Welcome to my weekly post where we take a break from money-related posts and I share about what I’m loving right now and give you a little peek into our life from the past week.
My friend, Bekah, made this for me as a reminder of my word of the year. Oh and I just have to say, that I am loving this word choice. It is already impacting me in big ways!
We rang in the new year with a bang… or more like, we stayed home and watched the ball drop on TV and made S’mores. Yes, we really know how to party! 😉
Quill has been becoming more and more accustomed to us and seems to enjoy interacting with us more and more. It’s been fun for him to start acting like he enjoys being held! (Hedgehogs typically take a long time to warm up to people.)
One of my big hopes for 2018 was that I would get brave enough to stop waiting for the invitations, and start being the initiator.
Initiation is way out of my comfort zone and there are a lot of fears involved for me. But I’m tired of sitting on the sidelines of community and missing out on beautiful relationships. I’m ready to start reaching out, initiating, and opening the door of my heart and home more — despite the awkwardness and fear that is there for me.
With this in mind, I set the goal of exercising hospitality at least once per week. This might mean inviting a friend out for coffee, offering to host someone, offering to babysit a friends’ kids, having a family over for dinner, opening our home to host an event. Just setting this goal has made me intentionally look for opportunities to practice hospitality… and I’ve discovered they are ALL around me!
(Note: I didn’t put this on my goal list, because I don’t want anyone to feel like they are a to do that I am checking off my list — it’s more that I want to have a hospitality mindset and I want to SLOW down more to make more time to savor relationships. So making it a once-a-week goal makes me more focused on making it happen and following through with it.)
Psst! If you live in the Nashville area and are craving intentional relationships with other women, be sure to read this post.
Kathrynne started at her new school on Wednesday. She was really nervous about starting over again, not really knowing anyone, and not knowing what it was going to be like. But she faced her fears and it’s turned out to already seem like it’s going to be a great change for her. We’re so grateful!
What I Read This Past Week
Since I’ll be sharing 15 Books I Want to Read Aloud to my kids as my book post tomorrow, I wanted to share what books I’ve been reading recently in today’s post (I’ll usually share what I’ve been reading in Monday’s posts in 2018).
I’m finishing up reading The Story of the World and we’re also reading The Journey Back (note: this one has some language that I’m editing out as I read it aloud). We’ve been reading for just 10 minutes or so at dinner and that’s been a fun touchpoint in our day together.
I read Destination Simple and The Lucky Few this week. Destination Simple was a very quick read and a good reminder of ways to slow down and simplify. It was perfect for my Year of Slow.
The Lucky Few was a book that the publisher sent to me back in March when it was released. It sat on my shelf untouched since then and I almost got rid of it since I didn’t know anything about the authors.
I’m SO glad that I decided to add it to my list of 44 Books I Plan to Read This Year because it was such a heart-warming read. If you’ve ever considered adoption, if you’ve struggled with infertility, or if you’ve been called to a road that you would have never planned or really thought you wanted, I think this book’s story will encourage you.
What I Watched This Past Week
We didn’t watch any movies or TV shows this past week, but we did watch the Facebook live of the live implosion of the Lifeway building in downtown Nashville. It was kind of crazy to see — especially since I’ve been in that building multiple times!
We also watched a LOT of ice skating because the U.S. Figure Skating Championships were being held and they were choosing the 2018 Olympic figure skaters to represent the U.S. after the championships. We got to go to the Figure Skating Championships last year, so that made it even more fun to watch this year. I cannot WAIT for the Olympics!!!
2018 Goals Update
Personal Goals
1. Read 100 non-self-help books that will build me up/encourage me/inspire me/recharge me. (Fiction/story-driven/biographies/inspirational living books/devotionals.) See the list of 44 books I plan to read this year.
**Progress: 2 books read so far
2. Read through the entire Bible.
**Progress: I’m using the Robert Murray M’Cheyne plan and am on Day 7 — yay!
3. Write one handwritten note to someone every week.
**Progress: 2 notes written this past week
4. Run 500 miles.
**Progress: 10.5 miles run so far
Marriage Goal
5. Go on an overnight trip with Jesse without the kids.
Family Goals
6. Read 10 books aloud with the kids.
7. Take the kids to South Africa.
8. Go on a family road trip.
Financial Goals
9. Save up to pay cash to finish off an office for me and workout room for Jesse and me in the basement in our new house.
10. Replenish our Emergency Fund (we dipped into it to replace my car when it got totaled because of the carpet beetle infestation.)
Business Goals
11. Increase our gross income from the business by 8%.
12. Launch 5 new courses.
**Progress: 4 Weeks to a More Productive Life launched this past week!
Links You Should Check Out
- My interview on the The Simply Joyful Podcast aired this week. I talked about why you shouldn’t make New Year’s resolutions, intentional living, the easiest ways to save on your grocery bill, my Year of Rest, and more. Listen in here.
- Want to find out my tips and tricks for earning free gifts cards and Christmas gifts? I share 10 easy ways to earn free Christmas gifts in this post.
- I posted 44 Books I Plan to Read This Year, in case you are interested. I so much fun putting together this list!
- Struggling with goal-setting? Here’s my 5-Step Plan for Setting Great Goals as a Blogger.
Kristi Clover says
Thanks so much for sharing about your episode on the podcast! Everyone has just loved it! It was great catching up with you…even if it was with everyone listening in. 🙂
Bobbie says
Hi crystal- I’ve been a follower for years and years and just wanted to give you some feedback, if that’s okay. I really enjoy posts like these, grocery shopping, what you’re reading, meal plans, tips for frugal living, encouragement or recipe posts, etc. But I will say that I have visited less and less this year because I don’t like having to scroll through all the shopping deal posts. It would be nice if maybe you cut these deal posts to things that are actually really good deals, or maybe unique products we won’t see posted on every other blog I read. Real life tips or processes, maybe linked back to a product on sale, would be fine. But scrolling through the pop tarts and the granola bar sales does not interest me, most of the time because those deals aren’t always that great anyway.
Anyway, I love your blog, and I love the posts with substantive content, and would be willing to see less posts with more personal or helpful content. I will always be a faithful reader, though! Thanks for everything you do!
Crystal Paine says
Thanks for the feedback. Do you know you can click on the “No Deals” tab at the top and then you don’t have to scroll at all? 🙂 That will just show you the content pieces.
We’ve had SO many people who love that we include a lot more deals now that we plan to keep them, but we have the No Deals option for people who just want to see the content pieces. I hope that helps!
Bobbie Armstrong says
Thank you, I did not know that! I will definitely use it!
Maria says
Thank you for adding back the personal side of the blog. ?
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for your encouragement!
Krystal@SimpleFinanceMom says
I am so excited for the winter okympics to start!! They were my favorite to watch growing up. And just like you, I want to be more intentional with people and to grow in my friendships.
Susan says
What on earth are carpet beetles???
Crystal Paine says
Google them! Or don’t! They are horrible — especially if you get an infestation that you can’t get rid of.
Kristi Clover says
I don’t think I want to know. Not fun, I’m sure!
Emily C says
I hear you on hospitality! I had other people in my home just three times the entirety of last year (my husband’s birthday, one playdate, and a girls craft night), so I set a goal to invite others in just once a month. We already have a date set and a few couples to come over. Now I just need to get my anxiety in check ha! Hopefully it will get easier
Crystal Paine says
I love your goal of once per month! Way to go!
Luba @ Healthy with Luba says
Crystal, that is some vulnerable accountability with your goals! I love having a Bible reading plan.
Hospitality can be easy to push to the side in our busy lives. Your friends are blessed that you are intentionally connecting with them.
Thank you for being an inspiration to me with your goal setting. I have not finalized mine and will do so soon.
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for your encouragement!
Jenny says
I’m doing the same read through the Bible on a year plan!! I’m loving the new She reads Truth Bible!
Crystal Paine says
Yes! Me, too!