We’re back from our annual extended family week-long trip to Arkansas and Bull Shoals Lake last week (you can see a few pictures over on my Instagram account).
It rained most of the week, we lost electricity one of the days, and the internet barely worked a few hours per day and the rest of the time it wouldn’t work at all — so it was a relaxing, unplugged week. We went to bed early, played games, talked, read, sat and watched the rain, enjoyed the beautiful scenery, and got in some time in the boat/water-skiing when it wasn’t raining.
The highlight of the trip for me: seeing Kathrynne (8) punch her fears in the face & get up on her very first try at water-skiing!
A few of you have written in to say you’ve really missed my personal posts around here. I’ve missed them, too. 🙂
I scaled way back from my regular blogging this summer so I could invest my extra time and energy on making memories with my family. We had a great summer, albeit anything but quiet (I believe there was only one day the entire summer long that I stayed home all day!).
We’re beginning our new fall homeschool schedule today (I’m so excited about our plan this year and the different books and subjects we’ll be studying!), so I’m back to regular blogging again. Expect regular pictures, recipes, personal posts, shopping trips, money-saving tips, challenges, series, and posts on whatever I’m currently mulling on.
I had a wonderful summer, but I’m so glad to be back to much more regular blogging — and a regular routine. I’ve missed the rhythm of a good routine!
Goals from two weeks ago:
Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals
1. Read 3 chapters of The Borrowers to the children.
Finish reading Viking Adventure with Kathrynne. Finish reading Hugh Pine with Kaitlynn. Read a few picture books with Silas.
2. Write a love note to Jesse.Personal Goals
3. Work on memorizing & reviewing Romans 1:1-21.
4. Exercise six times.Run 10 miles total.5. Finish Hidden Places,
Almost Amish, The Great Gatsby, Grace, Gold, and Glory, A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet, andSeasons of a Mother’s Heart.Homemaking Goals
6. Work for 30 minutes on my embroidery project.
This week’s goals:
Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals
1. Read 3 chapters of The Borrowers to the children. Finish reading The Queen’s Smuggler with Kathrynne. Finish reading They Led the Way with Kaitlynn. Read a few picture books with Silas.
2. Write a love note to Jesse.
3. Start our fall homeschooling schedule.
Personal Goals
4. Work on memorizing & reviewing Romans 1:1-22.
5. Start the ChaLean Extreme Program. Run 6 miles.
6. Read The Myth of Multitasking, Loving the Way Jesus Loves, First: What It Takes to Win by Rich Froning, Leaving Yesterday, and Love Works.
Homemaking Goals
7. Work for 30 minutes on my embroidery project.
8. Try two new recipes.
Business Goals
9. Finish reading through and making typo edits to my book manuscript.
10. Start working on a new ebook.
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.
Carol@simple_catholic says
Welcome back. So glad you enjoyed your vacation. 🙂 We started our fall home school schedule last week. It feels good for us to be back on track on our normal routine, too.
Any chance you’ll give us a peek into the homeschooling curriculum/program you are using? I’m always looking for ideas!
Mel says
Welcome back! I’ve been missing your personal posts as well, but certainly understand the need to unplug and spend more time with the people you love.
I’m trying to finish off the summer strong by focusing on a couple of Big Goals while still making progress in a lot of other areas. I’ve yet to cross everything off my list in a given week, but it’s getting done a little at a time!
Shelly says
Sounds like you had a great family vacation. We have been working on a few home improvement projects and was able to complete both of them this past week. I’m so happy to have them done.
This week I will be working on planning our homeschool for the first 9 weeks. I’ve ordered all of our books so now it’s time to plan. This summer went by very quickly.
Anna @ The DIY Mom says
Glad you both had a great break and are going to be doing more personal posts again.
I hope you have a great week getting into your fall routine!
Anne @ Modern Mrs Darcy says
I’m a lapsed Crossfitter, but my husband is an active one and I had NO IDEA Rich Froning had a book out. Thanks so much for the hot tip!
Crystal says
You’re welcome!
Stephanie says
You will LOVE Chalean Extreme! I just finished 90 days and I loved it so much!
KB says
Silas is doing Kindergarten, already? Wow!
Please share where one gains the confidence to actually teach his/her child to read. I am homeschooling my youngest, this fall.
I did some preschool things w/ her and they all seemed effective, but I am very anxious about teaching her to read – or do math for that matter. Even w/ the reputable curriculum that I will be using, w/ all of its parental instructions, lesson plans, etc. I’m not formally trained to teach, i.e., I have no degree,- just some years of college. So I am very nervous.
Crystal says
I didn’t think he would be ready for it, but after a year of preschool, he’s showing all the signs of readiness, so we’re going with it. If he doesn’t end up progressing quickly enough, we’ll just do Kindergarten for another year. He’s so, so anxious to learn that I want to go ahead and hop to it while he’s so enthusiastic.
(I started both girls in Kindergarten at age 4 and they ended up doing really well and both were reading at 5. We’ll see how he does. Each child is different, so we’ll just see! I love how excited he is about learning and am having a lot of fun teaching him!)
Jen says
So glad you’ve been able to make some great family memories and get refreshed!
Laura Jane @ Super Sweet Life says
Great to see you “back”! Glad you had such a refreshing summer. My summer was busy with a lot of travel, but things are slowing down, and I’m excited to settle into my new fall routine.
RuthS says
I am looking forward to the fall homeschooling routine too. Sadly, we’re moving again in a month (moved in June too), so not much routine till we get settled there 🙂
Erin @ My Mommy World says
Sounds like you had a wonderful vacation! Glad that you’ll be back here more regularly…I’ve missed your cooking and series/challenge posts 🙂
Lana says
Glad you were able to get away and glad you are back!
Jamie Rohrbaugh says
We missed you! So glad you enjoyed your vacation!
Crystal says
Thank you so much!
Amanda C says
I’d love to see your embroidery project! You’re a woman of many talents!
Crystal says
When I finish it — finally! I promise I’ll post a picture of it. 🙂
Amaryllis Right says
Would you post sometime on your schedule and that of your children? I tend to get so bogged down during the day, and would love to see how others do it. Love your goal posts! Thanks for all that you do. You really inspire me!
Guest says
Count me as one of those who has missed your personal posts. I didn’t realize it was part of an intentional break and had stopped coming over every day.
Lesson learned? Your personal posts are what keep me coming back here! Glad you had a nice break and happy you’re back!
Crystal says
You’re so sweet! I’m glad you enjoy the personal posts — they are my favorite to write. While a break is nice every now and then, I sorely missed writing here more often!
Guest says
While I’m complimenting you, let me continue by saying that I frequently go back and read your OLD (I’ve been a reader for a *long* time) posts for encouragement. You’re a great inspiration!
Jessica H says
I would love to hear about what you are doing for homeschooling this year. I won’t be homeschooling officially for a few more years, but I love hearing about what others are doing.
Crystal says
We’re doing My Father’s World (Creation to the Greeks for the girls & Kindergarten for Silas) for our core curriculum and Kathrynne is doing Switched on Schoolhouse Grade 4 as a supplemental curriculum. We’re also throwing in a few other outside things not part of the MFW list, as well as lots of extra read-alouds.
Julie says
I wondered what curriculum you enjoy! We are HUGE MFW fans, it is so doable and I really enjoy schooling the kids more than I ever have using anything else. Thanks for sharing, it is fun to be in good company using the same curriculum We are using Rome to the Reformation this year for the 2 middle boys, 1st grade without the reading (we use Barton for or dyslexic learners), and 10th grade high school for my oldest, all through MFW.:)
Kym ONeill says
I too would love to know more about your homeschooling this year and schedule!
Thanks for all you do and welcome back!
Ashley says
I love summer time, but I’m glad to be getting back to a regular schedule soon as well! I’m also very glad that you’ll be blogging more. 🙂
Crystal says
Thanks for your kind encouragement!
Victoria says
Chalean Extreme looks challenging. I went back to strength class followed by kick boxing for the first time in 2 months today. I missed it but I will miss running with my friend summer mornings more. She is a teacher so once school is in we can’t run together as often.
Crystal says
Jesse picked it out for me as he’s been coaching/training me in the past few months (so, so fun — even if he is quite a tough trainer!). I was trying to find something new and challenging to kick my workouts up a notch — I’m anxious to see how it goes!
Jen says
Have you looked into Body Beast? It’s also by Beach Body, the company that did P90X(which I know you completed not so long ago) and ChaLean. I struggled for years to be able to do unassisted pull-ups and chin-ups despite working out 5-6 days per week. Finally, after finishing Body Beast, my nemesis was conquered! That program made me stronger than I’ve ever been, I love it. (I’m not a coach, just an avid fan of BB products.)
Crystal says
Jesse’s doing BodyBeast right now and really loves it!
Jen says
I love love love Chalene’s workouts… did her first Turbo Jam about 6 years ago! They are so great. I recommend TurboFire next. So fun.
And also: T25- Insanity in 25 min a day
Can you tell I like Beachbody workouts? 🙂
Marisa says
I’m excited to see you are back, but I’m so glad that you scaled back to spend time on what is most important. Your annual extended family trip makes me want to plan something like that with my extended family!
Crystal says
I’d highly recommend an annual family vacation — it’s been such a great way to make memories and something we all look forward to each year!
Kim M says
Welcome back!!! sounds like you had an awesome summer! 🙂