• Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    At the beginning of last week I was in Kansas visiting family so I wasn’t able to get caught up on my weekly goals list, but I am back home now and have hit the ground running again.  There is a lot going on day to day for all members of the family and it takes extra thought as well as organization to stay (or attempt to stay) on top of the activities around the house.  Thankful for a family that pitches in to help.  All of us enjoy working outside too.  When we get in gear and start working on projects around the house and yard we can get quite a bit accomplished.  The girls are a huge help and blessing.  The animals are usually wiped out after them being home a little bit more over the weekend with all the TLC they get.  They are great about feeding, combing, cleaning up after, and playing with their pets too.  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read the chapter book National Velvet by Enid Bagnold to the kids – there was not extra time to get this finished, hoping to get through the rest of the book soon
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids. – wasn’t home all week and didn’t have time most evenings to go through these
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids. – didn’t get these done this week
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night. – every night while I was home I did, but there were a couple nights while I was away that they were in bed before I talked with Jake
    5. Plan one special activity with the family – Pumpkin Carving & Family Halloween Celebration Night
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Spend Quality time with each family member
    8. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities
    9. Figure out the Remaining 2016 Quarter PTO & Holiday Schedules (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc….) – working on it
    10. Coordinate pick up & drop off at airport in KS
    11. Pack for Trip to KS to Celebrate my Dad & Niece’s Birthdays
    12. Spend quality time with Extended Family
    13. Plan Family Halloween Celebration

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day (in person or on phone / hangouts when traveling) – did when I was home, but only did IM & Texts while traveling
    4. Attend Robotics, Tailgating Student Council Party, Diggers, and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments
    6. Schedule & Meet for Jake & I to have a  1-on-1 Discussion time with each kid – did it the one weekend, but last weekend we did not because I was not home
    7. Pick a Date Night for the Kids – going over our schedule, did a family night, now to plan another date night!
    8. Prep in advance Homework, Review, Permissions & other School Items prior to traveling

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8+ glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day) – didn’t get 10,000 steps everyday
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week – was not consistent when traveling
    4. Appointment(s)
    5. Get full nights rest & take immune boosting vitamins so don’t pick up any traveling sicknesses

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization  – Maintain and Clean
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Outside Project – Remove Fallen Tree & Fix Goat Fence
    4. Update Project List – need to review & update again
    5. Add any new contacts, addresses, and special events on the calendar
    6. Confirm October Family and Individual Calendar(s)
    7. Follow up on calls and items that need my attention following traveling –  have a few more calls/emails to follow up on

    Business Goals

    1. Get caught up on blog posts – running a little bit behind, but hoping to get some headway this week
    2. Work on a few special projects – made some progress on a couple projects but didn’t really complete anything big
    3. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options – looking at some options

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal
    3. Be a blessing to someone specific
    4. Let Lindsey know that I will not be able to attend Ladies Bible Study this week – let Linda know at church the week before that I would be traveling
    5. Read next chapter in Biblical Femininity (2nd edition) by Chrystie Cole –need to finish the book

    Financial Goals

    1. Pick up groceries & run errands for family prior to traveling
    2. Pay all our bills that have arrived this week
    3. Follow up with the Bank regarding a couple of incorrect charges – need to call Bank about couple of items
    4. Update Quicken Accounts – working on it, most accounts updated now
    5. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor – getting the dates confirmed
    6. Get our finances and budget back on track – had a few extra non-regular expenses this week
    7. Pay down debt we owe – made another extra payment this week
    8. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home) – went over the budget amount this week

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read the chapter book National Velvet by Enid Bagnold to the kids
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Spend Quality time with each family member
    8. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities
    9. Figure out the Remaining 2016 Quarter PTO & Holiday Schedules (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc….)
    10. Family Halloween Celebration
    11. Start Planning Thanksgiving & Christmas Schedules
    12. Christmas List Ideas for Family Members

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day (in person or on phone / hangouts when traveling)
    4. Attend Robotics, Student Council, Diggers, and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments
    6. Schedule & Meet for Jake & I to have a  1-on-1 Discussion time with each kid
    7. Pick a Date Night for the Kids
    8. Review & Study for upcoming Tests, Homework, Projects, & other School Items for the week
    9. Pay for November Homework Center & After School Activities

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8+ glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day)
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week
    4. Appointment(s)
    5. Read regularly for at least 15 minutes each evening

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization  – Summer Clothes put away & Winter Clothes put in closet / dresser
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Outside Project – Blow Leaves
    4. Update Project List
    5. Add any new contacts, addresses, and special events on the calendar
    6. Confirm November Family and Individual Calendar(s)
    7. Follow up on calls and items that need my attention
    8. Download all pictures from latest trip to Kansas, Karlie’s 1st Orchestra Concert, Halloween Celebration, & other Recent Events

    Business Goals

    1. Get caught up on blog posts
    2. Work on a few special projects
    3. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options
    4. Start planning Holiday events

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal
    3. Be a blessing to someone specific
    4. Ladies Bible Study Social Dinner this week
    5. Read the rest of  Biblical Femininity (2nd edition) by Chrystie Cole
    6. Initiate B.L.E.S.S. activity at work and do it personally with kids the month of November

    Financial Goals

    1. Pay all our bills that have arrived this week
    2. Follow up with the Bank regarding a couple of incorrect charges
    3. Update Quicken Accounts
    4. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor
    5. Get our finances and budget back on track
    6. Pay down debt we owe
    7. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)
    8. Pay November Monthly Bills
    9. Plan out budget for upcoming Holiday Celebrations & Events

    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

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    Thankful for a weekend with family and an opportunity to rest a little.  Jake and I have been fighting a cold, but starting to feel a little better now.  We are gearing up for a super busy week at school, work, and other activities.  As we try to keep everyone on schedule and healthy we are planning a simple, easy yet healthy menu for the upcoming week.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree):  Cube Steak, Steamed Broccoli
    • Tuesday (Seafood, Soup, Salad, or Sandwich Entree):  Stuffed Acorn, Soup
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):   Grilled Chicken, Pasta Casserole
    • Thursday (Pork Entree or Kid‘s Night to Cook):  Crockpot Pork Loin, Stoneground Wheat Bread
    • 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

    The week started off with the Columbus Holiday on Monday and the girls off school for Teachers Professional Training Day.  They had a blast spending time at home, playing outside, and enjoying their day off school.  We participated in a fun activity that evening instead of cramming in homework.  Jake got the more relaxing….put the model airplane together activity and I got the play a game with added instructions such as jumping jacks, stretches, squats and more (it has been awhile since I have done that many jumping jacks)!  Thankful for an opportunity to live life with my family.  Some weeks seem really busy when you look at the schedule and all that needs to be done, however, taking those extra minutes here and there to relax and play always brightens our day and creates memories together!  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read the chapter book National Velvet by Enid Bagnold to the kids
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids  – American Kennel Club DVD Board Game
    7. Spend Quality time with each family member
    8. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities
    9. Figure out the Remaining 2016 PTO & Holiday Schedules (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc….) – figuring it out

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day
    4. Attend Robotics, Diggers, and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments
    6. Schedule & Meet to have 1-on-1 Discussion time with each kid (discuss week, what’s going well, what needs improvement, and focus on each kid as an individual without the sibling being in the room)
    7. Pick a Date Night for the Kids

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day) – wasn’t able to hit my goal every day
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week – it was a tough week with yoga
    4. Appointment(s)- Massage, Annual physical

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization  – Plan Out Organizational Goals for last quarter of 2016
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Outside Project – Tree Service Quote
    4. Update Project List
    5. Add any new contacts, addresses, and special events on the calendar
    6. Confirm October Family and Individual Calendar(s)
    7. Follow up on calls and items that need my attention – did some, but have a few more to go
    8. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts – hoping to make more headway this upcoming week
    3. Work on a few special projects
    4. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog
    5. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options – been hard enough to get the “normal” day to day items accomplished

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal
    3. Attend Ladies Bible Study
    4. Read next chapter in Biblical Femininity by Chrystie Cole

    Financial Goals

    1. Pay all our bills that have arrived this week
    2. Follow up with the Bank regarding a couple of incorrect charges – trying to figure these out
    3. Start gathering information on last quarter 2016 finances and 1st quarter 2017 taxes – realign goals where needed
    4. Update Quicken Accounts
    5. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor – work in progress
    6. Get our finances and budget back on track – getting better
    7. Pay down debt we owe – made another payment
    8. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read the chapter book National Velvet by Enid Bagnold to the kids
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Spend Quality time with each family member
    8. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities
    9. Figure out the Remaining 2016 Quarter PTO & Holiday Schedules (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc….)
    10. Coordinate pick up & drop off at airport in KS
    11. Pack for Trip to KS to Celebrate my Dad & Niece’s Birthdays
    12. Spend quality time with Extended Family
    13. Plan Family Halloween Celebration

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day (in person or on phone / hangouts when traveling)
    4. Attend Robotics, Tailgating Student Council Party, Diggers, and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments
    6. Schedule & Meet for Jake & I to have a  1-on-1 Discussion time with each kid
    7. Pick a Date Night for the Kids
    8. Prep in advance Homework, Review, Permissions & other School Items prior to traveling

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8+ glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day)
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week
    4. Appointment(s)
    5. Get full nights rest & take immune boosting vitamins so don’t pick up any traveling sicknesses

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization  – Maintain and Clean
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Outside Project – Remove Fallen Tree & Fix Goat Fence
    4. Update Project List
    5. Add any new contacts, addresses, and special events on the calendar
    6. Confirm October Family and Individual Calendar(s)
    7. Follow up on calls and items that need my attention following traveling

    Business Goals

    1. Get caught up on blog posts
    2. Work on a few special projects
    3. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal
    3. Be a blessing to someone specific
    4. Let Lindsey know that I will not be able to attend Ladies Bible Study this week
    5. Read next chapter in Biblical Femininity (2nd edition) by Chrystie Cole

    Financial Goals

    1. Pick up groceries & run errands for family prior to traveling
    2. Pay all our bills that have arrived this week
    3. Follow up with the Bank regarding a couple of incorrect charges
    4. Update Quicken Accounts
    5. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor
    6. Get our finances and budget back on track
    7. Pay down debt we owe
    8. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)

    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

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    Thankful that the kids get an extra day on their weekend.  It is always nice to have them around a little bit more.  They worked on some of their school projects over the weekend so they would be prepared for the week.  They have a busy week during and after school with their clubs as well as extra volunteer activities.  Somehow they have packed their schedules pretty full, but they are enjoying meeting a variety of people and participating the activities.  Jake and I have a busy week at work.  Jake has a bunch of extra co-workers in Greenville office with Hurricane Matthew coming through Charleston this past weekend.  Thankful it wasn’t any worse than it was.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree):  Pasta Twists & Beef Casserole
    • Tuesday (Seafood, Soup, Salad, or Sandwich Entree):  3 Bean Chili & Wild Rice
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):   Cheddar Applewood Chicken & Lo Mein
    • Thursday (Pork Entree or Kid‘s Night to Cook):  Mesquite Pork & Stoneground Wheat Bread
    • 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

    The girls don’t have to go to school on Monday, but both Jake and I have to work.  Thankfully Jake can work from home.  Glad that the girls get a little extra break from school.  Hopefully they will have a fun, relaxing, and productive day.  It was a lot of fun playing games, reading, and getting projects done over the weekend with the family.  As we prep for the upcoming week we realize that we will do our best day-to-day, but the days do not always work out exactly as planned so we need to be willing to be flexible.  Praying it is a productive, healthy, and fun week.  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read the chapter book National Velvet by Enid Bagnold to the kids – still reading it with the kids
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids – played Trouble, Pit, and Hand & Foot card game
    7. Create Memories with the Family
    8. Spend Quality time with each family member
    9. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week – planning something fun for a future adventure
    10. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities
    11. Jake – Haircut

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day
    4. Attend Robotics Club and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments
    6. Pick up Karlie’s New Glasses

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day) – didn’t hit my goals everyday this week
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week –I made it 4 days, but not 5 🙁
    4. Appointments
    5. Schedule our annual physical
    6. Haircut

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization  – Plan Out Organizational Goals for last quarter of 2016 – got a good start on them, need to wrap it up
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Outside Project – Tree Service Quote –
    4. Update Project List
    5. Input all contacts, addresses, and special events on the calendar
    6. Confirm October Family and Individual Calendar(s)
    7. Follow up on calls and items that need my attention –most of them done
    8. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts – working on it
    3. Work on a few special projects
    4. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog
    5. Confirm the tasks my plate as I transition to a new team – getting closer
    6. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal
    3. Attend Ladies Bible Study
    4. Read next chapter in Biblical Femininity by Chrystie Cole

    Financial Goals

    1. Pay all our bills that have arrived this week
    2. Sign up for our Open Enrollment regarding our 2017 Benefits
    3. Start gathering information on last quarter 2016 finances and 1st quarter 2017 taxes – realign goals where needed
    4. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor – getting our schedules figured out
    5. Get our finances and budget back on track – getting our budget and accounting software updated
    6. Pay down debt we owe – made an extra payment this week, hopefully getting this wrapped up within the next few weeks
    7. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read the chapter book National Velvet by Enid Bagnold to the kids
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Spend Quality time with each family member
    8. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities
    9. Figure out the Remaining 2016 PTO & Holiday Schedules (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc….)

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day
    4. Attend Robotics, Diggers, and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments
    6. Schedule time for Jake & I to have 1-on-1 Discussion time with each kid (discuss week, what’s going well, what needs improvement, and focus on each kid as an individual without the sibling being in the room)
    7. Pick a Date Night for the Kids

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day)
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week
    4. Appointment(s)- Massage, Annual physical

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization  – Plan Out Organizational Goals for last quarter of 2016
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Outside Project – Tree Service Quote
    4. Update Project List
    5. Add any new contacts, addresses, and special events on the calendar
    6. Confirm October Family and Individual Calendar(s)
    7. Follow up on calls and items that need my attention
    8. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts
    3. Work on a few special projects
    4. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog
    5. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal
    3. Attend Ladies Bible Study
    4. Read next chapter in Biblical Femininity by Chrystie Cole

    Financial Goals

    1. Pay all our bills that have arrived this week
    2. Follow up with the Bank regarding a couple of incorrect charges
    3. Start gathering information on last quarter 2016 finances and 1st quarter 2017 taxes – realign goals where needed
    4. Update Quicken Accounts
    5. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor
    6. Get our finances and budget back on track
    7. Pay down debt we owe
    8. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)

    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

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    We have a full schedule this week, but no traveling as far as work so everyone will be together for the evening meals.  Trying to make the menu simple and easy as our evenings together are more limited after work, school, activities and other scheduled events.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree):  Beef Shepherd’s Pie Casserole, Mash Potatoes
    • Tuesday (Seafood, Soup, Salad, or Sandwich Entree):  Shrimp & Stuffed Talapia, Tagliatelle & Mushroom Pasta
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):   Sweet & Sour Chicken, Udon Noodles
    • Thursday (Pork Entree or Kid‘s Night to Cook):  Apple Bourbon Pork Chops, Mult-Grain Bread
    • 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

    Thankful for some time with the family this week.  Jake had to travel again for work, but thankfully it was only 2 days.  We had a mix of work, school, and fun activities throughout the week.  Grateful for the opportunities and blessings in my life.

    While it was a busy week and a lot got done at work and around the house not everything was accomplished.  Guess that’s why you set your goals high….it stretches you to get those activities accomplished in your life.  I don’t know if I was in a hurry or what I was doing, but forgot wear fitbit multiple times this week (of course those were my most active days so I missed that goal).  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Brina is picking out our next chapter book to read together –Brina picked out National Velvet by Enid Bagnold for us to read together
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family – used Jake’s Father’s Day gift this past weekend and went to the Saluda Archery as a fun family activity (we all had a blast)
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Create Memories with the Family
    8. Spend Quality time with each family member
    9. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week
    10. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day
    4. Attend Robotics Club and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day) – forgot to wear my FitBit multiple times
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week – almost 5 times
    4. Appointments

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization  – Work in the Laundry Room – had some other items come up
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Clean & Organize Paperwork
    4. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night
    5. Remove most of the Spring / Summer items from Closets – work in progress

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts – working on it
    3. Work on a few special projects
    4. Update my LinkedIn Profile
    5. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog
    6. Confirm the tasks my plate as I transition to a new team
    7. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal
    3. Attend Ladies Bible Study

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor – picked out some advisors we want to meet with
    2. Get our finances and budget back on track – getting closer to our goals
    3. Pay down debt we owe – paying it down, made 2 extra payments this week and getting closer to our goal
    4. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home) – went over our amount for the week

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read the chapter book National Velvet by Enid Bagnold to the kids
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Create Memories with the Family
    8. Spend Quality time with each family member
    9. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week
    10. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities
    11. Jake – Haircut

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day
    4. Attend Robotics Club and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments
    6. Pick up Karlie’s New Glasses

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day)
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week
    4. Appointments
    5. Schedule our annual physical
    6. Haircut

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization  – Plan Out Organizational Goals for last quarter of 2016
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Outside Project – Tree Service Quote
    4. Update Project List
    5. Input all contacts, addresses, and special events on the calendar
    6. Confirm October Family and Individual Calendar(s)
    7. Follow up on calls and items that need my attention
    8. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts
    3. Work on a few special projects
    4. Update my LinkedIn Profile
    5. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog
    6. Confirm the tasks my plate as I transition to a new team
    7. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal
    3. Attend Ladies Bible Study
    4. Read next chapter in Biblical Femininity by Chrystie Cole

    Financial Goals

    1. Pay all our bills that have arrived this week
    2. Sign up for our Open Enrollment regarding our 2017 Benefits
    3. Start gathering information on last quarter 2016 finances and 1st quarter 2017 taxes – realign goals where needed
    4. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor
    5. Get our finances and budget back on track
    6. Pay down debt we owe
    7. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)

    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

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    It was a busy week!  Thankful for family and that we were all back together.  Jake was traveling with work this week so he was greatly missed.  The girls had a busy week of school and work was full of fun activities too.

    We have another busy week ahead of us and some fun stuff planned.  Thankful for all the opportunities that we’ve been given.  Even though I had a lot on my goals list several other projects came up that required more time and attention than I originally planned so I didn’t get as much as I wanted to on my goals list. Hopefully I will get more done this week.  Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book The Land of Stories – The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer to the kids – the kids enjoyed the book and reserved the next one in the series from the library
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids – still going through the new set of Flash Cards
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids – learning more interesting information going through it with the kids
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids – we played As You Wish
    7. Create Memories with the Family
    8. Spend Quality time with each family member
    9. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day
    4. Attend Robotics Club and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments – Orthodontist

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day) – I didn’t hit my goal every day this week
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week – I didn’t do it as consistently
    4. Appointments

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization – Organize my Paperwork, Folders, and Projects Stack – started working on it
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Clean & Organize Storage Room – got a chunk done
    4. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a nightsome
    5. Remove most of the Spring / Summer items from Closets – still working on it

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes – got some done
    2. Get caught up on blog posts – trying to get there
    3. Work on a few special projects
    4. Update my LinkedIn Profile
    5. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog
    6. Confirm the tasks my plate as I transition to a new team – getting some items transitioned
    7. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal
    3. Attend Ladies Bible Study – hostess was out of town

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor  – confirming times on our schedules
    2. Get our finances and budget back on track – catching up
    3. Pay down debt we owe – made another payment
    4. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home) – close, but went over

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Brina is picking out our next chapter book to read together
    2. Go through 7 more Brain Quest Flash Cards with the kids.
    3. Read through 7 more pages of History Trivia with the kids.
    4. Reflect on our blessings and prayer time with kids every night.
    5. Plan one special activity with the family
    6. Play a Game with the Kids
    7. Create Memories with the Family
    8. Spend Quality time with each family member
    9. Do a new, unique, or different activity with the family this week
    10. Coordinate and review schedules at beginning of week to confirm all obligations, appointments, and other activities

    Kid Goals

    1. Do Homework Monday – Friday
    2. Pack Lunches and Prep for the next day
    3. Spend one-on-one time with kids each day
    4. Attend Robotics Club and Other After School Activities
    5. Appointments

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water
    2. Wear FitBit (at least 10,000 steps and 10 sets of stairs every day)
    3. Do Yoga at least 5 times this week
    4. Appointments

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Household Cleaning / Organization  – Work in the Laundry Room
    2. Plan out the Menu for the Week
    3. Clean & Organize Paperwork Room
    4. Speed clean & pick up the house 15 minutes a night
    5. Remove most of the Spring / Summer items from Closets

    Business Goals

    1. Update Work Notes
    2. Get caught up on blog posts
    3. Work on a few special projects
    4. Update my LinkedIn Profile
    5. Research a couple of items in regards to the blog
    6. Confirm the tasks my plate as I transition to a new team
    7. Pick from a couple of the “extra” activity and/or product options

    Ministry Goals

    1. Go to breakfast or lunch with a family member or friend
    2. Counting my blessings journal
    3. Attend Ladies Bible Study

    Financial Goals

    1. Schedule a meeting with the financial advisor
    2. Get our finances and budget back on track
    3. Pay down debt we owe
    4. Limit amount spent on Groceries, Household, and Other Items (use what we already have at home)

    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