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Friends!!! I have been MIA here because I've been working hard to get my new site and blog up and running for you. I can not wait until you see it. I think it is a much more purposeful expression of this online space and I hope it blesses you a million times more than it does me!
Today is LAUNCH DAY over at www.natashared.com! Click over to read our new blog and join the community already forming of women who want to live a slower life around the table with the ones we love.
This blog will stay active but I will no longer be posting here. If you want to keep reading and stay connected with what I'm up to (hint: a little shop is opening it's doors soon! ;)) then head over to the new site and sign up for our newsletter!
Join me there!
I cannot believe it's February. Jordan and I walked around Barnes & Noble yesterday and I saw a big bucket of Christmas stuff on clearance. I thought "really?! Christmas was sooo long ago, that is so weird!" then quickly realized it was only the last day of January. Wow.
I'm feeling a little in between the lines right now regarding my goals. I accomplished what felt like a lot this month, in a span of time that felt so short. At the same time, my self doubt creeps in and tells me I'm totally behind. I'm working on speaking truth into that :)
Mapping out and deciding before hand what mattered most to me and then laying out actionable steps to get me there totally freed me up to just DO what I had set out to do from the beginning, which felt so good.
So, let's review January's goals:
Email a friend about discipleship Yes! I'm excited to get to know her more and see where this leads.
Schedule haircut It wasn't 6 months coming or anything...
Clean out garage I'm thinking this is either a husband only job or a long Saturday job for the both of us. We had a lot going on inside our garage with wedding projects for a friend and then selling my car, so it's been occupied. Onto February's list it goes.
Shoot 10-15 recipes for the book I seriously cannot believe that I got 13 recipes shot for the book. Car-az-ay. I thought this was going to be the biggest most monumental task with a toddler but in all reality it made our days at home so much easier. Cooking your dinner at noon is the best. Or at the very least it beats trying to make dinner during witching hour.
Plan Jan. + Feb. date nights with Jordan Y'all, we had the most fabulous date last month. It wasn't fancy at all. In fact, it was at an over crowded restaurant (not my scene) with ice cream afterwards. The special part was that I feel like we really moved forward on some hard things and I left feeling secure in that.
This month we're planning to go on a "progressive dinner" around our city! There are tons of new restaurants down town I can't wait to try.
Solidify vendors for shop Yes! And so excited to begin working with them. With my crazy question asking self, they are already so helpful! I'm so grateful this part is over. Let's just say searching online for things is my #1 energy drainer. I can't wait to order all new business cards and more for the shop! Eek!!
Find parenting resources for Feb. I'm feeling super pressured to read a book for some reason. Books feel like the most obvious choice here, but right now I don't have time to add another book to my list. I get a little crazy when I have too many unfinished :)
I did download podcasts including: God Centered Mom, Inspired to Action (fave!!!!), Focus on the Family and Nancy Lee DeMoss. I think that will give me plenty of mama meat to chew on for a while.
Now, this month's goals (a.k.a intentional things I'm going to make happen):
Big or small, what are you hoping to see happen this month?
Linked with
Goals with Grace
I mentioned a couple posts back that I am building a new brand focusing on my passion for helping people get into their kitchens and use it as a place to bless others. My heart and mind can't stop dreaming of all the small and big ways I can work to make this happen for people.
I have been working with Brigette Turner on my branding and can I just say, I have been moved to tears, squeals, and nerve-induced stomach aches because of her ability to just GET ME and the heart of my brand. I cannot wait to show you some sneak peaks soon...so be sure to follow me over on Instagram for all the details.
It has been so incredibly important that I know for sure that God cares about the stuff that my brand and business is about. I have all these dreamy thoughts that set my heart on fire, but I had a moment of uncertainty recently where I really wondered -- does God even care? Does He care about getting food on people's tables in a meaningful and joyful way? Does He concern Himself with the mom who is struggling for inspiration in the kitchen? Does He care about a simpler and more relationship-filled life? What I found in the Bible has been sooo encouraging and affirming. Here's a small snapshot:
* God is a creator, and has given me creativity as He designed me in His image (this was really important for me to understand, and root in my heart. Watch Tim Keller for more)
* He cares about inviting strangers into our homes:
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in" (Matthew 25:35)
* He cares about encouraging others (2 Cor. 7:13)
* He cares about refreshing company (Romans 15:32, 1 Cor. 16:18)
* Investing in relationships is more significant to Jesus than the preparations that go into hospitality (Luke 10:38-42)
* God intended food to be enjoyed freely, but because of the brokenness of this world, we must work hard for it.
* Food is a provision from the Lord that brings joy (Acts 14:17)
* Food does not bring us near to God (1 Cor. 8:8)
* All of this Romans 12:9-13
* Jesus eats with the lowly and outcast (Matthew 9:9-13)
* Jesus is radically welcoming -- He cared most about the hurting, weak, children, and the sick.
* In the end there will be a marriage supper, a feast with all God's people rejoicing around the table.
* "On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines." (Isaiah 25:6 )
