The HEAV conference last week was fantastic!
There were so many details that came together, so many answers to prayer, and so many exciting things that happened in those few short days and the whole thing was a wonderful experience. I am so thankful to those of you who prayed for me, who took time to chat and share with me at the conference, and for those of you who made sacrifices to come to my workshops.
I was especially excited that I thoroughly enjoyed speaking five times, even if it was a little exhausting! It is truly God who is helping this once-very-shy-and- scared-to-death-of-public-speaking girl to actually feel at ease and confident in front of a room full of people!
This week, it’s back to regular life again — and there’s nothing I love more than quiet, slow-paced days at home with my children!
Last week’s six goals:
Family/Mothering Goals
1. Pick out new books to start reading aloud to the girls individually, as well as to everyone.
2. Write a love note to Jesse.
Personal Goals
3. Finish reading The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business to Market Itself
Without a Word: How a Boy’s Unspoken Love Changed Everything
4. Sleep for at least 7.5 hours every night.
Business Goals
5. Finish tweaking workshops and powerpoints for Virginia Homeschool Conference.
6. Travel to Virginia Homeschool Conference with Jesse and Kathrynne for speaking engagement.
And this week’s six 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
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!)
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.
So glad that you are back! I’m really looking forward to another of your fun challenges 🙂
You are truly inspiring with your goals! I just wanted to tell you that 🙂
What kind of weight lifting program are you doing? It is one of my goals to start one soon too!
My husband helped me to modify a cardio & weight-lifting plan based upon what he’s done with his trainer. I’m going to try it for 4-6 weeks to see how it goes!
You have my utmost respect, Crystal! I could NEVER, EVER, do the things you do….have a blog, write a book, and especially speak in public! I am such an introvert and total wall flower just the thought of speaking up to order a meal at a restaurant makes me nauseated! It’s so amazing how we’re all ” fearfully and wonderfully made”, yet all so very, very different. 🙂
Let me tell you, if I can speak in public, anyone can. I used to get nervous just going to church and being up in front of even a very small crowd would make be physically ill for weeks!
As I’ve slowly pushed myself out of my comfort zone (thanks to my husband’s encouragement and God’s immense grace!), I’ve been amazed at how my comfort zone moves with me. It’s been a slow process, but, if God is calling you to something, I encourage you to step out and try a few new things — even if they seem really hard. It’s been so exciting to see God grow me and stretch me beyond what I would have ever thought I would be capable of!
Such encouraging words.
I’ll tell you though, I would have never believed or guessed that you were ever shy or became nervous when it came to public speaking. I saw the interview that you did on the 700 Club and you seemed as cool as a cucumber. 🙂 Great interview, by the way.
You did P90X?! You must be in great shape. I get tired just looking at it. 🙂 However, I’d love to be able to tackle such a challenging excercise routine, some day. For now, I’m sticking w/ a more “remedial program”. 🙂 I am finding that I’m slowly gaining strength and stamina with what I’m currently doing, which is a plus.
Once again, thanks for being so encouraging and relating to what others have to share.
God Bless.
What you didn’t see was me being sick at my stomach for the three weeks prior to the interview (I’d never done TV before and it scared me to death!). Nor did you see me in the green room literally shaking like a leaf a few minutes before and calling my husband begging him to pray for me because I had no idea how on earth I was going to be able to say anything coherent because I was so nervous!
I knew it was God who infused me with peace and confidence right as I went onto the set. And it was an awesome thing to know that, when I stepped out in obedience to Him to do the interview — even though it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life — He gave me the strength and grace and courage right when I needed it. Not a moment too soon, not a moment too late.
Truly, I’m learning that “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has to set a goal to get 8 hours of sleep. 🙂
Thanks for recommending “In The Presence Of My Enemies” – one of my “goals” is to read a testimony each week. That is a powerful book, and a good reminder to hide God’s Word in my heart – I can’t imagine not having access to the scriptures for a year.
Still working on breaking things into bite-sized pieces – I tend to cram in big “bites”. 🙂 Working on marketing my first eBook “Riding the Train” and editing my second eBook “Quitting the Gym” while keeping up with everyday life. 🙂
I wish I could have an 8 hours of sleep goal, but my sweet baby thinks otherwise! 🙂 I’d be fine with the little sleep if I could just manage to accomplish some of my other weekly goals!
It’s so weird for me to be at a season of life when I can sleep all night without interruption — after years of interrupted sleep. It *does* happen someday, I promise. 🙂
Have you tried napping when your baby is asleep or weekend naps (if your husband is home on the weekends)?
Yes, I do nap sometimes with him, but that usually results in accomplishing my other goals. Bittersweet! Sometimes I have to remind myself that my messy house will still be here tomorrow, but my baby will not be small long!
I’m so glad the conference went well and I hope you enjoyed a tiny piece of Virginia! We’re going to have to come up with some kind of Conference out here in the Shenandoah Valley so you can come and REALLY see Virginia! 😉
My main two goals this week are healing my back and continuing to teach my son out of his reading primer.
Oh wow – super excited to hear that you’re going to start lifting weights. I started doing that several months ago and I LOOOVE it!!!
I did P90X awhile back and loved the weight-training part of it, so I’m excited to get back into it!
I would be happy if I could manage 6 hours of sleep a night; 8 hours seems like a dream. 🙂
Do you struggle with insomnia or just a busy schedule?
Busy schedule; there’s just so much I have to get done every day. I really suck with time management too.
Do you *have* to do everything you are doing? If someone were going to pay you $10,000 for each thing you cut off your list for six months, could you come up with a few things to cut — at least for a short while?
I could pay somebody else to do everything for $10k. 😉
Really though, I’m responsible for so much:
– all housework and pretty much cleaning up after my husband and daughter
– managing all the finances, paying bills, budgeting, retirement accounts, investments
– all errands and shopping
– paperwork and taxes
– everything to do with our daughter and school stuff too
Plus I’m still trying to lose more weight, so I’m spending an hour or more on cardio 5 days a week. I have 2 blogs, but couldn’t give them up since they’re something I really enjoy. I’m also working on starting 3 or 4 other blogs sometime this year.
I could cut out some of my fun stuff, like blogging and exercise—but that would just suck. Maybe I need to focus on doing things faster…
If you already are feeling like you have too much on your plate, I’d strongly reconsider adding more blogs. Maybe combine them all into one? I had multiple blogs at one time and it was *way too much work*.
Can your husband/daughter help out with some of the other stuff? I’d encourage you to have a family meeting and let them know how overwhelmed you are with all you have on your plate and see if you can help balance the load more. Maybe they don’t know and just assume you want to be doing everything you’re doing?
If you stopped doing some of the things, would someone else pick up the slack or would it be earth-shattering if it didn’t get done?
Thank you for your inspiring goals list. I always make a daily Goals/to-do list, but I have never made a weekly “become a better person” goals list. I have made mine, and I think it will be my first post back into the blogging world. (Due to a computer virus, I have been on hiatus.) Thank you again for your inspiration!!!
I’ve been reading over at goodmorninggirls.org, they’ve been going through Proverbs 31. Today they were covering Proverbs 31:17, She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.”
I’m sure you totally have a workout planned but I thought this was a neat little quick arm workout that they shared. http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/2012/06/guest-post-a-3117-arm-workout/
We just went to a AA baseball game as a family Sunday! It was a lot of fun and the kids were able to get in free. I even posted about how frugal baseball games can be on my blog with a video that my husband helped me make. I hope you guys have a great time:)
I just wanted to say that it was really nice to meet you at the homeschool conference 🙂 I heard you speak, and I still came out learning something new. Thank you for everything that you do 🙂
My main goal for the week is to actually write out my goals this week! After reading your blog for many months now, I’m inspired to actually start writing things down (goals especially!) instead of just keeping them floating around in my head! Wish me luck!!
We’re heading to Ireland tomorrow, so my one goal is to enjoy it! I’ll still be checking in and can’t wait to read about the next challenge!
Ireland — how fun! Soak it up for me, okay? It’s a dream of mine to one day visit there!
Oh, I will. All of my in-laws live there, so it will be a great visit. Definitely put Ireland on your vacation to-do list!
So glad the conference went so well. I’m with the others, I don’t think I’d be able to speak in public. Kudos to you for stepping up and allowing God to work in you!
My son Andrew LOVED the Railway Children. 🙂
I enjoyed meeting you at the HEAV conference. You are a wonderful speaker. My goal this week is to streamline my time. I still “fly by the seat of my pants” and don’t seem to get too much accomplished as I reflect back on my day.
It was good to meet you, too!
I really need to get some more sleep this week also. I have been staying up to late and then dragging during the day. I am glad you had a good time at the conference and everything went well.
I may have to read the Railway Children with my son we never got around to reading the Railway Children when my daughter was younger but she did love the Little House series.
Goal this week? Have a baby.
Goal next week? Move to a new home.
Should be interesting! 🙂
Just prayed for you, that God would provide the stamina and focus needed over the next couple weeks, as well as a healthy delivery. You will have good stories to tell someday about this period of your life 🙂
Quiet slow paced days at home with children??? How does one do that? With 3 kids under 5, my days at home are anything but quiet and slow paced!
We’re going to a baseball game this week too! I got a stomach bug right after a sinus infection so I’m looking forward to something normal.
Here’s my (very low key) goals for the week:
http://www.momscupofambition.com/2012/06/this-weeks-goals.html
Crystal it was a pleasure to listen to you speak at HEAV….I was in the Advanced Coupon session. I have to tell you that I am 6 months pregnant and my baby LOVED hearing your voice because it moved non stop during the entire hour!lol Wish I could have met you but maybe next year!
My goal this week is to finish reading “The Excellent Wife” by Martha Peace and then put it into practice:)
Oh, it would have been fun to meet you, too! And that sounds like a fantastic goal!
My goal is to get back to normal routine! In the past month “life” happened and I haven’t gotten fully back into the swing of things yet…and it’s mostly because I’ve been skipping/forgetting my Bible and “plan my day” time! What a difference that makes! Today was great, and I have two more days off before I work Friday-Sunday (oh the joys of being a nurse!).
I remember being so blessed by your words at the first Relevant conference, but also recognizing your nervousness. I am so glad you have stayed faithful to share your story so that many more can be blessed by it! This week’s goals went well, but this week is already going even better. http://skipperclan.com/2012/06/10/3-in-30-week-23-update/
Thanks for listing your goals every week. It has inspired me (I need to better focus on mine, but I am working on it). Here is the link to my weekly list:
http://simplythingsfamily.blogspot.com/2012/06/this-weeks-goals.html
I’m glad everything went so well at the conference. It was really nice to meet you. Thanks for letting us visit with you for a little bit! 🙂
It was SO good to meet you! Thank you for the chocolate and Starbucks gift card. Neither one of them ended up making it all the way home and was a very fun treat for our travel day back on Sunday. THANK YOU!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! It was just a little THANK YOU for how you encourage me! Have a blessed week Crystal! 🙂
Sounds like some great goals for this week! I’m having fun plugging away at mine, too.
Someday you need to come to Canada so that I can meet you, too! 🙂 So glad your speaking sessions went so well!
BTW, here is the link for my goals this week: http://nicoleslifeafter20.blogspot.ca/2012/06/gifts-and-goals-for-week_13.html
I am finally getting to my goals for the week. http://notafraidofthesnow.blogspot.com/2012/06/goals-week-of-613.html
Very thankful for the opportunity to meet you at the conference Crystal, and so glad to hear that all your workshops went well!
It was good to meet you! And I hope you end up finding a way to make your big dream a reality! Sounds like such a great idea!
Thanks for the encouragement! I need to step up my goal-setting game 🙂
Thanks for posting your goals, I always enjoy reading them. I am excited to see the next 4 week series!