Intentional Living

Last week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Finish reading Snow Treasure aloud to the children. Read a few chapters of The Missing Video (reading to Kathrynne), and read at least two chapters of Little House in the Big Woods (reading to Kaitlynn).

2. Continue swimming lessons for all three children.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

Personal Goals

4. Finish reading Building Her House plus one other book.

5. Run at least five times for 45 minutes each; do weight-training program at least four days.

6. Listen to 2 hours of Stop Acting Rich.

7. Sleep for at least 7 hours every night.

8. Start the Choosing Gratitude 30-Day Devotional.

Home Management/DIY Projects

9. Make Homemade Wheat Thins {Once again, it was way too hot to turn on the oven and make these. Maybe I should just wait until Fall to try and tackle this project?}

Business Goals
10. Continue blogging the 4 Weeks of Family Fun series.

This week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Start reading Wilma Rudolph: Olympic Runner aloud to the children. Read a few chapters of The Missing Video (reading to Kathrynne), and read at least two chapters of Little House in the Big Woods (reading to Kaitlynn).

2. Have at least one playdate with friends.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

Personal Goals

4. Finish reading Radical Together plus one other book.

5. Run at least five times for 45 minutes each; do weight-training program at least four days.

6. Finish listening to Stop Acting Rich.

7. Sleep for at least 7 hours every night.

8. Continue on with the Choosing Gratitude 30-Day Devotional.

Home Management/DIY Projects

9. Try at least two new crockpot recipes.

Business Goals

10. Continue blogging the 4 Weeks of Family Fun series.

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!

You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.

I didn’t realize how productive my week was last week until I sat down to cross of my goals! It’s amazing how goal-setting really does inspire me to be more intentional in how I use my time!

Last week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Start reading The Railway Children aloud to all the children, The Missing Video (reading to Kathrynne), and Little House in the Big Woods (reading to Kaitlynn).

2. Go to a baseball game as a family.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

Personal Goals

4. Finish reading The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business to Market Itself plus one fiction book.

5. Run at least five times; start weight-lifting program.

6. Listen to 2 hours of The One-Minute Entrepreneur.

7. Sleep for at least 8 hours every night.

Home Management

8. Clean out my bathroom drawers.

9. Experiment with one new homemade cleaner recipe.

Business Goals

10. Start new 4-week blogging series (more details coming this week!)

This week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Read at least a few chapters of The Railway Children aloud to all the children, read a few chapters of The Missing Video (reading to Kathrynne), and read at least two chapters of Little House in the Big Woods (reading to Kaitlynn).

2. Special outing one-on-one with Kaitlynn for her birthday.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

4. Special family outing for Kaitlynn’s birthday.

Personal Goals

5. Finish reading The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business to Market Itself plus one fiction book.

6. Run at least five times for 45 minutes each; do weight-training program at least four days.

7. Listen to 2 hours of Stop Acting Rich.

8. Sleep for at least 8 hours every night.

Home Management

9. Scrub the master bedroom shower.

Business Goals

10. Continue blogging the 4 Weeks of Family Fun series.

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!

You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.

The last six months have been some of the most-stretching, faith-building months of my entire life. I’ve jumped farther out of my comfort zone than I ever thought I would.

I recorded an audiobook, released a book, spoke in front of thousands of people (cumulatively — not all at once, gratefully!), traveled to the Dominican Republic with Compassion International, appeared on national television, did dozens and dozens of radio interviews, faced some of my greatest lifelong fears, and saw God come through in big and powerful ways on my behalf.

All of these are things I would have never dreamed I was capable of — and I wasn’t, in my own strength. But it has been a truly awesome experience to experience God’s power in my weakness, and His strength shining through a once very shy and insecure person like me. I’m living proof that, with God, all things are possible!

While I’ve loved {almost!} every minute of the last six months and am so thankful for my husband constantly cheerleading me and encouraging me to do things that are far outside my comfort zone, I’m very ready to step back and have a few weeks to just enjoy some quiet, relaxed days at home for the next few weeks.

Last week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Read five chapters each of Quest for Truth:Taken and Thomas A Edison: Young Inventor aloud to the children.

2. Start reading a book individually with each child.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

4. Family trip to Joplin, MO.

Personal Goals

5. Finish reading The Three R’s, Remembering You, and Read for the Heart.

6. Run at least five times.

7. Start listening to The Little Big Things

8. Write and send two handwritten notes.

Home Management

9. Follow my Freezer Cooking plan and blog about it.

Business Goals

10. Prep for my speaking engagement in Joplin, MO on Saturday.

This week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Finish reading Quest for Truth:Taken aloud to the children. Start reading Spy for the Night Riders.

2. Spend at least 30 minutes everyday doing something fun together as a family.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

Personal Goals

4. Finish reading Escape from Saddam. Start The Referral Engine.

5. Run at least five times.

6. Listen to 2 hours of The Little Big Things.

7. Write and send two handwritten notes.

8. Sleep for at least 7.5 hours every night.

Home Management

8. Follow my Freezer Cooking plan and blog about it.

Business Goals

9. Get my “to answer” email file all cleaned out.

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!

You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.

Last week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Read five chapters each of Quest for Truth:Taken and Thomas A Edison: Young Inventor aloud to the children.

2. Write a love note to Jesse.

Personal Goals

3. Finish reading One of Us Must Be Crazy and I’m Pretty Sure It’s You and The Three R’s.

4. Run at least two times.

5. Finish listening to The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers. Start listening to Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality.

Home Management

6. Follow my Spring Cleaning plan & blog about it every weekday.

Business Goals

7. Continue practicing my talks for the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

8. Attend and speak at the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

This week’s goals:

This week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Read five chapters each of Quest for Truth:Taken and Thomas A Edison: Young Inventor aloud to the children.

2. Start one-on-one homeschooling times with each of the children {I’ve been doing this with Kathrynne, but not consistently with Kaitlynn and Silas, so I re-did our daily routine this weekend so that I could start meeting one-one-one with each child every day.}

3. Go on an overnight date with Jesse. {We’re supposed to try camping out — if I don’t chicken out! Ahem. I’m not much of a camper!}

Personal Goals

4. Finish reading The Three R’s. Start another book. {I have a stack that I’m trying to decide from!}

5. Run at least five times.

6. Finish listening to Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality.

7. Write and send two handwritten notes.

Home Management

8. Follow my Spring Cleaning plan & blog about it every weekday.

9. Make Homemade Pop Tarts.

Business Goals

10. Go through my “To Answer” email file (that’s been quite neglected in recent weeks!) and answer all emails.

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!

You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.

Last week was a good week and it was encouraging to realize just how much was accomplished today when I went to update my goals list today. Yay for productivity!

Since we’re traveling to the Cincinnati Conference later this week, my big focus this week is to rest up and prepare for a few whirlwind days of speaking, meeting many people, and running our booth. Now that most of prep work is done for the conference, I’m getting really excited about it — especially since so many of you have written in to say you’ll be attending!

Last week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Read five chapters of Quest for Truth:Taken aloud to the children. Start Thomas A Edison: Young Inventor.

2. Write a love note to Jesse.

3. Meet friends at the park for a playdate.

Personal Goals

4. Finish reading One of Us Must Be Crazy and I’m Pretty Sure It’s You. Start reading The Three R’s.

5. Complete week 10 of the Couch to 5K program.

6. Finish listening to The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers.

Home Management

7. Follow my Spring Cleaning plan & blog about it every weekday.

Business Goals

8. Finish & practice my talks for the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

9. Finish & print handouts for the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

10. Create Powerpoints for my talks for the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

This week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Read five chapters each of Quest for Truth:Taken and Thomas A Edison: Young Inventor aloud to the children.

2. Write a love note to Jesse.

Personal Goals

3. Finish reading One of Us Must Be Crazy and I’m Pretty Sure It’s You and The Three R’s.

4. Run at least two times.

5. Finish listening to The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers. Start listening to Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality.

Home Management

6. Follow my Spring Cleaning plan & blog about it every weekday.

Business Goals

7. Continue practicing my talks for the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

8. Attend and speak at the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!

You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.

Update: For those of you who have written in and asked: I’ll be speaking four times at the conference — twice on Friday and twice on Saturday. My workshop topics will be:

• How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half
• 25 Ways to Significantly Lower Your Grocery Bill Without Clipping Coupons
• I’d Throw in the Towel–If Only I Could Find a Clean One
• Becoming a Work-At-Home Mom Without Losing Your Sanity

You can download a complete conference schedule and description of workshops here.

This week, my main goal is to keep up with our homeschooling, continue to work on my home organization plan, and get all the prep done for the Cincinnati Homeschool Conference next week.

For some reason, I thought the Cincinnati conference was going to be fairly small. Don’t ask me why, I just did. Well, I found out last week that they are expecting something like 10,000-12,000 people! So I have some extra work to do this week in order to prep things for our booth.

And I also want to practice my speeches at least three times each since I found out that I’ll be speaking in front of a lot more people than I was originally envisioning (one of the rooms I’m slated to speak in has a capacity of 1800! Did I mention that public speaking is still way outside my comfort zone?!) and some of these are new talks that I’ve not given before.

It should be an interesting experience — and another great opportunity to step outside my “safe” zone. But truthfully, I’m really excited about it, especially since I’ll get to meet some of you there!

Last week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Read five chapters of Quest for Truth:Taken aloud to the children. Finish reading Mountain Born.

2. Continue our Countdown to Easter study as a family.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

4. Grow Easter Grass with children. {We never got around to this. Oh well! There’s always next year!}

Personal Goals

5. Finish reading One of Us Must Be Crazy and I’m Pretty Sure It’s You. Start reading The Three R’s.

6. Complete weeks 8 & 9 of the Couch to 5K program.

7. Listen to at least one more hour of The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers.

Home Management

8. Follow my Spring Cleaning plan & blog about it every weekday.

Business Goals

9. Host the live webcast on Thursday.

10. Continue working on my talks for the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

This week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Read five chapters of Quest for Truth:Taken aloud to the children. Start Thomas A Edison: Young Inventor.

2. Write a love note to Jesse.

3. Meet friends at the park for a playdate.

Personal Goals

4. Finish reading One of Us Must Be Crazy and I’m Pretty Sure It’s You. Start reading The Three R’s.

5. Complete week 10 of the Couch to 5K program.

6. Finish listening to The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers.

Home Management

7. Follow my Spring Cleaning plan & blog about it every weekday.

Business Goals

8. Finish & practice my talks for the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

9. Finish & print handouts for the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

10. Create Powerpoints for my talks for the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!

You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.

Last week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Read five chapters of Quest for Truth:Taken aloud to the children.

2. Continue our Countdown to Easter study as a family.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

4. Grow Easter Grass with children.

Personal Goals

5. Finish reading One of Us Must Be Crazy and I’m Pretty Sure It’s You and Unshaken: Rising From the Ruins of Haiti’s Hotel Montana.

6. Complete week 8 of the Couch to 5K program.

7. Listen to at least one more hour of The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers.

Home Management

8. Clean out our bathroom drawers.

Business Goals

9. Finalize the details for the live webcast next week.

10. Start working on my talks for the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

This week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Read five chapters of Quest for Truth:Taken aloud to the children. Finish reading Mountain Born.

2. Continue our Countdown to Easter study as a family.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

4. Grow Easter Grass with children.

Personal Goals

5. Finish reading One of Us Must Be Crazy and I’m Pretty Sure It’s You. Start reading The Three R’s.

6. Complete weeks 8 & 9 of the Couch to 5K program.

7. Listen to at least one more hour of The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers.

Home Management

8. Follow my Spring Cleaning plan & blog about it every weekday.

Business Goals

9. Host the live webcast on Thursday.

10. Continue working on my talks for the Midwest Homeschool Convention.

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!

You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.

Since we were gone almost all of last week, I didn’t set any goals, other than just focusing on the people in the Dominican Republic. I did get some reading in and a few other projects done on the plane, but that was about it. And that was okay, because there were more important things happening last week than crossing goals off my list!

But this week, it’s back life and goal-setting!

Goals from two weeks ago:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Finish reading Corrie Ten Boom aloud to the children.

2. Continue our Countdown to Easter study as a family.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

Personal Goals

4. Finish reading Leadership As An Identity.

5. Complete week 7 of the Couch to 5K program.

6. Listen to at least one more hour of The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers.

7. Write two handwritten notes.

Home Management

8. Clean out and organize our bathroom drawers.

9. Finish Andalutheean Knitted Dishcloth.

Business Goals

10. Outline my talk for the MomLife Bootcamp in March.

This week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Finish reading Nate Saint plus read three chapters of Quest for Truth:Taken aloud to the children.

2. Continue our Countdown to Easter study as a family.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

Personal Goals

4. Finish reading One of Us Must Be Crazy and I’m Pretty Sure It’s You, Unshaken: Rising From the Ruins of Haiti’s Hotel Montana, and Dawn of a Thousand Nights.

5. Complete week 8 of the Couch to 5K program.

6. Listen to at least one more hour of The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers.

7. Make a plan for Spring Cleaning our house.

Home Management

8. Clean out and organize all our homeschool stuff.

Business Goals

9. Host a reader meet-up in Texas (we still have a few more spots available if you haven’t RSVP’d yet!).

10. Finish my talk & Powerpoint for the MomLife Bootcamp at the end of this week.

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!

You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.