Goals. (June)

(see May goals here) 

How are we almost a full week into June?? Gah, summer slow down.

The new month sort of snuck up on me so I'm late to the goal-setting game. Here's a recap of how May's goals went (two out of four isn't bad!):

Run/Walk with the boys 3x/week. I did it! Some weeks I even ran 6/7 days, so I'm calling this a complete win. The last week of May/first of June had a ton of rain so I need to get back into the swing again. It's going so well and I'm remembering why I love running. 

Summer bucket list and a day date. Oops! We actually tried to have a day date, but couldn't line up a sitter. And I need to simply sit down and make a bucket list. Doing it today!

Plan Playdate with a Purpose. Planned! You can read all of the details here. 

Organize file cabinet. Nope, not at all. So I'm carrying it over to this month!

  To be honest, it just felt great to set tangible goals again. It had been awhile (over a year?) and I figured it would take time to get in the groove. I also learned last month that I think I have more time on my hands than I really do. The boys, work, and house things truly mean my days are jam-packed, in the best ways. It was good to track my time and see that this is the case, because often I feel guilty for not getting more things done or letting other things go and feeling like I'm wasting a ton of time. I learned this month that truly isn't the case (I mean, I'm sure I waste a little time) and I don't need to beat myself up for how I spend my time.

  Ok, onto a new month! I'm carrying over a few of last month's goals and adding in some fun ones.

Get to the gym 2x/week. Since I'm pretty much back into running/walking with the boys, I want to be more consistent with the gym. I know at-home workouts are all the rage right now, but I love the gym. I love the time to myself, the separation from the physical space I spend 90% of my time, and the change of pace. Going to the gym usually means being up around 4:45, but it is always worth it. So I'm aiming for 2 days a week this month!

Day date and anniversary plans. A day date needs to happen. We also need to up our babysitter options so we have more for scheduling things, so I'm going to call a few more neighborhood high schoolers this month. I also really want to plan a night away for our anniversary next month and that takes a bit of planning. Any fun night-away ideas for me? 

Celebrate Caleb and Justin. Caleb turns 3 this month and two days later is Father's Day. Both are really, really important things and I want to celebrate both of them well. Traditional donuts, maybe a Caleb only date, and a fun Father's Day are on the calendar. I want to keep each no-fuss and plan enough ahead that they go smoothly!

Organize file cabinet. Carrying this one over from last month! Not terribly glamorous, but really necessary. 

Plan for Noonday Fall shows. Guys. I go so back-and-forth with my role as a Noonday Ambassador. It has been really challenging to pick up steam and find many people interested in hosting their own shows (blows my mind!). So, this Fall will likely be my last season as an Ambassador. I'll reach out and round up as many fun Trunk Shows as I can and then I'll simply transition into being a hostess. Maybe that's better? I love Noonday and would love to host my own Trunk Show each Fall, Spring, and Summer! But anyways, the specific goal for June is to reach out and schedule at least 3 Trunk Shows for Fall. (Want to host a Trunk Show Aug-Dec? Let me know!)

Goals. (May)

 Once upon a time I used to make (and blog about) monthly goals. Then I had two kids under two and nope. Keeping everyone alive and happy and loving Jesus seemed like enough for a good stretch! I mentioned it here, but it seems as if we're entering a sweet spot with the boys. Both are at an age where we can interact so much more with them and truly do things together (less baby naps!). With this new phase and just the warmer weather, I'm feeling all sorts of motivated to get back into real goal setting. Let's do this! (No? Just me? Blogging is weird because you're basically just having a conversation with yourself 😊)

  I set some broader goals in January (here) and they've been going really well! Each one lines up with my word for the year (steady) and I think I want to continue that theme with these smaller, monthly goals. Essentially, I've been working for the past year or so at just developing healthier habits overall and I want to use these goals to keep building on them. I like consistency, so I'm going to try sticking with three areas each month; self, family, community.

(Here is my counselor tip if you're setting goals for yourself! Research (lots and lots and lots of it) has shown the the most successful goals are one that are measurable, attainable, positive, and specific. Basically, be realistic with yourself and have a way to measure progress and make your goal positive (not something like lose weight or have less clutter- change it to


Here's what I'll be working on in May:

Run/Walk with the boys 3x/week. It's nicer out in the mornings and my boys are early risers, so its about time we get back in the groove of our morning walks. I have a bigger goal of running a 10k this year, so this little one will help me reach that. Bonus: I took a tip from Val and have started using this time to pray through my prayer journal and guys, its a game changer. Try it!

Summer bucket list and a day date. Two things that should be easy to cross off! I made a summer bucket list last year and it was great to work through. I want to do the same with Justin and the boys this year! For a date this month, I want to do something during the day because when we go out in the evenings we are both just so tired. Hoping I can get creative with this one and Caleb gets over his painfully sad "I need my mommy" phase for the sitter/anyone not me!

Plan Playdate with a Purpose. I'm hoping to host a bunch of moms and kiddos this summer to help our kiddos learn about serving others and I need to firm up all the details this month if its going to really happen! (If you're in the Indy area and want to join us this summer for a fun toddler service project, email me!!) 

and one more because I just decided I should really include more of a 'housekeeping' goal each month...

Organize file cabinet. Pretty straightforward. I need to label all of our file folders and move everything from our command center in the kitchen into the folders! Super exciting.

Passing time.

  It's that point in winter where I'm starting to feel antsy. Maybe its because we came home from our tropical vacation to find 50° weather (that only lasted a weekend). Or because the sun has been out for two days straight now. Or maybe it is because all of our winter sicknesses seem to (finally) be fading. But if I'm honest, I probably start to feel like this every year when the calendar flips to February. Either way, I'm itching for Spring and all the Spring things.

 Too bad it's not Spring and it won't be for a looooong time (hi, midwest!). That's not awful, but I still want to find some ways to pass the time until the days become longer and warmer (!!!) and the world seems to come out of hibernation. I don't want to wish time away, so I came up with a little list of ways to happily work through February (how can the shortest month feel like it lasts forever?!). A lot of the things on my list are kid-friendly, but you can do them even if you don't have any little ones running around!

• make valentines
• bake/decorate heart cookies
• go on a date (hey, hey gift cards!)
• sister's night out
• family day date (zoo or museum?)
• take the boys on walks (even when its cold out)
• pick one room and decorate it with things we already own
• find homes for new magnolia wreaths
• 3 morning trips to the gym each week
• weekly craft with the boys
• write a letter to our World Vision kiddo
• host a dinner party or game night with friends
• host a galentine's party (I'm most excited about this one!)
• breakfast date with my dad
• visit my parents

  After looking at my list, I'm already feeling less antsy. Lots of family time, loving on others, and self care to look forward to in February! 

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Only Twenty Miles.

 Have you heard about the 20 Mile March? I can't remember where, but I stumbled on an article about it a few weeks ago and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. It's probably super common and well-known, and for good reason. The basic idea is that if you were to travel somewhere, going around 20 miles a day no matter what, you would arrive sooner and in better shape than if you were to go harder on the good days and not at all on the bad.

  Essentially (I'm probably not doing the real story justice, you should Google it), two teams of explorers left for expeditions to the South Pole in 1911. They both faced the same harsh conditions and long distance, but had different outcomes. One team reached the South Pole in only 34 days, while the other team actually died on their journey. The difference? The first team of men were consistent- they marched 15-20 miles every day no matter what the conditions were like (if it was perfect and they had extra energy, they still stopped after 20 miles. If it was cold and snowing and miserable, they still marched a full 20 miles). The other team took the days as they came- taking advantage of good days and marching further than usual and not marching at all on the harsh days.

  I get it. It's sort of a re-telling of the Tortoise and the Hare. But it's kind of mind-blowing, right? Slow and steady wins the proverbial race every time.

  Ok, but here's why it's been rolling around in my head. I have a never ending list of things I want to do, but I'm an all or nothing person. I don't like starting something without being able to immediately finish it. Let me give you some examples. I really want to re-organize our filing system, but I don't have 4 hours to carve out in a given week to just do it. So I've been talking about it since Fall, but haven't done a thing. I'd love to spend a bit more time decorating our house with the stuff we already have (but have never unpacked), but only if I can completely do one room from top to bottom in one day. So that clearly hasn't happened. Or even on a more day to day basis, laundry. I'm great at keeping up with it 90% of the time. But that one week every few months we will have PILES of it because I don't want to start folding/putting it away unless I have a solid (uninterrupted!) hour to do so.

  So the idea of the 20 Mile March, of doing a little bit everyday, doesn't come naturally to me. But I like it. Especially the part of stopping, even if I feel like I have a bit more I could get done. I've unofficially been practicing this idea of slow and steady the last couple of weeks, since reading about it. Every day, I make sure our kitchen is cleaned (defined as: dishes in dishwasher and clutter off counters, no deep cleaning here!), I checked in on work for at least an hour (my part time job can feel never-ending), and I tackle one extra area. Ok, I know that last one seems vague. It just means that I've 'touched' one thing on my random to do list (sent out emails for Noonday stuff, mailed a birthday card, organized our command center, or simply researched a good family filing system).

  It's so basic, but also so freeing. I do those three things every day (whether I'm tired, sick, busy, have extra energy, etc) and I feel great. Somehow, I've been crazy on-top of work lately (and not overwhelmed at all), our kitchen hasn't had a single day where dishes have sat in the sink, and little projects are getting crossed off my to-do. The biggest part- I include the kids. Caleb helps me clean up the kitchen, and if not I don't feel guilty about letting him play or read on his own for 15 minutes while I do it. Or I bring him into the office or bedroom if I'm sorting/putting away something. (I usually just wait until nap time to do ALL THE THINGS, but that just leaves me feeling like I have a million things to do in a 1.5 hour window). I've still found time to read lots of books this month and rest with Justin in the evenings and head to the gym (those things always fall by the wayside when I feel like my list is never-ending) and meal plan. Because on the days where I know I could do more, I still make myself stop and rest and know I'll come back to whatever is it tomorrow.

  I'm thinking of being even more intentional with this mindset and making an actual list of things I slowly want to tackle. Here's what I've come up with so far:

-running a 10k
-creating a 'mudroom' space
-decorating Caleb's room
-basement wall decor
-really committing to my Noonday business this year
-creating a family file system
-photo organization
-organizing/purging baby clothes/toys
-consistent blogging

  I'll keep you posted!
 

 

Steady. (a word for 2017)

  I've shared how 2016 was a year of being quiet and rooted (more on that here). And I feel like I could talk forever about how this verse has changed my heart and my pace. It probably has a lot to do with this season of life- home full time with two really little kids, but I honestly think it pertains to every person and every season. Being drawn into the folds of God, whether life is literally busy or not, is life changing. Learning to be more quiet and less concerned with what others are doing (not in an ignorant way!) is so good.

  So as I've thought and prayed and worked through my hopes for this new year, I keep coming back to one word. And I've sort of fought it because it isn't crazy exciting or cute. My friend Caitlin shared that her word for this year is Hallelujah and I so wanted to copy her! What a great focus for the year! But still, I keep coming back to this word- Steady. 

  Steady: firmly fixed, supported, or balanced; not shaking or moving. If 2015 was the year of diving into the Bible and 2016 was a year of committing to more prayer, I hope 2017 is a year of remaining steady in both. I hope 2017 is a year of remaining steady in loving Justin well, of working on being a better friend and family member, being more present and engaged with my kids. Of valuing my health and making it a priority. I hope 2017 is a year of continuing to say no to lots of things and yes to the best things. 

read through the bible. I don't think I can ever say enough about really, truly digging into the Bible. (this book is a great place to find direction on how to begin!) This has become really important to me and I'm excited to read through it again this year, and I'm trying a chronological plan. (It's on Jan. 10th- not too late to join me!!)

run one 10k. Pretty self explanatory :) 

date nights. It wasn't until mid-2016 that we realized how far out of date nights we had gotten. We made a real effort to spend more one-on-one time together these last few months and its been awesome. Babysitters are expensive, but 100% worth it. Now that Tyler is done nursing, its even easier to get out without the kids. So this year, I want to intentionally have monthly dates!

family bucket lists. Maybe this is silly, but lists help me be more intentional with the boys. I want to be more consistent about routines and actually doing the things we talk about doing together. More specifically, I'm writing a small list of big and little things we want to do together each month and then putting the activities on the calendar. (ie. go the the zoo, finger paint, work on shapes, make valentine's)

ride out noonday. Long story short, I love Noonday Collection and am passionate about its mission. But I go back and forth on whether I'll continue on as an ambassador bc I haven't quite gained traction with it. So we'll see!

read books. I'm shooting for 2/month, so 24 total by the end of the year.

girls trip. I don't know exactly what this looks like, but I'd love to go away with some girlfriends to just do something fun!

host. When we started just thinking about moving last year, the heart of it for me was to be able to host more. And we've done that a ton in the new house! A lot of it has been sort of happenstance (holidays, birthdays, etc) and this year I want to be prayerful and open to really opening our house to hosting in other ways too. Not sure what that looks like, but I think just being open about it is the best place to start.

Quiet and rooted. {goals for 2016}

  Over the last few weeks, I've been thinking a lot about 2016. A la Lara Casey, February 1st is my January 1st. I don't love rushing goals or making them just to make them. For me, looking back on the past year is so good for seeing where I've come from and the ways God has been tweaking my heart and lining things up and closing doors to what I thought were sure things. It helps me see how he answered the prayers I forgot I had even prayed.

   I also so love looking forward, too. Not with a hurry up and get there attitude, but instead so that I can live intentionally. Last year I really committed to digging deep into the Word and knew it was a lofty goal from the get go. But! I am so much better for it. Those tiny seeds planted every morning I sat down for how ever many moments I could find seemed unsubstantial at the time- but looking back I can see how, strung together, they've changed my heart. So I've been praying about 2016 and how I can dig deeper and what this year might look like if I'm intentional about the most important things.

  Even before I started thinking about my goals for 2016, this verse has rolling around in my head. {I talked about it a bit here} Without really meaning for it to happen, it became the springboard for every goal I have this year! I don't usually pick a word for the year- but I've sort of landed on these two for 2016//

quiet & rooted. 

I love this definition of quiet: to make or become calmer or less noisy. Yes. Less noisy. That's what I want 2016 to be the year of. I don't mean literal noise, because I have two kiddos and two big dogs and that would basically be impossible. Our house is often loud and hectic. What I mean is seeking less figurative noise. Less comparing, unrealistic expectations, saying 'no' out of fear, busyness, anxiety, looking too far ahead, talking when I should listen, doing before praying, trying to do it all. LESS of all that stuff. Together it all gets loud and drowns out the most important things I want to give my best to- God, family, others. And the best way to quiet things down? Being deeply rooted in the Best thing- God's Word.

So, here are my goals for 2016! They're a bit broad, but I've got some action steps for each. I love these goals. I can't wait to see how they change my heart and draw me closer to God and bless the people around me. And real talk? I'm nervous as all get out about the last one! It is so. far. out of my comfort zone to ask people to join me in something like Noonday Collection. But I don't want to play it safe- I want to look back at 2016 knowing that some things were so big, only God can take credit for them. Amen?

Goal One: study the word. {Use Jen Wilkin's method of studying the Bible, memorize a verse each month, keep my Bible out to encourage daily study, study with Justin/friends/other women/kids}

Goal Two: focus on family. {de-clutter house, date Justin {love dare?}, schedule work so my days are free for kids, phone-free times, ask for help around the house, plan adventures, pray for my family, take care of myself}

Goal Three: Use my work with Noonday Collection to help build a flourishing world. {achieve a spot on an Artisan Trip, choose a local organization to support monthly, adoption shows}

Phew. There they are! Now that they're written down and out there for you to read- I instantly feel more committed to them. Keep me accountable! Help me accomplish them! If you see me in real life or follow me on social media- please do check in and ask how these goals are going. Did you set goals for this year? Share them with me! We're better together!

Ps. I used this series to help set my goals this year! Even if you don't think you're a goal-setting type of person- you need to check it out! I have a feeling you'll change your mind :)

Quiet and simple.

I love Jennie Allen's post on the one lie that will shut you down. 

It so speaks to this season of mothering littles. But it also speaks to anyone else who hears the lie that if it isn't big- it doesn't matter.

This picture so sums up my days right now. And you can't see the two lingering dogs that couldn't fit in the frame. Or the pile of laundry. Or the aftermath of a sink that overflowed because I lost track of it while tending to something else. I spend 95% of my days managing these kiddos and those dogs and this house. And I really love it. No one sees how many times I pick up MegaBloks or put away laundry or teach my toddler his alphabet or get my newborn to smile- and that's ok.

In the first few months of staying home after leaving my social work job when Caleb was born, I struggled a lot with this. With feeling like I was doing ggg less important work. That I wasn't influencing anyone, that my platform was so much smaller. And then I stumbled on 1 Thess 4:11...

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands.”

 I’ve been mulling over that verse and the idea behind it for months now. When I think of the women I most admire, I realize that they are ones who live that out. They aren’t trendy women on instagram who have thousands of followers or popular books. {but there’s nothing wrong with that!} They aren’t loud about their life and what they’re up to our their accomplishments. They are women who, with their quiet life, have unintentionally made a huge impact around themselves. Do you know women like that? Who love their God so well and are just rooted deeply in Scripture? Who value family and hospitality and love others well? They usually have no idea anyone would look up to them or that they are even influential. Because they aren’t focused on that.

I love Jennie’s words about this…

May we desire to be helpful rather than important.

May we see individuals and not follower numbers.

May we seek to make God’s name great and not our own.

 I play those words on repeat in my head these days. When I’m giving one kid a bath and trying to keep the other from melting down. When I’m discouraged about my impact through Noonday collection compared to others. When I don’t get much else done in a day besides keeping kids alive and making supper. When I find myself pulled between loving this season so much but longing to do social work again.

1 Thess. 4:11 is the springboard for every goal and hope I have in 2016. May I really and truly desire to be helpful and to see individuals and to make God’s name great-while not busying myself with things that distract from that.

February 1st.

 

photo source: Lara Casey

  Did you set any goals or pick a word for 2016? It seems like some people really love doing those, while others just think its silly to make any sort of New Year's anything. I'm probably somewhere in the middle? I don't think there is anything magical about January 1st, but I do think its great to be intentional about setting some goals or creating a new perspective. I remember reading Lara Casey say last year that February 1st is her version of January 1st- she doesn't rush or force herself to get those focused hopes down on paper by the first day of the new year. Instead, she takes her time and gives herself grace. I love that! So much so, that I did the same last year. And it was great- I took time to really think back on 2014, pray about 2015, and be intentional about how I would approach it.  

  So I'm doing it again this year. With a week and a half left before February 1st, I'm making a bit more time to really pray through this. It's been really fun to chat with friends about their goals and see on social media the words others have chosen for this year. I've also really loved being able to take time settling in to our new normal- we're 7 weeks into being a family of four and almost 3 weeks past the holidays {when a real normal was able to start forming}. 

  Life is pretty exhausting these days, but in a great way. It turns out that having two little humans depending on you takes up more time than just one little human and, crazy enough, I still only have 24 hours in each day. Huh. Funny how that works. It also turns out that the more time I spend loving on these poopy, slobbery, adorable kids- the more I feel a push to make time for myself. There are days when it doesn't seem like my mind has a chance to drift past diapers, breastfeeding, apple slices, and singing the alphabet. Too many of those days in a row, and I notice my patience slipping, my voice raising, and more episodes of Curious George being watched. 

  So, I'm making it a priority to think about 2016. To step outside of my right now to think about how I can be intentional this year. I've read a few of Lara's posts and I love Jennie's reminder about this. but mostly, I'm just praying and talking to friends and picking Justin's brain. Stay tuned for what I come up with! Will it be some goals? A word? A new haircut? {definitely not a new haircut} You'll be on the edge of your seat, I'm sure. :)

  

challenge.

source

I decided Cami and I need a little bit more practice together.

I'm pretty serious about getting to know her better...

if we're going to be bffs, we can't keep secrets, ya know?

So I decided to join my friend Allie for her 30 day.

1 specific picture a day for 30 Day Photo Challenge.

Easy peasy, right?

Hopefully! 

I'll doing a recap post on Thursdays from the previous week...just in case you get curious on how I'm doing :)

If you want to join in

{cough.emily.cough}

just go here to read the deets!

Happy snapping! :)