{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.