Breaking my Facebook Addiction & August Goals



If you know me even a little bit, then you know how terrible I am at self-discipline. It doesn't matter whether we are talking about housework, exercise, diet...you name it. I have NO willpower whatsoever and if you looked up "weakling" in the dictionary, there would surely be a huge picture of me.  I am excellent at starting things, but have virtually ZERO follow through. If I had a dollar for every book or household project I'd ever started and not finished...I'd be a wealthy woman!

For quite some time, I have felt God pressing on my heart the need to give up all or nearly all of my time on Facebook. It has become a source of insecurity, pride, judgement and even idolatry--taking time away from my family and my relationship with the Lord. I am embarrassed at how much time I have wasted on my outer circle (surface level friendships) instead of investing that time cultivating my inner circle--the one that truly matters.

I have tried to "cut back" or even "fast" from Facebook in the past, with very little success. This time, I felt the best option was to allow my husband to change my password and not tell me the new one. That way, I wouldn't have to deactivate my account, but I also can't use my account without him signing me in. This may seem extreme to those who can just manage their own behavior (sigh...why can't I be one of those people??). However, anyone who has dealt with an addiction knows first-hand that accountability and support are crucial to rehabilitation.

My hubby and I have agreed that 30 minutes in the evening is enough time for me to return messages, post new blog links and catch up on any event invites, birthdays, etc. Today was day #1 and I kinda felt like I was missing my left arm. I am pretty sure I started twitching from withdrawal a few times. I'll let you know how it goes! I am so hopeful that my productivity will increase by leaps and bounds that I decided to do a list of August goals, something I quit doing back in April.

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My 2013 theme is: DISCIPLINE

August Goals

Personal Goals

• Watch Joyce Meyer 3 days a week or more
• Exercise at least 30 min, 4 days a week
• Read Unglued and Made to Crave ($2.99 on Kindle) by Lysa TerKeurst
• Finish Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle (This book has had me laughing until I cried! It is SO good!)
• Spend a maximum of 30 minutes per day on Facebook

Marriage Goals

• Have one date night out and one day-long date in August
• Couples devotion & conversation (no gadgets) from 10:30-11 PM, nightly

Mothering/Homemaking Goals

• Sign Charlotte up for PEEPs at Brukner (Preschool Environmental Education Program) & YMCA ballet class
• Sign Jackson up for art classes at Hayner Cultural Center
• Order all of Jackson's first grade curriculum
• Take the kids to see the movie Turbo
• Take the kids to the Miami County Fair
• Purge and reorganize all of the kids' toys
• Purchase school supplies and organize school room for the upcoming school year

Family/Friends/Ministry Goals

• Visit Bill's grandma at the rehab center, twice
• Help the kids make Grandparents' Day gifts
• Plan and host Charlotte's 3rd birthday party
• Have coffee or a playdate with another mom friend

Financial Goals

• Continue tithing 10% of our income
• Get 3 estimates for new windows
• Make Save, Spend, Share banks with the kids to teach personal finance

Blogging Goals

• Write at least 8 new blog posts in August (4 recipe posts, plus 4 misc. posts)
• Stick to strict blogging hours (naptime only) that do not interfere with homemaking responsibilities or quality time with family

When it comes to willpower and self-discipline, in which area do you struggle the most?

April 2013 Goals Update & May Goals

Photo Credit

It sure didn't feel like I accomplished much this month! In reality, I got about 60% of my list crossed off so it could have been worse. I have been fighting some serious fatigue and even possibly some depression this past month. It was just overall a really low month for me. I think the endless winter-like weather and being cooped up indoors made it that much worse.

I am looking into some medical possibilities for my lack of energy and crazy roller-coaster mood swings. Hopefully a vitamin or supplement, dietary changes, and this beautiful weather will help me regain some "oomph". I am looking forward to spending a lot of time outdoors with the kids this spring and summer and would love to have the energy to do it.

My 2013 theme is: DISCIPLINE

April Goals


Personal Goals

• Attend Beth Moore bible study on Tuesday nights and complete at least 3 out of 5 homework assignments a week Can't seem to get the homework done!
• Get up by 6 am 4 days a week or more Epic fail for the 4th straight month!
• Begin (again!) a 3x a week, 30 min. a day, Couch to 5K program Started a yoga class 2x a week and my Gazelle machine 2x a week.
• Read Eat that Frog and finish Attack Your Day! Before it Attacks You  I also read The Calling of Emily Evans by Janette Oke
• Focus on April's habit-of-the-month ~ Be less wasteful

Marriage Goals

• Have one date night out in April
• Attend the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati and stay overnight (no kids!)
• Finish reading the book The Four Seasons of Marriage
• Complete our membership interview and officially join Ginghamsburg Church
• Spend time with Bill while he teaches me how to use Twitter

Mothering/Homemaking Goals

• Take Charlotte to weekly music and movement class at YMCA
• Take Jackson to weekly swimming lessons & homeschool gym class
• Start a new chapter book with Jackson
• Complete 3 new homeschool thematic units (Frogs, Horses & Cows) 
• Take children out individually for a date/activity with one or both parents
• Complete 2 household chores per day and post them on the fridge for accountability Uhhh...didn't happen.

Family/Friends/Ministry Goals

• Visit Bill's homebound grandma weekly We missed a week on this.
• Invite my parents over for dinner
• Have coffee or a playdate with another mom friend
• Continue being involved in our church, Mom2Mom and homeschool group on a regular basis
• Book condo for Myrtle Beach vacation by April 15! We decided to go in September instead. 

Financial Goals

• Continue tithing 10% of our income
• Save money for new windows
• Attempt a OAMS (once a month shopping) experiment for groceries and put any money saved toward May's vacation Scrapped this idea because I decided I liked shopping weekly too much.

Blogging Goals

• Plan out blog posts a month in advance 
• Write 2 recipe posts and 2 DIY project posts, plus weekly grocery deals
• Reorganize tabs under blog header
• Stick to strict blogging hours that do not interfere with homemaking responsibilities or quality time with family 

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May Goals

Personal Goals

• Attend Beth Moore bible study on Tuesday nights and complete at least 3 out of 5 homework assignments a week 
• Get up by 6 am at least 4 days a week 
• Exercise at least 30 min, 4 days a week
• Read 2 books (Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe and something fictional)
• Get all of my garden planted
• Sign up for a Twitter account

Marriage Goals

• Have one date night out and one day-long date in May
• Finish reading the book The Four Seasons of Marriage
• Write a love note to Bill
• Attend the special dinner and ceremony at the Schuster Center to celebrate Bill's "Top 40 Under 40" award

Mothering/Homemaking Goals

• Take Charlotte to weekly music and movement class at YMCA
• Take Jackson to weekly swimming lessons & sign up for fall soccer
• Read one new chapter book with Jackson
• Complete 3 new homeschool thematic units (Zebra, Elephant, Kangaroo) 
• Take the kids to the zoo
• Spring cleaning!!

Family/Friends/Ministry Goals

• Visit Bill's homebound grandma 
• Make mother's day gifts for our moms and grandmas
• Have coffee or a playdate with another mom friend
• Start private Facebook group for the moms joining my summer bible study and order our books from Amazon
• Book condo for Myrtle Beach vacation in September
• Make hotel arrangements and plan activities for Chicago weekend trip in June

Financial Goals

• Continue tithing 10% of our income
• Save money for new windows
• Make Save, Spend, Share banks with the kids to teach personal finance

Blogging Goals

• Plan out blog posts a month in advance 
• Write at least 6 new blog posts in May
• Begin brainstorming topics for future e-book
• Stick to strict blogging hours that do not interfere with homemaking responsibilities or quality time with family 

March 2013 Goals Update & April Goals

Photo © Fiona Childs

I have felt like such a failure lately! It seems as though I am completely falling short in every. single. area. of my life. It wasn't until I sat down tonight to cross off my goals for March, that I could truly see there were things that got completed this month! Hooray!!  

I am making slow, but steady progress toward my 25 Goals for 2013 by breaking the yearly goals down to monthly goals. In April, I am going to post my monthly goal list in a predominant place, so that I can be more mindful of it. My hubby and I are headed off on a 2-day, child-free getaway tomorrow (Friday) and I am really looking forward to relaxing, reconnecting and getting re-energized for the month ahead.

My 2013 theme is: DISCIPLINE

March Goals


Personal Goals

• Attend Beth Moore bible study on Tuesday nights and read weekly supplemental material.
• Get up by 6 am Monday through Friday ~ Why is this SO hard!?
• Begin a 3x a week, 30 min. a day, Couch to 5K program ~ Messed up my back and quit. It's time to start over again!
• Read a min. of 2 books--paperback, e-book or other
• Focus on February's habit-of-the-month ~ Drink more water ~ I am terrible at this!!

Marriage Goals

• Have one date night out and one day-long date in March
• Book hotel for overnight trip in April by March 6th
• Choose a unique and heartfelt birthday gift for Bill ~ I failed on this one, big time! Boo!
• Finish taking Follower's Life (church membership) class
• Continue reading book The Four Seasons of Marriage

Mothering Goals

• Take Charlotte to weekly music and movement class at YMCA
• Take Jackson to weekly swimming lesson
• Start a new chapter book with Jackson
• Complete 4 new homeschool thematic units (Rocks, Colors/Rainbows, Easter, Butterflies) We did 3 of 4, so I am crossing this off anyway! :)
• Take children out individually for a date/activity with one or both parents I took Charlotte shopping (she loves Hobby Lobby!) and went sledding with Jackson.

Family/Friends/Ministry Goals

• Visit Bill's homebound grandma weekly
• Plan and host Jackson's 6th birthday party
• Have coffee or a playdate with another mom friend
• Continue being involved in our church, Mom2Mom and homeschool group on a regular basis
• Send two handwritten notes of encouragement
• Book condo for Myrtle Beach vacation in May ~ Must do ASAP!!

Financial Goals

• Continue tithing 10% of our income
• Save money for new window
• Cut the grocery budget by 10% and add to vacation savings account

Blogging Goals

• Plan out blog posts a month in advance (at least 15 this month) 
• Write blog posts a week ahead of time ~ This is just not a realistic goal for me, so I am scrapping it next month.
• Reorganize tabs under blog header
• Stick to strict blogging hours that do not interfere with homemaking responsibilities or quality time with family 

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April Goals


Personal Goals

• Attend Beth Moore bible study on Tuesday nights and complete at least 3 out of 5 homework assignments a week
• Get up by 6 am 4 days a week or more
• Begin (again!) a 3x a week, 30 min. a day, Couch to 5K program 
• Read Eat that Frog and finish Attack Your Day! Before it Attacks You
• Focus on April's habit-of-the-month ~ Be less wasteful

Marriage Goals

• Have one date night out in April
• Attend the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati and stay overnight (no kids!)
• Finish reading the book The Four Seasons of Marriage
• Complete our membership interview and officially join Ginghamsburg Church
• Spend time with Bill while he teaches me how to use Twitter

Mothering/Homemaking Goals

• Take Charlotte to weekly music and movement class at YMCA
• Take Jackson to weekly swimming lessons & homeschool gym class
• Start a new chapter book with Jackson
• Complete 3 new homeschool thematic units (Frogs, Insects & Cows)
• Take children out individually for a date/activity with one or both parents
• Complete 2 household chores per day and post them on the fridge for accountability

Family/Friends/Ministry Goals

• Visit Bill's homebound grandma weekly
• Invite my parents over for dinner
• Have coffee or a playdate with another mom friend
• Continue being involved in our church, Mom2Mom and homeschool group on a regular basis
• Book condo for Myrtle Beach vacation by April 15!

Financial Goals

• Continue tithing 10% of our income
• Save money for new window
• Attempt a OAMS (once a month shopping) experiment for groceries and put any money saved toward May's vacation

Blogging Goals

• Plan out blog posts a month in advance 
• Write 2 recipe posts and 2 DIY project posts, plus weekly grocery deals
• Reorganize tabs under blog header
• Stick to strict blogging hours that do not interfere with homemaking responsibilities or quality time with family 

Have you ever done OAMS (once a month shopping)? Did it save your family money on groceries?

February 2013 Goals Update & March Goals

How on Earth is February over already?! The second month of 2013 flew by way too quickly, and I didn't get nearly as much accomplished as I had hoped. While I did get lots of great new blog posts written, some of my other goals suffered as a result.

We were unexpectedly able to pay off our home equity loan a couple weeks ago, due to some inheritance money. That is going to free up a nice little chunk of change each month! This was one of my 25 Goals for 2013 and I am incredibly happy we were able to cross it off the list so early in the year. Hooray for being debt free (minus the mortgage)!

My 2013 theme is: DISCIPLINE

February Goals

Personal Goals

• Attend Beth Moore bible study on Tuesday nights and complete required homework
• Get up by 6 am Monday through Friday It is getting easier, but I am not quite there yet.
• Go to bed no later than 11 pm Sunday through Thursday Epic fail! Ha ha!
• Exercise a minimum of 3 days a week for 30 minutes Hangs her head in shame...
• Read a min. of 2 books--paperback, e-book or other
• Focus on February's habit-of-the-month ~ Go to bed early

Marriage Goals

• Have one date night out and one day-long date
• Book hotel for overnight trip in April How have I procrastinated on this since Jan?!?
• Continue taking Follower's Life (church membership) class
• Read one book on marriage In progress!

Mothering Goals

• Take Charlotte to weekly story time at the library Charlotte was not a huge fan, so we stopped going.
• Take Jackson to weekly swimming lessons
• Finish reading Mr. Popper's Penguins with Jackson and plan a Mr. Popper's Penguins movie night  See movie night pictures here.
• Start a new chapter book with Jackson
• Take children out individually for a date/activity with one or both parents I took Jackson roller skating (see the disastrous details here), but did not take Charlotte out in Feb.

Family/Friends/Ministry Goals

• Spend time with parents & grandparents on both sides of the family at least three times a month
• Invite friends over for a playdate
• Continue being involved in our church, Mom2Mom and homeschool group on a regular basis
• Send two handwritten notes of encouragement Can't believe I forgot to do this!
• Research lodging for Myrtle Beach vacation in May

Financial Goals

• Continue tithing 10% of our income
• Save money for new windows
• Sort and tag/price too-small spring & summer kids' clothes and outgrown baby gear for the Kids' Avenue Sale at Ginghamsburg Church.
• Paid off our home equity loan!!!!!!

Blogging Goals

• Plan out blog posts a month in advance (at least 10 per month)
• Write blog posts a week ahead of time Still trying (unsuccessfully!) to work ahead.
• Stick to strict blogging hours that do not interfere with homemaking responsibilities or quality time with family I spent a little too much time writing blog posts this month. 

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March Goals


Personal Goals

• Attend Beth Moore bible study on Tuesday nights and read weekly supplemental material.
• Get up by 6 am Monday through Friday 
• Begin a 3x a week, 30 min. a day, Couch to 5K program ~ Eeeek!!!
• Read a min. of 2 books--paperback, e-book or other
• Focus on February's habit-of-the-month ~ Drink more water 

Marriage Goals

• Have one date night out and one day-long date in March
• Book hotel for overnight trip in April by March 6th
• Choose a unique and heartfelt birthday gift for Bill
• Finish taking Follower's Life (church membership) class
• Continue reading book The Four Seasons of Marriage

Mothering Goals

• Take Charlotte to weekly music and movement class at YMCA
• Take Jackson to weekly swimming lesson
• Start a new chapter book with Jackson
• Complete 4 new homeschool thematic units (Rocks, Colors/Rainbows, Easter, Butterflies)
• Take children out individually for a date/activity with one or both parents

Family/Friends/Ministry Goals

• Visit Bill's homebound grandma weekly
• Plan and host Jackson's 6th birthday party
• Have coffee or a playdate with another mom friend
• Continue being involved in our church, Mom2Mom and homeschool group on a regular basis
• Send two handwritten notes of encouragement
• Book condo for Myrtle Beach vacation in May

Financial Goals

• Continue tithing 10% of our income
• Save money for new window
• Cut the grocery budget by 10% and add to vacation savings account

Blogging Goals

• Plan out blog posts a month in advance (at least 15 this month)
• Write blog posts a week ahead of time 
• Reorganize tabs under blog header
• Stick to strict blogging hours that do not interfere with homemaking responsibilities or quality time with family 

Have you ever done a Couch to 5K training plan? What advice can you give this out-of-shape mom?

January 2013 Goals Update & February Goals

As promised, here is an update on my monthly goals for January. I came up with 25 goals for 2013 and have broken them down into more manageable monthly goals.

I think I did pretty well this month. I am still working incredibly hard at getting up before the kids, but there have been some hiccups with that one! My two year old was getting up at the crack of dawn for the first week of the month. I did really great during the middle of the month, then I ended up getting a nasty cold and desperately needed my sleep. I'm not going to give up, though. It makes such a huge difference in my day to get up early and "start the day" instead of letting the day "start me".

I have not really done ANY exercise. (Hanging my head in shame...) Isn't that terrible? However, I was able to read a bunch of books this month, including a few more after I posted my January reading list.

I have a long way to go with my blogging goals. I have so many DIY projects, recipes and activities I want to blog about if I can just find the time to squeeze them all in! Hang in there with me--I will try to get more variety in my posts in the very near future.

My 2013 theme is: DISCIPLINE

January Goals

Personal Goals

• Sign up for Beth Moore Bible Study that starts Feb. 5
• Get up by 6 am Monday through Friday - Making progress but still not quite there!
• Exercise a minimum of 3 days a week for 30 minutes - Umm...this is not happening right now. Oops!
• Read a min. of 2 books--paperback, e-book or other
• Focus on January's habit-of-the-month ~ Get up early

Marriage Goals

• Have one date night out and one day-long date - Went out for dinner one night and to Hollywood Casino!
• Book hotel for overnight trip in April
• Sign up for Follower's Life (church membership) class

Mothering Goals

• Sign Charlotte up for story time at the library
• Sign Jackson up for swimming and soccer lessons
• Read the chapter book Mr. Popper's Penguins to Jackson
• Take children out individually for a date/activity with one or both parents - Took Charlotte shopping and Jackson to the movies!

Family/Friends/Ministry Goals

• Spend time with parents & grandparents on both sides of the family at least three times a month
• Have one playdate with friends or coffee date - See pictures of our playdate HERE.
• Continue being involved in our church, Mom2Mom and homeschool group on a regular basis
• Send two handwritten notes of encouragement

Financial Goals

• Continue tithing 10% of our income
• Save money for new windows

Blogging Goals

• Plan out blog posts a month in advance (at least 10 per month) - Many posts on my to-write list never made it to the blog!
• Write blog posts a week ahead of time - Hahaha!
• Stick to strict blogging hours that do not interfere with homemaking responsibilities or quality time with family

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February Goals

Personal Goals

• Attend Beth Moore bible study on Tuesday nights and complete required homework
• Get up by 6 am Monday through Friday
• Go to bed no later than 11 pm Sunday through Thursday
• Exercise a minimum of 3 days a week for 30 minutes
• Read a min. of 2 books--paperback, e-book or other
• Focus on February's habit-of-the-month ~ Go to bed early

Marriage Goals

• Have one date night out and one day-long date
• Book hotel for overnight trip in April
• Continue taking Follower's Life (church membership) class
• Read one book on marriage

Mothering Goals

• Take Charlotte to weekly story time at the library
• Take Jackson to weekly swimming lessons
• Finish reading Mr. Popper's Penguins with Jackson and plan a Mr. Popper's Penguins movie night
• Start a new chapter book with Jackson
• Take children out individually for a date/activity with one or both parents 

Family/Friends/Ministry Goals

• Spend time with parents & grandparents on both sides of the family at least three times a month
• Invite friends over for a playdate
• Continue being involved in our church, Mom2Mom and homeschool group on a regular basis
• Send two handwritten notes of encouragement
• Research lodging for Myrtle Beach vacation in May

Financial Goals

• Continue tithing 10% of our income
• Save money for new windows
• Sort and tag/price too-small spring & summer kids' clothes and outgrown baby gear for the Kids' Avenue Sale at Ginghamsburg Church.

Blogging Goals

• Plan out blog posts a month in advance (at least 10 per month)
• Write blog posts a week ahead of time
• Stick to strict blogging hours that do not interfere with homemaking responsibilities or quality time with family

What tips do you have for helping this night owl get to bed at a decent time? I need all the advice I can get!

Living the Lutz Life: Fun with Friends, Sparkly Snow Dough & Our Jumpy House

This is a new weekend feature for 2013, giving you a peek into our day-to-day life and serving as a digital journal for me and my family. Take time to savor these precious days and don't forget to take LOTS of pictures!

 

 

We had a really great time playing with some of our homeschooling friends on Wednesday. Jackson and his buddy, Noah, always have a blast! My friend, Emily, has such sweet kiddos and my gang loves to hang out and play with them. I was thinking about it the other day and between the two of us, we have kids who are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9. Pretty cool, huh?! Of course by the time Jackson's birthday rolls around in March that will all change--but it's certainly fun for the moment.

 

 

For school this past week (and the week ahead), we are talking about Water and the letter "W". Our words to remember this week are, "Jesus gives my spirit living water to drink." So far, we have talked about the three states of water--solid, liquid and gas--and created a list of items that fit into those categories. We made some Sparkly Snow Dough (new blog post coming on Wednesday!) and filled balloons with air, water and ice. To create the ice balloon, I just filled with water the night before and stuck it in the freezer.

 

 

We invited my parents over for lasagna on Thursday night, which we haven't done in forever. Bill and I are really not the world's most hospitable people. Hahaha! One of my goals in 2013 is to be more intentional about inviting family over for meals and to just spend time together. My parents had a great evening and really enjoyed seeing the kids' bedrooms, our school room, etc.

 

 

Friday night we busted out the inflatable jumpy house in the living room to burn off some post-dinner energy. I bought the inflatable, used, as a gift for Charlotte's 2nd birthday in August and it has been worth every penny. They LOVE it!

 

 

Bill's grandma had a mild stroke right after Christmas and has been in a rehab center for the past couple weeks. On Saturdays, between soccer practice and church, we have been going to visit her. We let the kids take their new Sparkly Snow Dough and build snowmen (and snow cakes!) with Great-Grandma this week.

 

The next few days are supposed to be downright frigid! Any plans for fun indoor activities with your favorite people?

 

Ashley

Books I am Reading in January

Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God was a free e-book that I downloaded to my Kindle a couple weeks ago. It must have been a limited time offer, because it is $4.99 on Amazon right now. I can't say that I would pay $4.99 for it, even though it seems to have amazing reviews. I am only about 1/3 of the way finished, but it is a decent book so far and I hope to wrap it up by the end of the weekend.

How to Make Homemade Bread is another e-book I got for free on my Kindle. It is regularly a $2.99 download and well worth the $3 in my opinion. If you have never made your own bread, are looking for some great tips for improving your bread baking skills (with or without a bread machine) or you just want some fabulous recipes for cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, dinner rolls, etc.--this is the book for you! Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam's e-book is under 50 pages and easy to read in one sitting. I will certainly be coming back to it over and over, simply to try out some of the recipes.

Carolyn Slaughter, the wife of our church's lead pastor, is the author of Following Jesus: Steps to a Passionate Faith and the teacher of a class my husband and I are taking at church called A Follower's Life. This class will allow us to become members of Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church, where we have attended regularly for over 11 years. This is a 12 chapter book that coincides with our 12 week course. So far I have only read the first two chapters, but each have involved scripture verses to look up along with questions to answer and prayer.

To be totally honest, I have not really started this book yet. I downloaded 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life on the 31st of December and intended to start it right after the New Year. Good intentions never panned out, unfortunately, and I have not made it past the table of contents. My plan is to start this book on Monday, after finishing Reach over the weekend. I will have to continue into February to finish up all 21 days, but I suppose that's okay. :)

I have not read a fiction book in well over two years. Before children (and the distraction of social media!), I used to read an entire novel in a weekend--sometimes in a day if it was really captivating. I have liked Karen Kingsbury for a long time and when I saw this book of hers at a local used book store, I picked it up for half of the retail. It is hardback, a bit shorter than her typical novels, but I can appreciate that as a busy mom with barely any time to get caught up in the world of Christian Fiction. I haven't started this one quite yet, but it's on my list for January. Seeing as how January is half over already, I best get started soon! If you are interested in The Bridge, you can order it in print or for Kindle by clicking on the book's cover, above.

Last, but not least, I am reading Mr. Popper's Penguins to my kindergarten son, Jackson. I have read Mr. Popper's Penguins before, when I was doing my student teaching back in 2000, but after 13 years I might as well be reading it for the first time because I don't remember a single thing! This is a humorous book, written at about a 3rd grade level, that provides for wonderful discussion of vocabulary, geography, and much more. The chapters are extremely short, which is perfect for a bedtime read-aloud. It also keeps my five year old asking for "just one more chapter". I try to pick out chapter books that have been made into movies, as I know that is a selling point for Jackson. He likes to compare the book and the movie--plus, it gives us an incentive to get through the book in a shorter amount of time. We have also read Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little this school year. We really loved both of them, along with their movie counterparts. 

I am still on the hunt for a couple of really good books on the topic of marriage, if you have one to recommend! Are you reading anything right now? I'd love to hear about it! :)

25 Goals for the New Year

Happy New Year!

Ahhh....doesn't a fresh new year feel so good? It's such a time of reflection and inspiration. January gives me this renewed sense of motivation to make improvements in who I am as a Christ-follower, wife, mother and friend. This is the first time in my 34 years that I have made the decision to sit down and create a list of goals for myself. My hope is that having my goals in print and out there for the world to see will aid in my accountability. I plan to break down my yearly goals into monthly goals and post my progress at the end of each month.

I felt it was important to add some blogging goals to my list, because as many of you know, I stepped away from my blog for the past 5 months. I burnt myself out and struggled to find a balance in my blogging and personal life. I truly love writing and blogging, but I let it interfere in other areas that are way more important to me. After some time away, I feel as though I have a clearer picture of how to prioritize my time and enjoy my hobby without sacrificing my sanity. I will cut back on the quantity of weekly posts, but continue to provide quality material for my readers.

My 2013 theme is: DISCIPLINE

Personal Goals

• Attend a weekly bible study, quarterly
• Get up by 6 am Monday through Friday--do devotions, start laundry, unload dishwasher and get dressed before 8 am
• Exercise a minimum of 3 days a week for 30 minutes
• Complete a Couch to 5K plan by June
• Walk/Jog in a 5K by October
• Read a min. of 24 books--paperback, e-book or other (2 books/mo.)
• Focus on ONE new habit each month

Marriage Goals

• Have one date night out and one day-long date each month
• Go on two overnight (no kids) getaways
• Read 3 books on marriage
• Attend at least one class together at church (possibly the membership class in January)
• Read one book together as a couple

Mothering Goals

• Participate in one weekly activity outside the home with Charlotte, quarterly (such as library storytime, YMCA class, etc.)
• Continue swimming lessons and soccer (or another chosen sport) for Jackson, quarterly
• Finish kindergarten, begin first grade with Jackson
• Begin preschool with Charlotte in September
• Read a minimum of 10 chapter books aloud to Jackson (plus daily picture books to both children)
• Take children out individually for a date/activity once a month with one or both parents

Family/Friends/Ministry Goals

• Spend time with parents & grandparents on both sides of the family at least three times a month
• Have one playdate with friends or coffee date (moms only), monthly
• Continue being involved in our church, Mom2Mom and homeschool group on a regular basis
• Send two handwritten notes of encouragement a month
• Take one weeklong family vacation (beach-May) and two weekend trips (Chicago-summer & Pigeon Forge-Oct)

Financial Goals

• Continue tithing 10% of our income
• Pay off our home equity line of credit
• Save and pay cash for new windows by late summer

Blogging Goals

• Redesign blog header and sidebar, including adding RSS feed button and social media buttons
• Publish first e-book
• Plan out blog posts a month in advance (at least 10 per month)
• Write blog posts a week ahead of time
• Stick to strict blogging hours that do not interfere with homemaking responsibilities or quality time with family

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Whew!! That's a big list! Did you actually count them? There's 26, not 25. ;) Have you read a great book on marriage or maybe another fabulous book that I should add to my list? Please share it in the comments below. Thanks!

"Unplugged" August Goals ~ 31 Days Without Facebook or Blogging

I readily admit that I am easily distracted. I struggle with trying to prioritize projects and tasks and inevitably find myself sucked into the world of social media, where I lose all sense of discipline and self-control. I am tired of my children seeing the back or side of my head and if they could articulate their feelings, I'm certain they would agree. My marriage has been put on the back-burner the last few months in order to catch up on the latest Facebook updates or work tirelessly on blog posts.

 

Enough is enough! I wish I could simply "cut back" on my Facebook and blogging time, but unfortunately it has to be all or nothing for me. I don't do moderation well and those two things, especially, suck the life out of my productivity. It's time to "unplug" and really put ALL of my time and undivided attention into the HUGE month we are about to dive into at our house. Here is a list of my personal goals, our home projects and the family activities that are headed my way in the next four weeks. Hopefully, you will recognize how time consuming my August is looking and understand my need for a little social media hiatus.

Personal Goals

• Organize our homeschool room, purchase supplies & work on lesson plans for the first semester
• Read Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions by Lysa TerKeurst (out Aug. 7)
• Continue working on my gratitude journal/1000 gifts list
• Begin a food log, drink more water and exercise 3x week (minimum)
• Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night

Home Projects

• Have ceiling in playroom/schoolroom repaired and painted
• Clean and organize laundry room, paint and replace curtains
• Spray paint and cover Little Tykes picnic table with fabric/vinyl to use for school (see Pinterest project HERE)

Family Activities

• Aug. 3 & 4 ~ Kids' Avenue Sale (and Pre-sale) @ Ginghamsburg Church
• Aug. 6-10 ~ Vacation Bible School at Troy Baptist Temple
• Aug. 17 ~ Family Carnival & Movie @ Ginghamsburg Church
• Aug. 18 ~ Charlotte's 2nd Birthday and Family Photo Shoot
• Aug. 19 ~ Pink Pirate Princess Party at the Park (say that 5 times fast!)
• Aug. 22 ~ First day of Homeschool!!!
• End of Aug. or early Sept. ~ Family Vacation to Chicago 

I plan to be back to blogging (as much as I can without sacrificing family time) starting in September. In the meantime, here are some great blogs & websites you might enjoy. And of course, there is always Pinterest!
The Better Mom (bi- weekly menu plans & encouraging articles)
Money Saving Mom (kid activities, deals, recipes and organic/natural food coupons)
The Nourishing Home (excellent "real food" recipes)
Organic Deals (Grocery deals & printable coupons for healthy food!)
Sarah Mae ~ Where Life Becomes Worship (encouragement for moms)

Have a fabulous and fun August!
Ashley