Five Things Happening Right Now...

Here's a five things that are happening right now....


**The business is booming, which is good.  It means Hubs is very busy, but also very happy!
**Both kids are running at full throttle all. the. time.  Which means we spend an inordinate amount of time in the car.  Thank goodness we like our vehicles.  Baseball hasn't even started yet either...oi!
**Actually, I just filled out the family calendar with the events I am aware of through the end of June (when both kids are done with school) and Lord have mercy, it's about to get CRAZY up in here!!

**I just bought my first ticket to a Women's / blogging conference!!  WooHoo!!!  I'll be heading to the Declare Conference at the beginning of August, and I'm terribly excited.  and nervous.  and excited.   I know virtually no one, well except the ones I know virtually, so this is going to a stretch for this quiet, introvert.  But I'm going to get everything I can out of it.  Advice on preparation? Anyone?

**I'm reading It Starts with Food.  It's enlightening and scary what we put into our bodies on a daily basis.  i was in the grocery store yesterday and though I am only on chapter five or something of the book, I find myself reading more labels and wondering what some of those additives really are... I'm seriously contemplating doing the Whole 30 elimination diet.  I really think that I need a "reset" in my system.  The headaches are back regularly now, and I just feel icky overall.


Okay, so that was kind of a stream of consciousness kind of thing.   But hey, at least I wrote something...  What is going on in your world?  

My 2013 Reading List

It's 2013 and I'm planning on reading more this year and I'm being Intentional about it by composing a list of books I already have in my possession either in print or on my Kindle.  I recognize that as the months go by, I will probably add to it...
As I was making the list, I decided to break it up into a couple of categories, just to see what I'll be focusing on.  I think I need to find a few more fun books dontcha think?

Education {the action or process of educating or of being educated}      Family:

Spiritual Mentoring of Teens by Focus on the Family

The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman

     Blog / Time Management:
Carolyn 101 by Carolyn Kepcher

21 Days to a More Disciplined Life by Crystal Paine

31 Days to Find Your Blogging Mojo by Bryan Allain

Tell Your Time by Amy Lynn Andrews

Reach by Laura Krokos & Angie Pratt

Quitter by Jon Acuff

Margin by Richard Swenson

The “Do What You Can” Plan by Holley Gerth

Edification {to improve especially in moral and religious knowledge}
     Small Group Teaching:

The Cry God Hears by Barbara Yoder

     For ME:
Grace For The Good Girl by Emily Freeman

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Wrecked by Jeff Goins
Kingdom Journeys by Seth Barnes
Desperate by Sally Clarkson & Sarah Mae {due out in Jan.}

     Prayer / Spiritual:
The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

Praying Circles Around Your Children by Mark Batterson

Crushing the Spirits of Greed & Poverty by Dr. Sandie Freed

The Jezebel Yoke by Dr. Sandie Freed

Entertainment {amusement or diversion provided especially by performers}

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Coming Home by Karen Kingsbury

So, what are you reading this year?  I'm always looking for ideas... {hint hint}

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

January Reading List…

I have a goal this year to R.E.A.D.

I have always loved to read. And this year I am going to go back to that love.   I am hoping to read at least one book from each of three categories: Edification, Education, and Enjoyment.

Edification – to build, establish, to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge

Education - to provide schooling for, to provide with information, to develop mentally, morally, or aesthetically especially by instruction

Enjoyment - to take pleasure or satisfaction in, to have a good time

Now that I have defined my parameters, I chose a few books for January. 

My January List:

Edification: “The Meal That Heals” by Perry Stone

Education: “One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler” e-book by Tsh Oxenreider    52bites.com

Enjoyment: “The Witness”, by Dee Henderson

And of course the over-achiever in me rose up as I did a Sunday School lesson Benaiah recently, and I began another book called “In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day” by Mark Batterson.  I’m not really sure which category it fits in…

And the book on the bottom of the pile is turning out to be rather good.  “Relentless” by John Bevere.  This one will be read over a three month period and since Chris is out of town this week, I get to teach Life Group, and this is the text.

For the most part, the books I’m focusing on this year are ones I’ve picked up over the last few years with lots of good intentions to read.  Well, here we go.  But I also have a couple of Kindle gift-cards from Christmas, so I am picking up a few   e-books here and there.

Have you seen Saving & Giving's lists of Free Kindle books?  I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  My Kindle Fire is totally stocked and they were mostly FREE!  But wait!  You don’t have to have a Kindle to enjoy most of these freebies!  You can download an app and read them on just about any device…

And finally, there is …

You can click on that big pic to learn more, if you don’t already know about Paperback Swap!  It’s a great way to get great books, and keep down the clutter as well!  Win Win Situation!!
Here’s my latest mailing…

What are you reading?  What is your source for great books?
♥Lori