My Morning Challenge

"Confident in the God to whom she prays, the effective woman knows she has eternal significance."

I love this quote I found tucked away in my Study Bible.

For me, that pretty much sums things up.  That is why I am participating in the Fall Hello Mornings Challenge.

I need the accountability. 

The toughest part for me?  The getting up part.  The putting my feet on the floor before my eyes are open and getting my tail out. of. bed. every. single. day. part.

"Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; 

Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied."

Proverbs 21:13

When I saw this verse recently, it was only confirmation that I needed to really focus on this area of discipline in my life.  It may not seem like much, but the very discipline of rising early, reading the WORD, praying, planning the day and even exercise is important.  It has eternal significance, for me, for my family, for those I come in contact with every day.

I actually had the opportunity to share with a young mom last week about the Hello Mornings Challenge, and how much better it would be to wake up for her girls instead of waking up to them.  I LOVE THAT!  That's also how I feel about my family, even now that my kiddos are teens (or maybe more so?).  And what about that job that I go to?  See? It applies to so many areas....

How about you?  Are you signed up for the Hello Mornings Challenge?  What is the most difficult part for you?

♥Lori

My August Goals

AUGUST 3 in 30 GOALS

1.  My Recipe Binders.  I have two of them.  I dismantled my old system months ago, and now I have an even worse situation…slips of paper running a muck that really need a home.  So I’d like to say I want to finish my recipe binders, but honestly, I’d like to start them…

2.  iPhone Photo-a-Day.  I have started this several times now.  And some months I’ve done better than others.  This month I’d like to go the whole month! #photoadayaug

3.  Go to the beach with Hubs.  The kiddos are gone for an entire week in August, and I just want to get away.  With my man.  No dog, kids, phone, etc.

I also do a 3 in 30 list for Books I want to read.  The hardest part was deciding what books to read – there are just so many out there!

AUGUST 3 in 30 BOOK GOALS

1.  The Circle Maker, by Mark Batterson  (for Edification)

2.  31 Days to Finding Your Blogging Mojo, by Bryan Allain  (for Education)

3.  The Harbinger, by Jonathan Cahn  (for Enjoyment)

Last but not least – toward the end of the month I’ll be starting the Hello Mornings Challenge.  I really need the accountability with my morning routine – Quiet time, Exercise, & Daily Planning.

How about you?  

Do you set monthly goals?  How are you doing on them?

♥Lori

Linked with 3 in 30 at Our Good Life
                   Mama's Mission at Mama Jenn's

Resetting My System

I recently realized something.  As I was on my unplanned boggy break these past few months I also let some other things slip a little. Things like planning my days, planning our menus, reading books, and even my quiet times with the LORD were sporadic at best.


So, I've taken a few steps to get back on track.


1- I started the Proverbs 31 summer Bible study with Courtney over at Good Morning Girls.  Powerful.  I am really enjoying it.


2- I've begun getting up early again, so that my quiet time and exercise are sure to be had before the day gets into full swing.


3-I started using the Personal Assistant that Amy Bayliss created.  I used the one that could be modified and customized it for me.  I like the daily routine and the menu columns but I added things like the 3 in 30 goals for the month and books, and blog stuff at the bottom.  I actually keep all family appointments and calendar stuff in my phone, so this is really the vehicle to keep my day on track.  It's way too easy to be a side-tracked home executive, and this really helps....


4- I set up some goals.  This was a biggee!!
I love love love the 3 in 30 concept.  Set three small goals in one month's time and completing them is more likely.  I took it a step further and set up reading goals as well. 

If I don't write it down, it won't happen.

June 3 in 30 Goals
1- June photo a day. Taken with my phone mostly. 
2- Organize the basement family room. It's a m.e.s.s.
3- Purge / reorganize our filing system.  We're trying to downsize and I KNOW there is a bunch of files that are no longer needed.


3 Books in 30 Days
1-"You Are a Writer" by Jeff Goins. (education)
2- "The Good Girls Guide to Great Sex" by Sheila Wray Gregoire (edification)
3- "Longing" by Karen Kingsbury (entertainment)
***Proverbs 31 Bible Study***

Dave Ramsey once tweeted "the condition of your desktop reflects the condition of your mind.  Stacks of crap on your desk reveals a cluttered, inefficient mind."

I am finding that staying on track with the events of my day and not letting things "stack up" is really a key to enjoying the process of life.  If things at home are out of order, then my brain gets out of whack, until finally I just find myself unable to function at all.


Do  you have a useful tool for managing your day?  Share it in the comments, I'd love to hear how you stay on track... 

♥Lori

3 in 30 February Goals

February?  Already?  Really?  How can this be?

Last month I discovered the “3 in 30 Way” and I really felt pretty good about focusing on THREE goals – here are January’s and here are the accomplishments… So I thought I would continue and set my February goals here, for some more accountability.

1.  Household:
We are working on getting the basement in order.  It’s a huge job, but piece by piece it will come together.  I’m going to work on two area this month…
*The pile of sewing/mending that needs to get done.
*Purge/Shred/Re-file the files we HAVE to keep (including warranty paperwork).

2.  Blog: 
*Post and Comment regularly.

3. Personal:
*Continue to work on my morning schedule (quiet time, exercise, etc.) – since the quiet time is going relatively well, I am adding into the morning schedule, a 20-30 min. workout of some sort (walking, pilates, etc) three days a week.  And no appointments until after 10am on my days off (M, W, F) which should allow for the routine to work…
*Date Night with Chris (want to do this monthly)
*Read my three books for this month – Actually, it will be finishing two of them…

Your turn – what do you plan to accomplish this month?

Enjoy!
♥Lori

3 in 30 Jan. Recap

It’s hard to believe January is just about over.  As I sit here writing, I’m with my Drummer-boy who had a tonsillectomy earlier today.  He hurts.  So does his mama.  I hate when my babies hurt.

Anyway, with all of the tonsil drama this month, I am amazed I actually got some things done.  Here is my original post.

My January Goals -

1.  Household:
*Update my Christmas Binder – finish up 2011 and set up for 2012 – Done!
*Change Doctor’s Offices (GP and Pediatrician) – Moved to March after the tonsil crisis.
2.  Blog:
*Update my blog – change header and signature, start our GF Story – still gotta do that story – maybe in March at the 1 year mark…
3. Personal:
*Work on my morning schedule (quiet time, exercise, etc.) – due to the fast at church, I have pretty much established a daily 6am wake up and quiet time. 
*Date Night with Chris (want to do this monthly) – turned into a family date, but we did a couple @ home dates – breakfast and lunch.
*Read my three  two books for this month – will finish the other two in Feb.

So yeah, I think I did pretty good.

How about you?  Did you accomplish what you wanted to in January? 
If you haven’t already, head over and check out the 3 in 30 site.

Enjoy!
♥Lori

2012–Intentional

Intentional.  That’s my word for 2012.

I’ve never assigned a word to a year before, but this year, after reading various blogs, I was compelled to seek the Lord and see what He thought.  Even that was intentional, deliberate. 

When I looked up the word intentional, this is what I found.

Intentional – done by intention or design
Intention means – a determination to act in a certain way
Synonyms include:  conscious, deliberate, intended, knowing, purposeful, purposive, set, voluntary, willed, willful

So far, this new mindset is working for me.  For that is what I feel it is, a mindset.  Though I am getting things done, and thus have more time for things like reading and movie-watching which of course is a wonderful side benefit, the purpose I think is much bigger.  Much more purposeful.

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”  Prov. 16:9

“Commit your ways works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established.”  Prov. 16:3

It’s more about me focusing in and really seeking the Lord on everything!  I’ve gone so far as to ask Him what to do, what to focus on today, and He gave me a list.  Really, a list.  And unlike my to-do lists which seldom get finished, His list is DONE.  AND I had a lunch date with my kiddos, and I’m headed back in to watch a show or two with them before bedtime.  And maybe even a little more reading before bed.

Nice.

So my goal, or one of them for this year…I guess it’s kind of like the “Master Goal” upon which all the others are built, is to live each day with intention…deliberately…purposefully…taking it all in, not just letting the days go by and Enjoying the Process as I go along!!

That’s my goal for 2012 – how about you – do you have a word for this year?

Enjoy!
Lori

Linked with The Better Mom!

 

 

 

January 2012 - 3 in 30 goals…

I’m not much for making New Year’s Resolutions, but this year I am into making some changes and getting some things done.

In my blog trolling reading lately, I came across this wonderful site 3 in 30  by Meghan and Ashley. It’s a great way to take our to-do lists and break them down into manageable pieces that get accomplished during a 30 day period. 

One month – 3 goals accomplished – I’m IN!

This month, I will be working on the following in three areas:

1.  Household:
*Update my Christmas Binder – finish up 2011 and set up for 2012
*Change Doctor’s Offices (GP and Pediatrician)
2.  Blog:
*Update my blog – change header and signature, start our GF Story
3. Personal:
*Work on my morning schedule (quiet time, exercise, etc.)
*Date Night with Chris (want to do this monthly)
*Read my three books for this month 

What are three goals you want to accomplish this month?
Lori 

3 in 30