The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{thrive goals} Thriving in 2015: A Review


When I chose thrive as my one little word for 2015, I said one thing, but meant another.  In that post, I wrote: “For me, thriving means living at my very best.  It’s about saying that I’m all in to this vocation I’ve chosen.  It’s not about striving for perfection, but an invitation to embrace every part of my full and messy life.”  But if we’re being honest, what I really meant was, “I want my life to reflect exactly how I picture it in my head.”

All year long, I’ve been reaching, working, striving toward that goal – and falling on my face time and time again.  I just couldn’t understand why my life wasn’t becoming the well-oiled machine I was trying to force it to be!
My kids still bickered and tattled.
I still struggled to get dinner on the table most nights.
I haven’t lost the baby weight.
We still haven’t moved into that dream forever house.
My kids still wake up way too early each morning.
Laundry is still regularly in piles on my bed.
I still often feel frazzled and overwhelmed and lacking in patience. 

What in the world was I thinking with a word like thrive?  We’re nowhere close!

But.

But then I looked again.  

I scrolled through the silly, grainy pictures on my phone.  I flipped through some of our school projects.  I read back through my Around Here archives.  I laughed to myself as I recalled funny moments and conversations.  I got choked up watching my children comfort their baby brother.  

No matter what the annoying perfectionist in my head says, we are thriving.  I am thriving.

It turns out, choosing the word thrive in 2015 was God’s sweet gift to me.  As He always does, He tenderly invited me to discover the freedom in letting go and maybe for the first time ever, I’m ready.  I’m loosening my grip of control, my unrealistic expectations of how life should look, and nervously offering it all to Him.  


This life of mine is messy and loud and oh so hard at times – but isn’t that the sign of a life well spent?  This is what thriving looks like.

{thrive goals} September Review // October Goals


 September.  A month of new beginnings and busier schedules.  A month of happiness and hardship.  A month filled with lots of laughs and a few tears too.  A month of celebration for our two littlest.  Transition months are always a bit tricky and September was no exception.  But at the end of the day, it was good.    


A few of my favorite blog posts in September:

+ Better than Before: A Review
+ The Inspired Readers Book Club: Book Three
+ 20 Things I Love: A Gratitude Journal vol.4


My September goals, reviewed:

1. Make more concrete plans for PreK.  Done.  I ordered a Letter of the Week Preschool Curriculum and so far, I’ve been really impressed.  We supplement the worksheets with lots of picture books and a craft or two and it seems like enough.  
2. Make an emergency preparedness kit.   This turned out to be a huge undertaking!  A simple search on Pinterest revealed a whole new world of 48-Hour Kits and Bug Out Bags.  Needless to say, I was a bit overwhelmed!  I decided to start small and make Mark a Winter Prep Kit for his car.  Other small steps we took: buying more non-perishables in bulk, making sure we have flashlights on every floor, and starting a first aid kit.      
3. Go to the dentist. Done!  So glad that is over with!
4. Get back to making reading a priority.  How do I answer this one?  Sort-of?  I’m definitely choosing to read again, but not getting very far.  There just aren’t enough hours in a day!    
5. Go apple picking.  Not yet, but we hope to get there in the next couple of weeks.


 And my one goal for October:
1. Start and complete 31 days of writing on the blog.  // This is a totally crazy time of year for me to attempt something like this, but I’m jumping in anyway!  Hoping for the best…we’ll see how it goes!

{thrive goals} August Review // September Goals


 August…holy moly, where did it go?  With school back in session, the weeks have been flying.  As is usual for me as we adjust to new seasons, I’m still struggling to find that sweet spot of getting it all done.  Trying to learn as I go, but I’d be lying if it didn’t stress me out a bit.  

A few of my favorite blog posts in August:

+ 100 Little Things: Round Two
+ Our Homeschool Curriculum Choices for 2015-2016
+ Five Reasons We Love Jet.com

My August goals, reviewed:

1. Go on a date. Done.  While my parents watched the kids, Mark and I had a lunch date complete with stops at the antique store for me and Gander Mountain for him.  We lead such a wild and crazy life, hah!  It was awesome (and really strange) to be kid-free for a few hours.
2. Complete a Week in the Life project with Ali Edwards. Done.  This project was intense, but I really love the result.  I feel like it’s a visual time capsule of our life right now and I’ll treasure the pictures in the years to come.  I’m sure I’ll do it again someday.
3. Buy a birdfeeder. Done!  We purchased this one.  
4. Revamp my blog’s sidebar tabs.  Didn’t complete.  I significantly reduced my screen time this month and this fell to the wayside.  Someday.  
5. Continue work on my office.  I didn’t touch my office this month!  Need to get on this before the busy holiday season comes around.



And a few new goals for September:

1. Make more concrete plans for PreK.  //  We are starting our fourth week of school and I have been incredibly unprepared for the enthusiasm of my two littles.  I thought I would do a very laid back, reading-rich PreK, but they are demanding more!  Instead of scrambling with Pinterest searches each morning (my current crazy plan of attack), I need a better system.
2. Make an emergency preparedness kit.  // With seven people in the house, “just winging it” probably isn’t the best idea.  
3. Go to the dentist.  //  I have anxiety attacks just thinking about the dentist, so this is huge.  Deep breaths…
4. Get back to making reading a priority.  //  With other projects to take my free time, I lost my momentum this summer.  I’ve got a nightstand with a tall stack I can’t wait to dive into.
5. Go apple picking.

What goals do you have planned for September?

{thrive goals} 100 Little Things: Round Two


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.  


1. Donate my hair to Pantene
2. Buy succulents for the house 
3. Purchase art for above master bed
4. Take the kids to a baseball game
5. Make a pillowcase dress
6. Watch 20 documentaries
7. Read 15 books
8. Read a book of poems
9. Reread To Kill a Mockingbird
10. Read The Temperament God Gave Your Kids
11. Print updated photos for around the house
12. Make 2015 Instagram book
13. Make 2015 Around Here book
14. Have our family photos professionally taken
15. Send out Christmas cards
16. Bake a cheesecake
17. Grow spinach
18. Make marbled paper
19. Learn how to French braid
20. Have a picnic lunch
21. Install shelves in the boys’ room
22. Buy new duvet covers for the boys
23. Run a 5K
24. Run a 10K
25. Run another half marathon
26. Make my own vanilla extract
27. See my sister cheer
28. Blog everyday for a month (31 days in October?)
29. Move photos to external hard drive
30. Take 4 (out of the house) dates with Mark
31. Explore someplace new
32. Watch 10 TED talks
33. Make an emergency preparedness kit
34. Make a new recipe everyday for a month
35. Armknit another scarf (or a blanket?)
36. Take a bath
37. Wear my hair in a new way
38. Host 5 new families for dinner
39. Complete our wills
40. Purchase a “Thanksgiving meal” to donate to the food bank
41. Buy a birdfeeder
42. Take an online course
43. Potty train Sophia
44. Hang an American flag outside
45. Buy a new throw blanket for the living room
46. Make a quilt
47. Start a separate blog for our homeschooling 
48. Do a month-long running “streak”
49. Get carpets professionally cleaned
50. Participate in Screen-Free Week
51. Donate 100 items
52. Make milk & honey soap
53. Make bread from scratch, no bread machine!
54. Get Big White Farmhouse in a magazine ad
55. Purchase vintage items at a big fair
56. Re-do Big White Farmhouse packaging (business cards, thank you postcards, etc)
57. Make a frame for the big dining room picture
58. Grow cucumbers
59. Make the laundry room more functional
60. Send 5 “just because” gifts
61. Organize the linen closet
62. Try making new flavors of lemonade
63. Sew Sophie pajama pants
64. Learn flower arranging
65. Buy a bench for the dining room table
66. Find a vintage globe
67. Buy a fiddle leaf fig tree for the house
68. Paint anything on a canvas
69. Make homemade Larabars
70. Make homemade marshmallows
71. Read four books of the Bible slowly
72. Read an encyclical
73. Create a hand-drawn printable
74. Replace the pillows in the living room
75. Buy a wreath for the front door
76. Try 5 new local restaurants
77. Make 20 recipes from my cookbooks
78. Create a “celebration basket”: paper plates, napkins, candles, etc.
79. Go to the dentist
80. Buy a new winter coat
81. Rotate master bedroom mattress
82. Complete T25 or another Beachbody program
83. Launch a special project with Mark
84. Write 100 blog posts
85. Make strawberry jam with my mom
86. Go to the shooting range with Mark
87. Pay off remaining student loan debt
88. Make my handwriting a font
89. Go strawberry picking
90. Go apple picking
91. Do a pullup unassisted
92. Take the kids to see something in DC
93. Make a distressed wooden sign for my office
94. Milk paint a piece of furniture
95. Embroider one of Sophia’s drawings
96. Plant flowers in the front flower beds
97. Find a new playground
98. Buy milk glass containers to hold art supplies
99. Do something special to celebrate our 10th anniversary
100. See a movie in theaters

{thrive goals} July Review // August Goals



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.  

A few of my favorite blog posts in July:

+ 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?

My July goals, reviewed:

1. Big White Farmhouse: put in the work!  Done.  I’m getting into the routine of putting in an hour or two of work between quiet time and after the kids are in bed.  I try to keep a running to-do list of tasks, so that when I do get time, I’m really accomplishing something instead of just messing around on Facebook. 
2. Finish Sophia’s princess cross-stitch. Gosh, I tried with this one, but still have four princesses to go.  With limited free time, I tend to have to choose between stitching or reading and this month, reading won.  
3. Write the first 9 weeks of lesson plans for the new homeschool year. Done!  So happy to have this finished.
4. Cross one thing off my Life List.  Done.  A little bit of a stretch, but I added five more documentaries toward my goal of 100.  
5. Look out. Done and I’m just getting started.  Last month, I defined this as “Mail that letter.  Send that surprise package.  Tell that person what they mean to me.  My life at home is full, but it shouldn’t consume all of me.  Instead of always looking in, I want to look out and see all those people who love and support me too.”  I sent two little packages (with a thank you note and a small gift) and can’t wait to do more.

And a few new goals for August:

1. Go on a date. // It’s been too long since we’ve gone out just the two of us.  
2. Complete a Week in the Life project with Ali Edwards. // I’m in dire need of something to inspire me creatively and I’m hoping this will help.  I’m planning to share my photos on the blog (no scrapbooking) and they’ll eventually go into a book along with my “Around Here” posts.  
3. Buy a bird feeder.
4. Revamp my blog’s sidebar tabs. // This has been on my to-do list forever.  After four years of blogging, I want to make things a bit more user-friendly around here.
5. Continue work on my office. // I want to focus on a functional table/work space this month.

{thrive goals} June Review // July Goals



June.  What a wonderful month we had and so full of great things: memories with our One Fun Thing a Day activities, my brother’s long-awaited engagement, vacationing with extended family, my cousin’s beautiful wedding…so many examples of what matters most.  With school out for the summer, I’ve also stepped back and started evaluating what’s working and what is not in my life.  Always a work in progress.   


A few of my favorite blog posts in June:
+ The Introduction to the Inspired Reader’s Book Club
+ One Fun Thing a Day: The Plan
+ 20 Things I Love: A Gratitude Journal 
+ Ten on Ten: June 2015
+ One Fun Thing A Day: Update Number One
+ Our Five Favorite Games for Kids




My June goals, reviewed:

1. Finalize curriculum choices for next year and make a plan for purchasing throughout the summer.  Done.  I still have days where I second-guess everything, but I’m going to stick with what I’ve chosen for now and see how it goes.  As for purchasing all of our books, I’ve been checking ebay, waiting for sales and using Ebates when I can.    

2. Get recent family photos printed.  Oops, didn’t complete.  I’m not sure why this is so difficult to do!  

3. Paint my new office.  I had great intentions for this one, but never got around to pick up supplies.  Hopefully, I can make this a priority in July.  I’m ready to have a semi-completed space of my own!  

4. Work hard toward my fitness goals (decrease body fat, increase weight lifting PRs, reduce most sugar consumption).  Done.  My four week results from following LiveFit Trainer are minuscule, but they are something.  I’m down a teeny bit of body fat, have increased my lifting to 15 & 20-pound weights and have eaten relatively clean.  I definitely enjoyed my vacation and all the treats that came with it, but am ready to get back to work.     

5. Slow down and make memories as a family.  Done.  Funny how this simple little goal has encouraged a big conversation about what our future holds and what we desire most in life.  I hope we can continue in the months to come. 

And a few new goals for July:
1.  Big White Farmhouse: put in the work!  // I am passionate about this business and want it to grow and thrive.  A marketing plan, purchasing new product and brainstorming better customer engagement are all on the to-do list.
2. Finish Sophia’s princess cross-stitch. // Bonus points if I can turn it into a pillow for her room too.
3. Write the first 9 weeks of lesson plans for the new homeschool year. // Even if we don’t follow it exactly, our schooling goes much smoother when I take the time to plan it all out.
4. Cross one thing off my Life List.  // This one’s really open-ended…we’ll see what inspires me this month!
5. Look out.  // Mail that letter.  Send that surprise package.  Tell that person what they mean to me.  My life at home is full, but it shouldn’t consume all of me.  Instead of always looking in, I want to look out and see all those people who love and support me too.

{thrive goals} May Review // June Goals





May Goals

1. Have M take his standardized testing and mail back to Seton.
Done.  We received his results last week and he did great!  So glad to have that checked off the list.  On to third grade!

2. Finish my training strong in preparation for my half marathon mid-month.
Done.  I did miss two runs at the end, but still felt like I was as prepared as I could have been.  Recap of my first half-marathon here.


3. Support my blogger friends in a more active way.
Done.  Always a work in progress, but I think I’ve made a solid start.  I wrote about my five favorite ways to really support bloggers in this post.


4. Start up Big White Farmhouse‘s newsletter again.
Didn’t get to this one.  My biggest hang-up was trying to think of something interesting to share!  Instead, I worked a lot behind the scenes: brainstorming a new series for the shop blog, purchasing new products and making a few marketing attempts.  


5. Buy a new welcome mat.
Didn’t complete this one, because I haven’t found one exactly right!  In my head, I’m looking for a simple one that says “hello” or “welcome” in a script/cursive font.  Still on the search!


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June Goals

1. Finalize curriculum choices for next year and make a plan for purchasing throughout the summer.
2. Get recent family photos printed.
3. Paint my new office.
4. Work hard toward my fitness goals (decrease body fat, increase weight lifting PRs, reduce most sugar consumption).
5. Slow down and make memories as a family.

What are your goals for June?

{thrive goals} April Review // May Goals



April Goals

1. Order M’s standardized testing.
Done.  I ordered from Seton and it was very straight-forward.  We’ll be testing (hopefully!) this week. 

2. Sell unneeded school books and clothes on ebay.
This one is half complete.  I listed most of the school books for sale, but still need to tackle the box of clothes.  At this point, I’m debating whether it’s worth the effort or if I should just donate instead.


3. Drop off boxes to our local donation center.
Done!  Feels so good to get those boxes out of the back of the van!


4. Switch out the kids’ cold weather clothing and put in the warm.
Done.  This is one of my least favorite seasonal tasks.  I decided to tackle it randomly one day when I was putting away the kids’ laundry; I just started throwing the winter things in a big pile on the floor!  I went through and got rid of anything that was really stained or had holes and the rest got folded and put in a bin.  So glad that project is completed!  


5. Work on a new daily routine for spring and summer.
This is still a work in progress, but we’ve made a good start.  New expectations for daily chores, less screen time and an emphasis on playing and exercise.  We only have a few more weeks of school left, so I’ll be shifting to a more consistent summer schedule soon.  

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May Goals


1. Have M take his standardized testing and mail back to Seton.
2. Finish my training strong in preparation for my half marathon mid-month.
3. Support my blogger friends in a more active way.
4. Start up Big White Farmhouse’s newsletter again.
5. Buy a new welcome mat.


What goals do you have for May?  

{thrive goals} March Review, April Goals & a Free Printable!

A fourth of the year has already come and gone, can you believe it?  I’m finding it ironic that I chose the word “thrive” for 2015…so far, I feel like I have been anything but thriving!  Perhaps the lesson for myself is redefining what that means in my wonderful, full and messy life?  I’m thankful for new months and new chances to try again.   

 March Goals

1. Read three books.
I ended up finishing two: The Secret Keeper and Where’d You Go, Bernadette.  Both were really good!

2. Workout goal: Complete what you set out to do.  
Done.  I completed the full mileage for every run and didn’t listen to the mind games telling me to quit early.    

3. Try making a bib for TJ.  
I had high hopes for the one, but after realizing that I needed a new needle for my sewing machine, I quickly forgot.  Oops!  

4. Start working on Sophie’s big girl room.  
Done.  I’ve made lots of progress and only have a few odds and ends to finish.  Sophie loves her room and is so proud to show it off.  Now to get her sleeping in there all night! 

5. Complete the lesson plans for the last nine weeks of school.  

Done.  I finished the plans for history and science (complete with activities!) and have a rough outline for math and spelling.  Five more weeks to go!     

April Goals

1. Order M’s standardized testing.
2. Sell unneeded school books and clothes on ebay.
3. Drop off boxes to our local donation center.
4. Switch out the kids’ cold weather clothing and put in the warm.
5. Work on a new daily routine for spring and summer.



What goals do you have planned for April?

{thrive goals} February Review, March Goals & a Free Printable!



Like many people, I really struggled through February.  A lot.  I was in some sort of funk and I just couldn’t seem to find my groove!  I definitely didn’t feel like I was thriving; I was barely above surviving.  Some months are like that, I guess.  Thank goodness for new months and new chances to try again.   

 February Is For Organization Challenge.
I don’t quite know how to categorize this month’s challenge.  On one hand, I failed miserably, falling quickly behind on the assignments and never really able to catch up.  On the other hand, though, the mentality of “What will work best for my family?’ has really filled my thoughts this month.  This has led to an overflowing donation pile and plans to make our spaces work better.  So final verdict: my home may not be totally deep-cleaned and clutter free, but the foundation has been laid and we’re slowly working toward an organized home.

February Goals:
1. Try something new creatively. 
Done.  I tried arm-knitting for the first time and it was really good for me to stretch in a new way.  I loved the knitting process and even though my finished product was a bit um, interesting, I can’t wait to try again.

2. Drink 6+ glasses of water daily. 
This was my biggest struggle this month.  I found that I could easily drink five cups, but that sixth one just rarely happened.  I’m blaming it on that second cup of coffee I nurse all afternoon.  Oh well…baby steps.

3. Floss every day.  Or every other day.  
Even though I flossed pretty sporadically (ie. remembering 3 days in a row, then promptly forgetting the next two), I’m calling this a success.  Do I dare admit this was probably a personal monthly best?     

4. Read two books, one fiction and one non.  
Done.  I read The Boxcar Children #1, Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting, and It Was Me All Along.  A full book report to come soon.  

5. Make a Valentine’s memory with the kids.  
Valentine’s Day was pretty low-key for us this year, but we did surprise the kids with a trip to Sweet Frog and they were so excited.  We looked like crazy people going into an ice cream shop when it was 20 degrees outside, but the kids didn’t seem to mind.  

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March’s Goals:
1. Read three books.
2. Workout goal: Complete what you set out to do.  // No more mind games!  I want to complete each workout as I have planned without psyching myself out.  Obviously, fussy babies or kids who need me may change the plan, but I’m not letting myself be an excuse too.
3. Try making a bib for TJ.  //  I need a reason to take out the sewing machine again and with solid foods in TJ’s future, I think this is perfect time to try a new project.
4. Start working on Sophie’s big girl room.  // The first steps in making our home work better for our family right now.  I’m excited to finally spend some time in there.
5. Complete the lesson plans for the last nine weeks of school.  // Since we started school during the summer, we are way ahead of the public school schedule and only have about nine weeks to go!  I want to end the year strong with fun activities and maybe a field trip.

What five things do you want to accomplish this month?  Share in the comments!

{thrive goals} January Review, February Goals & a Free Printable!



1. Complete a 2014 Blurb book of my Instagram photos.
Done.  We just got the finished product in the mail last week and the kids have already looked through it countless times.  I love hearing all of the memories they have associated with the photos.  A blog post with more info coming soon! 

2. Work on art for the dining room.  
Didn’t get this one finished, but I’ve finally decided what I want to do.  It will be my first wood-working project and I’m both excited and nervous.  Hoping to knock it out in February.     

3. Celebrate Big White Farmhouse‘s first birthday!
Done.  We had two really successful giveaways and some new interest brought to the store.  So excited to get working on new things for year two.

4. Start to run regularly, 3-4 times a week.  Continue to strive for 10,000+ steps daily.
I consider this one mostly a success.  I have been running pretty regularly, but with the introduction of Insanity workouts, I’ve only been on the treadmill twice, maybe three times a week.  Monthly total mileage: 22 miles.  As far as my step count goes, I hit my goal 25 out of 31 days.  Pretty good!  


5. Return to regular meal planning and making healthy dinners.  No eating out!
Done.  We did eat out twice, but they were treats instead of the typical “I’m too tired/lazy to make dinner, so let’s buy something” mentality.  And honestly, after cooking some delicious meals, the takeout just didn’t taste as good as I remembered it.

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1. Try something new creatively. // I’m thinking arm knitting?
2. Drink 6+ glasses of water daily.  // I have been making an effort to drink more water, but I can’t seem to get over four glasses a day!  I’m hoping to change my habits a little to see if I can increase my intake.
3. Floss every day.  Or every other day.  //  This is a lesson on practicing what you preach.  I’m on my kids about oral health, while I let mine slide.  
4. Read two books, one fiction and one non.  // I have so many great choices on my nightstand!
5. Make a Valentine’s memory with the kids.  // I want to make the day special, but in a simple way.  Right now, I’m thinking about doing a craft and maybe surprising them with ice cream…they have been asking to go to Sweet Frog for awhile now.   



What five things do you want to accomplish this month?  Share in the comments!

{thrive goals} My 3-Step Process for Setting Goals (& Free Printable!)

If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know how much I love setting goals.  Today I thought I would describe the process I take when deciding what I want to tackle each month.  I hope it will be helpful, especially if you find goal setting totally overwhelming.  Here we go!

 Step 1: Make statements with a bigger vision in mind.
Goal-setting is only fruitful when it’s getting you closer to your ultimate objectives.  This is the time to start with the big and broad statements.  Here are a handful of mine:

  • I want to make my house feel more like home.
  • I want to be debt free.
  • I want to make memories with my husband and children.
  • I want to help others.
  • I want to know and live my faith.
  • I want to discover what I’m passionate about.
  • I want to give generously.
  • I want to re-visit activities/hobbies I used to enjoy.

Step 2: Ask questions relating to those statements.
Now that I’ve fleshed out my vision for the year, I start asking myself more specific questions related to the statements I made above:

  • What is a recipe I’ve wanted to make?
  • What home project do I want to tackle?
  • What is one activity I want to do with my kids?
  • What organization do I want to give money to/volunteer with?
  • What is one area I can save a little money to put toward our debt?  
  • How can I make time in my day to read the Bible? 

Step 3: Choose a handful of answers from the questions above to make your monthly goal list.
Here is where you finalize your goals for the month!  I like to write it out and put the list somewhere I see it often: in my planner, on the fridge, taped to the wall in my office…anywhere I will see it on a regular basis.  This helps me to stay on track.  I designed this simple worksheet and you are welcome to download it too.  

 For January, here are the five things I hope to accomplish:
1. Complete a 2014 Blurb book of my Instagram photos. 
2. Work on art for the dining room.  Maybe DIY a wooden frame?
3. Celebrate Big White Farmhouse’s first birthday!
4. Start to run regularly, 3-4 times a week.  Continue to strive for 10,000+ steps daily.
5. Return to regular meal planning and making healthy dinners.  No eating out!


What five things do you want to accomplish this month?  Let me know in the comments!

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