February Goals

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

January Goals

So I've shared with you my overarching themes/hopes/goals for the year, and now it's time to narrow down and share a little bit of the practical on how I'm going to make those things happen in the day-to-day. I'll be choosing a handful of goals for each month that fall into my bigger hopes. I love having them written down in my PowerSheets (see previous post for details) so that I can refer back and know exactly what is worth spending my time on for the month. From there I have weekly goals and daily goals. 

It's one thing to set some hopes and dreams for the year and it's another things entirely to see those things comes to life in the hustle and bustle of life. We can choose to get swept away in busy or we can intentionally enter each day to make what matters to us actually happen. So, here's where I'm at for January:

There you have it! Some lofty ones to push myself, but some practical easy ones -- all lined up with the core of where God is leading me in this season. 

If you missed my previous two goal-setting posts, here's some insight into my hopes and dreams for 2015 & Part Two: Digging deeper into the heart of my goals.

Linked with Goals with Grace

2015 Goals: Digging Deeper

Setting goals feels like an actual commitment to me. I'm taking a stand and saying "I'm actually going to do this." But here's the thing, there is GRACE and I need it. To the depths of my core I need it. AND I need to know it's okay for my goals to change. I think this is why I love the PowerSheets so darn much. Every 3 months there is a refresh that prompts you to reconsider your goals and refine them further where needed. 

Things can change. So, maybe I'll see you in 3 months with a new pretty graphic of goals. Who knows. Until then...I encourage you to really pursue what God is guiding you in this year. Don't let 2015 be an accident......live on purpose for what matters at the core of who you are. Dig deep enough to figure out what that is and then live in it. 

Here are my overarching goals for 2015 with some deeper thoughts fleshing them out:

1. If you text me in the middle of the day with a prayer request, chances are I'm going to stop right then and pray for you. My pastor calls this "shot-gun prayers," the times when we tell God of an urgent need. I wouldn't necessarily consider this a conversation with God, and that's what I want to grow in this year. I want to spend my mornings praying for more specific things. I'm using Val Marie's Prayer Journals to help me with this. 

2. I am working with a branding consultant to create a new website in 2015! Woohoo! I truly believe this site will be a deeper reflection of who I am and of my values. I want to spend the next year building a story around my brand and creating a genuine community of people around my business. 

3. This is three fold -- pursue community with moms in my church, pursue friendships with moms in the community & neighborhood, and invest time in the Embrace Grace mama's. 

4. I hate the feeling when I look at the calendar for the month and every single weekend is packed full with events. I know this is going to be a hard one since my sister in law AND best friend are both getting married this year. Both these events and everything that comes along with them are going to be such blessings in my life, but as an introvert, I know I need to plan to spend time alone. I want to be intentional about saying no to some things so I can say yes to those two relationships and still have time to rest and create memories as a family. 

5. I have been using nap times as crazy work crunch time lately. I enjoy being able to get so much done during these times but I want to be intentional about scheduling at least one of Reaghan's naps per week where I can just "be." For me this includes reading, painting for fun, cooking for fun, have a friend over, or take a nap myself. 

6. This is so important to me. I haven't had anyone speaking into my life on a consistent basis for a couple of years. Since there are so many places where I am pouring myself into others, I have this achy feeling. Like I have no water left in my canteen and I'm parched with thirst. I'm desperate for an older woman who has weathered the roads of marriage and motherhood before who can speak into my confusing and broken places. 

7. I want to be intentional about reading, listening to and just soaking up knowledge on gospel-centered parenting. I also want to be present with Reaghan as she grows to get to know her specific needs and how we can parent her well through them. Jordan and I both want to lead her to Jesus rather than towards perfectionistic obedience. I've got my eye on some Jessica Thompson books but I'm open to resources and book suggestions!

8. I want to have at least one (hopefully more) meet ups with local bloggers and small business owners in the Denton/Dallas/Ft. Worth area. I'd also love to find other Influence Network members in my area and grab coffee. I have been loving this little online community but I crave that face-to-face interaction with these women and want to move forward with making that happen. 

9. I also want to really dig deep into my church community. I honestly don't know how this will play out, so hopefully #1 will help me in this area ;)

10. I want to be available for my husband. So much of 2014 I found myself saying "no" to my husband. Saying no to being available emotionally, spiritually and physically. Sometimes because I just couldn't physically or mentally muster up the energy to be there for him but sometimes, selfishly as well. I want to be available at the end of my day to spend time with him, spontaneously dance in the kitchen, talk about scripture and pray more together as a couple. Our nights (and weekends) are our only times to really work on our relationship, so I hope to structure my days in such a way where I feel freed up to invest in that, rather than being a tired frazzled mess when he comes home from work :) 

Now, most people choose one word to define their hopes for the year, but as I sat on this for a while I really feel like these three words came to mind:

Pride has been a big ugly gross thing in my life for years. I want to look back on this year and see that God really broke that bond for me in many ways. 

I've noticed that much of discontentment or unhappiness in life is centered around my choice to sit in frustration. When I choose joy when Reaghan throws all her food on the floor, or patience when my husband forgets something important I told him, my perspective changes, and I am so much more calm. This isn't meant to be fake, just simply choose (in God's power) to be patient, kind, unselfish, loving, etc :)

I want to be surrendered. I have a lot of plans for the next 6 months specifically, and I want all those plans to be humbly from God as well as constantly sitting in an open hand. 

What are your word(s) for the year? I've loved reading about this on Instagram and other blogs. Cheering you on as we keep each other accountable! 

2015 Hopes + Dreams

Firstly, let me just say that I have NEVER been a goal setting type of person. I have literally had countless conversations with people where I've actually bashed making resolutions and goals. HA-HA.

Well, I'm still weirdly afraid of January 1st fever and the ridiculous need to make resolutions that you know..you KNOW.. are going to be out the door come March. Even when we have the best of intentions and desire to do the best of things with our year, month, day...life just gets busy and we either forget, move that thing down the priority list, or struggle in it and therefore give up altogether because we feel so bad that we "failed." 

That's not how I want to spend the first weeks of my year and certainly not what I want to be feeling on December 31st of 2015.

Each year brings such an opportunity for new life. New wisdom and new opportunities. So does every other day of the year, but something about starting a new year just feels like a clean and fresh slate. 

2014 threw me for a loop. I left campus ministry in a flash, had a brand new baby, and was staying home daily all alone (a very new thing for me). It started off pretty depressing to be honest. I had a lot of transitioning into this new lifestyle as a mom. But you know what happened? I was met by God in the most amazing way. In some of my biggest times of need, in the middle of the night feeding Reaghan or at the end of my rope or lonely as all get out, HE was there for me. He guided me towards some creative passions I haven't been able to explore for quite some time because I haven't had time. And He did something beautiful in that.

Now I'm on the cusp of what feels really exciting and scary. I'm stepping out into the brand new (to me) world of creative entrepreneurship and it's really kind of crazy. I daily feel like I have no clue what the heck is going on while simultaneously feeling a kick of adrenaline in my gut.  

Although goal setting still freaks me out (I may have been incredibly nauseous setting the below goals this past week) I truly deeply believe in the power of intentional living. The reality that we can live on purpose and not by accident (a Lara-ism I've come to really enjoy) and that if we sit down to think, pray and dream about making the things that matter most to us happen, that they actually CAN happen if the Lord allows. 

So, here are 10 things I'm hoping for and dreaming about in 2015. Just a little snapshot of what I hope this year will hold for me + my family. 

PS: I've used Lara Casey's PowerSheets to help me get to this list...I highly recommend them. 

Alright, this is getting long and I like short posts...so I'll come back another day and share a little deeper into each goal and what they mean to me. 

Have some goals of your own? Share a link to your blog/instagram/whatever below and I'd love to cheer you on! 

Goals with Grace // September

A new month! Hooray! I mentioned earlier this week that I'm excited to begin this new season, both in life and literally, with the weather. It'll be great to not be forced into a 30 minute window of time in the early morning for a walk. The temps will get cooler (I hope!) and some fun and exciting things are around the corner.... 

I want to look back at August to see how I did. Again, I love this link-up because it's not about accomplishing every little thing on my list, though I do make small lists ;) Rather, we give ourselves grace. 

August Goals //

1. Finish reading "Nourished Baby" and "Will Write for Food"

Yes and no! I finished "Nourished Baby" and am implementing the things I learned into Reaghan's diet as we continue to introduce new foods to her. I haven't finished "Will Write for Food" mainly because it's somewhat of a workbook for me, and I'm working through it slowly. Each chapter is so heavy with lots to think about, so I'm biting off small bits, and chewing on it for a while :)
2. Replace all our household cleaners with natural alternatives 

Yes! So excited about this one. I replaced all our household cleaners with safe, non-toxic versions. I can barely handle walking down the cleaning product aisle at the grocery store anymore, so this was a huge YAY in my book. 
3. Start Reaghan's 1st birthday party crafts 

Yes! It's a slow process but I'm really excited about how everything is coming along. Gold and sparkly everywhere! 
4. Take more social media free weekends 

Uh...no. Mainly I just forgot about this one. Though I will say that it is more natural for me to pull away from social media on the weekends. It's not a true "I'm not opening up these apps on my phone" weekend, and I'm okay with that for now. The point of this being that I want to focus my attention on family, friends, rest and creating. I think those things are happening.

1. Order blog business cards //

So weird for me since I'm new at blogging, but definitely needed. My friend Jenn and I are going to The Influence Conference at the end of the month and will be meeting lots of new people!

2. More crafties for Rae's party //
You'll just have to wait until November to see what I'm up to!

3. Find new ways to live a slower paced and more intentional life // 

This isn't anything new for Jordan and I. It's been on the radar for years and I'm happy with where we've come on that journey. BUT we still have a ways to go, fighting against the current of our culture and our own internal biases. While I'm at it, I want to finish reading "Notes from a Blue Bike." I'm really loving it. Get yourself a copy and read it, I promise you'll be blessed. 

4. Blog 3 times a week //

As opposed to 5x a week, see goal #3. 

And now some good reads from August in case you missed it!

Slow Food

DALS Cookbook Review

Sweet & Citrus Baked Acorn Squash [recipe]

Dad's Spaghetti Sauce [recipe]

Let's Connect!

instagram | facebook | bloglovin'

Goals With Grace // August

Hello August! I've got to admit, this month kind of snuck up on me. It's brutally hot here in Texas and vacations are over, so it feels like summer is dwindling to a close. I am excited about some new things ahead, like a new group of staff I'm coaching, more opportunities to write, new ministries in my church and some exciting things coming in September and October! I love the concept of goals with grace because although posting them here definitely adds a level of accountability for me, I also don't want to hold myself under the microscope. Let's look back at July... 

Finish Reaghan's alphabet letters // Check! They look super cute hung up on her wall. She's played with them a bit, but I'm really excited about using them to teach her the alphabet in a few more months. 
Road trip with an infant // Praise God, not only did we survive our trip, like I hoped we would, but Reaghan exceeded our expectations! She was practically a celebrity at every rest stop and we only had to stop once because of a crying spell. Check out my ten tips for road trips with little ones to read what worked for us!
Have more friends in our home // Sort of, but not as much as I would have liked. Don't worry, we're making up for it this month and I'm pumped about sharing a meal with some friends again. My heart is happy!
Finish reading "Glimpses of Grace" // No, and to be honest I think this one is going on hold for a while. I've got two books I really want to dig into and finish + some other reading online I want to dive into as Reaghan gets older and we start implementing some light discipline. Which leads me to my August goals. 

1. Finish reading "Nourished Baby" and "Will Write for Food" //
I realized after a couple months that I never actually finished the "Nourished Baby" e-book I was reading to help shape my plan for Reaghan's introduction to the world of "real" food. If you have a little one that is starting solids soon or one who has already started but you want more information on nourishing foods for them, I highly recommend this e-book! 
Y'all also know that I've started "Will Write for Food" and so far I'm loving it! It's brutally honest which I desperately need. This book is helping me focus in on the heart of what fires me up about food writing and sharing recipes. I'm already seeing the fruit from it and I can't wait to share in the coming months. 

2. Replace all our household cleaners with natural alternatives // 
I've become increasingly convinced that the products in our home are contributing to some of our ongoing health concerns. It's no wonder with the amount of scary chemicals found in these products that we breathe in and put on our skin. We are striving to eat as many whole foods as possible and I think the same should go for what we put on our bodies and in our homes. With Reaghan getting more curious and gaining mobility, I want to protect her by ridding our home of these toxins. 

3. Start Reaghan's 1st birthday party crafts // 
I can't believe I'm even typing this!! This year is seriously flying by. True to form, I already have Rae's party planned out. I hope to get started on these crafts this month so I can pace myself! Up first? A homemade teepee fort as our gift to her :)

4. Take more social media free weekends //
For the majority of last weekend I stepped away from social media. It was so refreshing to not be on my phone as much and just enjoy the life around me. I've also been convinced that my productivity would go way up if I just got off social media! I have a lot of dreams right now for the future, and I want to be focused on making them happen. 


What are your August goals?

Linked with The Tiny Twig's Goals With Grace


For more, follow me over on bloglovin' 

July Goals

Every month I write out a few goals/desires on the side column of my planner's monthly view. It helps me to know where we are going as a family as well as personally as I plan to make each week count. This month I'm linking up with The Tiny Twig to share my goals with you!

1. Finish Reaghan's alphabet letters // I've been working on some cloth alphabet letters for Reaghan's room for a while now. They are taking over my kitchen currently and I've had enough of the clutter! It's my mission to get these done this month. 


2. Road trip with an infant // Or rather, make it to our destination and back alive. I don't think it'll be that bad, but I also know that I have a tendency to think things will be great and then they completely come burning to the ground. So. Lots of prayer right here. 


3. Have more friends in our home // This is something we did really well in May, and not so much in June. I love hosting friends in our home, both old and new. It brings me life and joy. I want to be more intentional about investing in friends this way. 


4. Finish reading "Glimpses of Grace" // A friend gave me this book and it has been so good for my soul. It's all about finding the grace that God lavishes on us throughout the ins and outs of mundane every day motherhood. I started it about 3 or 4 months ago.... and it's been sitting on my bedside table ever since. 

What are your goals for the month? 

“July Goals” is part of a blog relaunch series entitled 
"31 Days of Responding to Him" 

Follow along here