• start Operation Declutter Everything!
• complete T25 Gamma Weeks 1&2
• stain the front porch (100LT #60)
• mulch the front flower beds
• buy a few plants for the flower pots
• have the gutters cleaned
• clean windows from the outside
• figure out a way to discourage wildlife from eating our compost pile
• list 10 items on Poshmark
• create a new system for keeping Poshmark inventory organized
• try out the local farmer’s market (100LT #100)
• make granola
• try making french toast mugs using the ends of bread loaves

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS

• read one book on my Kindle (this ended up being a library book, but I hope to read a few of the ones from Amazon soon)
• finish a half-read book on my nightstand
• complete the last of week of T25 Beta (on to Gamma!)
• teach Lucy to voluntarily go in her crate (hah – some days she listens, some days she’s obstinate and we have to bribe her)
• buy a mailing envelope and send in standardized testing (we got the results back and they all did great!)
• start collecting items for a “Welcome Summer” basket for the kids
• weed and mulch the front flower beds
• buy a few plants for the front flower pots
• stain the front porch
• find Sophie new sandals (the ones I bought her a few months ago are already too small!)
• make granola
• try making french toast mugs using the ends of bread loaves
• begin a new sourdough starter
• make a big pitcher of iced peach tea

• read one book on my Kindle (I download a lot free from Amazon and then never read them!)
• finish a half-read book on my nightstand
• complete the last of week of T25 Beta 
• teach Lucy to voluntarily go in her crate
• buy a mailing envelope and send in standardized testing
• start collecting items for a “Welcome Summer” basket for the kids
• weed and mulch the front flower beds
• buy a few plants for the front flower pots
• stain the front porch
• find Sophie new sandals (the ones I bought her a few months ago are already too small!)
• make granola
• try making french toast mugs using the ends of bread loaves
• begin a new sourdough starter
• make a big pitcher of iced peach tea

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS

• complete T25 Alpha Week 5 and Beta Week 1
• puppy proof the first floor
• figure out a new routine with the dog
• schedule an appointment with the vet (we’ve got a healthy girl!)
• order standardized testing (so glad that’s behind us)
• figure out plans for the last few weeks of school
• look for a white button-down shirt for J’s First Communion in May
• buy a butterfly habitat kit
• begin a new sourdough starter
• bake a new recipe that is refined sugar free
• give the little ones haircuts (waaaay overdue! they look so handsome)

• complete T25 Alpha Weeks 3 & 4
• finish Easter baskets
• get the big boys to the barber and buzz the little ones at home
• give my split ends a trim (maybe watch a Youtube video or two?)
• finish buying the last few things before our new puppy arrives
• puppy proof the first floor 
• find a vet
• go through the millions of recipe printouts and organize (part of 100LT #10)
• organize the junk drawers
• make a list of spring clothing needs for the kids
• clean out and vacuum the car
• paint S’s room (100LT #69)
• check out the Restore for a dresser and/or desk 
• get estimates for resealing the driveway

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS

• create a regular routine of working out with D (we’re going to do T25 together!)
• replace burnt out recessed lighting bulbs in the living room and kitchen
• declutter and organize the school closet
• introduce a little Shakespeare into our homeschool (we read Macbeth)
• plan something art-related to do with the kids
• play dominoes or cards after dinner as a family
• go on a date!
• send a package, just because
• paint S’s room (100LT #69)
• start peeking around for a new dresser on yardsale sites or CL (no luck yet)
• research costs for resealing the driveway (now to get some quotes!)
• start a compost pile (this blog post was really helpful)
• bake bread (revisited this post to get back into the routine)

• create a regular routine of working out with D (we’re going to do T25 together!)
• replace burnt out recessed lighting bulbs in the living room and kitchen
• declutter and organize the school closet
• introduce a little Shakespeare into our homeschool
• plan something art-related to do with the kids
• play dominoes or cards after dinner as a family
• go on a date!
• send a package, just because (100LT #20)
• paint S’s room (100LT #69)
• start peeking around for a new dresser on yardsale sites or CL
• research costs for resealing the driveway (get quotes?)
• start a compost pile (100LT #85)
• bake bread

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS

• write those letters!
• order new moisturizer (I ordered this one)
• make bone broth
• start a compost pile (this keeps getting pushed off because of the crazy weather)
• start making shopping/to-do lists for dog needs (SO much to learn and buy!)
• add five new pieces to my Poshmark closet
• decide what I want to read for Lent (blog post coming soon)
• celebrate our 100th day of school in a special way (we had a big snow/ice storm, so we made fresh snow cream!)
• introduce a little Shakespeare into our homeschool
• research costs for resealing the driveway (get quotes?)

• write those letters!
• order new moisturizer
• make bone broth
• start a compost pile (100LT #85)
• start making shopping/to-do lists for dog needs
• add five new pieces to my Poshmark closet
• decide what I want to read for Lent
• celebrate our 100th day of school in a special way
• introduce a little Shakespeare into our homeschool
• research costs for resealing the driveway (get quotes?)

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS

• to think about: how can I be more of a creator than a consumer?
• finish taxes
• open a separate Christmas account
• start thinking about a dog! (big things happening in April!)
• order a shampoo bar (100LT #84) (I purchased this one)
• order photos for the first month of my #100dayproject
• catch up on snail mail correspondence (still so behind)
• leave thoughtful comments on at least 20 blog posts 
• figure out Valentines for the kids to pass out at co-cop (we went with the classic chocolate/sticker combo)
• make a plan for Poshmark (starting back slowly, but I had five orders, so not too shabby!)
• finish at least one book that has been sitting on my “currently reading” list for months

• to think about: how can I be more of a creator than a consumer?
• finish taxes
• open a separate Christmas account
• start thinking about a dog (!!)
• order a shampoo bar (100LT #84)
• order photos for the first month of my #100dayproject
• catch up on snail mail correspondence
• leave thoughtful comments on at least 20 blog posts
• figure out Valentines for the kids to pass out at co-cop
• make a plan for Poshmark (I put it on the back burner last month and need to refocus)
• finish at least one book that has been sitting on my “currently reading” list for months

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS

• No Sugar (so far so good – Mark and I are trying to go without it for 90 days!)
• start preparing for taxes
• wrap Mark’s birthday gifts
• catch up on snail mail correspondence (so behind on this – sorry for the delay, penpals!)
• photograph and list all remaining inventory for Poshmark
• finally finish my winter cross-stitch project (ugh, still not done – I’ve definitely chosen books over handiwork)
• check Home Depot for a snake plant (I’ve been avoiding going anywhere unnecessary in this frigid weather – see you in the spring, HD) 
• buy a bag of potting soil
• propagate my Christmas cactus (100LT #76)
• research shampoo bars (I found a few options on etsy)
• deep clean the living room (vacuum the couch!)
• start a separate Christmas fund and determine amount to save (Brooke’s post really inspired me to get this started – I’m hoping for much less stress this fall)
• keep closer track of how much we’re spending in groceries (those quick trips for “just milk” really do add up!  we’re spending more than I realized and need a plan to reduce that)

Did you hear that Mary Oliver passed away?  I have only the simplest knowledge of her work, but many of the pieces I’ve read have really touched me.  This is the one I’ve been thinking about while we had a winter wonderland outside: 

INTENTIONS FOR THE END OF JANUARY

New for 2019: consistently paying attention to the lives of the saints.  I unearthed this book from my shelves and have started reading a few paragraphs while sipping my morning coffee.  I’m just a week in and am already enjoying the variety of these followers of Christ.  Men and women, rich and poor, educated and not, extroverts and introverts…so much to learn from every single one!  We just celebrated Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s feast day on January 4th and I’ve been pondering this quote from her:     

• finish taking down Christmas decorations
• add consistent strength training to my weekly workouts
• sign up for a half marathon 
• create an updated chore chart
• photograph and list all remaining inventory for Poshmark
• propagate my Christmas cactus (100LT #76)
• make paper snowflakes with the kids
• bake cookies with J
• make at least 5 recipe printouts from my huge pile (part of 100LT #10)
• start my #100dayproject
• attend a Latin Mass
• read Revelation and listen to commentary from Dr. Taylor Marshall
• write a snail mail letter

What about you?  What do you want to accomplish in the next two weeks?

I am SO ready for Advent this year.  As we enter the last days of 2018, I’m tired.  Weary from what’s happening in our Church, from parenting struggles, from financial difficulties, from the everyday wear and tear of being in charge of so many moving parts.  Still, in the midst of it all, God is faithful.  He still shows up, showing His love for me, even when I’m feeling numb.

I want to record one example that just happened last week.  We recently received an L.L.Bean catalog in the mail and I looked enviously at all of the gorgeous fresh evergreen wreaths.  But bills need to be paid and presents need to be purchased, so I placed the catalog in recycling with the hope that maybe I could get one next year.  The very next day, we had an unexpected visitor: the small business owner that we hired last spring to install our front flower beds!  And what was she bringing to wish us a Merry Christmas?  An enormous, fresh evergreen wreath.  By my reaction, you would have thought she was holding a big check from Publisher’s Clearing House!  I was so surprised and thrilled and overwhelmed, I probably scared her.  But what are the odds?  Something so small, something I didn’t mention to anyone…and there it is, literally at my doorstep.

This Advent, I plan to slow down as much as possible, to ponder Christ and what it means to follow Him, and prepare for His birth in the simplest of ways.  I don’t have fancy reading plans or devotionals or journals this year.  I just have open hands and an eager heart, letting Him lead me where He wants me.  Even in the midst of this hard season, God is here with me.  What a comforting thought. 

Wishing you a peaceful Advent season. XO

My oldest ran his first 5K with me yesterday and we had so much fun.  I wasn’t feeling great, but managed to keep up and only lost to him by 30 seconds.  We’re both excited to run another one together in the spring.  There’s nothing like a race to reignite my passion for running!  With my hormonal issues and fall just being a crazy season, running felt like a chore and I started to dread it.  I’m thrilled to get back into it – I feel more like myself already.        

• vote!
• keep up with a 30 Day Running Streak
• order birthday gifts for M, J, and P (and then we’re done for another year, whew!)
• start ordering gifts for Christmas
• start thinking about what to do with the kids for Advent
• catch up on snail mail correspondence
• make 10+ sales on Poshmark
• organize all of the kids’ summer clothes and put in their appropriate bins
• decide on a cookie for the co-op cookie exchange party
• organize Sophie’s closet
• make homemade granola
• finish reading Estrogeneration
• read 50+ pages in Don Quixote

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS

• finish painting the headboards and add the topcoat
• decide on a rug for the front hallway
• send out Halloween packages (I sent books to my two littlest buddies)
• finish reading Estrogeneration
• get the generator serviced (at over $700, this one gets pushed to the back burner until after Christmas.  Fingers crossed we don’t have a blizzard anytime soon!)
• call to have someone look at the dishwasher (we had the septic tank serviced instead)
• increase Poshmark inventory to 85+
• take out and work on my quilt using Memere’s fabric (100LT #13)
• buy lightbulbs for the dining room chandelier
• look into supplements (I ordered magnesium and have a list of others to consider too – thanks for all of your help, blog friends!!)
• give myself lots of patience and grace as I continue to fight through this hormonal mess (a work in progress, but I’m feeling better)