailed the updated schedule and information

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses – working on it
    3. Save money for upcoming trips – starting it
    4. Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – work in progress
    5. Save money for upcoming home projects – on hold temporarily

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Connect with each family member at least once a day
    2. Prep for Summer Break
    3. Read at least one book to the girls every day
    4. Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day
    5. Attend the Girls First Grade Program
    6. Spend some extra time catching up with family and friends
    7. Swimming Lessons for the Kids
    8. Confirm the Schedule / Flights for upcoming Family Reunion

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
    2. Update my goals
    3. Finish reading  Am I Messing Up My Kids by Lysa TerKeurst
    4. Finish The Hunger Games by Susan Collins (recommended by several friends)

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week
    3. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up & cleaning the house

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Email the updated praises, prayer requests, and schedule to our Community Group
    3. Feed & Serve Homeless – 1 John Ministry

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses
    3. Save money for upcoming trips
    4. Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes
    5. Save money for upcoming home projects

    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

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