intentional living, little by little
Our kitchen has been overflowing with peaches the past few weeks. The kids and I have had fun scrolling through Pinterest until something catches our eye. If we have the ingredients on hand, we make it right there on the spot. Here are four of our favorites so far:
If you’ve been reading here for awhile, you may remember my first 100 Little Things list back in 2014. I loved the process and while I didn’t cross everything off by year’s end, the list was so helpful when I was feeling uninspired or overwhelmed. At the beginning of this year, I tried to change things up, but that quickly crashed and burned.
So it comes as no surprise that as I’ve been learning more about myself, I’ve been thinking, “How do I like to get things done? What fires me up?” And the 100 Little Things list immediately came to mind. I considered starting on my birthday in October or waiting until January 1st, but then I thought, “Why wait? Why put off what I can start right now?” So here I am, making a list of little things I’d like to accomplish, smack dab in the middle of summer.
Like last time, this list is a mix of silly things and important things. They are things that really need to get done and things that just sound like fun. They are things I’d like to do and things I really should do. They are things that excite me and things that scare me. My goal is to finish them all before the end of next summer, but we’ll see. I love the process as much as the finish line.
Oh July. I struggled a bit this month, but am slowly digging myself out. Feelings of overwhelm, uncertainty and restlessness (I won’t go into details here, but let’s just say that Rosie is living my dream!) A few days ago, I read this quote from Elisabeth Elliot: “Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy. Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands.”
And then there was this one too: “Does it make sense to pray for guidance about the future if we are not obeying in the thing that lies before us today? How many momentous events in Scripture depended on one person’s seemingly small act of obedience! Rest assured: Do what God tells you to do now, and, depend upon it, you will be shown what to do next.” Boom. Sucker punch right to the core of my problem. I’m entering August with a new perspective.
+ 20 Things I Love: A Gratitude Journal vol.2
+ Superhero Cross-Stitch Pillows
+ What Self Care Looks Like for Me Right Now
+ What Would a Calm, Thriving Life Look Like?
A collection of our ordinary days, recorded every week. At the end of the year, I’ll publish them into a keepsake to treasure.
Around here, I have been:
watching TJ get into all.the.things. He is everywhere and making all the messes!
ordering Focus T25 (through my blog friend, Katie – she’s a Beachbody coach) and hoping it will help me out of my exercise rut. A combination of things have made it hard to do my usual: too hot outside, impatient baby, husband working unpredictable hours. I’m so ready to finally get this sad, postpartum body back in gear. I’ve got 10ish pounds still to lose!
reading Everything I Never Told You (I can’t put it down!) and Better Than Before.
starting on a holiday prep plan for Big White Farmhouse: what to buy, what supplies to stock up on, etc. It’s overwhelming and exciting all bundled together.
thinking about returning to regular school days in two weeks, maybe? We’ve been out since mid-May and I think it’s time. The kids have been actually asking to do math and history!
planning to finally paint my office this weekend, the first project on my to-do list.
watching American Pickers as I multi-task and work on the computer at night. That show both fascinates me and puts me to sleep.