2024 Home Projects List

The beginning of the year is my time to reflect on what I want to get done this year. We're finally realizing that we're renting long-term, so I'm making this house my home. We truly love our old little house, and I love making it ours. 

• Paint the living room pink
• Refresh the trim paint in the bathroom
• Get a clothesline (I've been wanting one for years!)
• Back the floral curtains with some white fabric so they don't fade anymore.
• Plant marigolds and/or sunflowers

Hello 2024

Here's my goals for 2024.

Continue the good habits I've created | Budgeting, meal and grocery planning, Bible reading, reading, bread making 

Declutter | Over the last few months, I've been decluttering. Slowly, but surely. This year, I need to focus on my craft room. It really overwhelms me. There's so much craft stuff and it also becomes a catch-all. (There's currently a ton of laundry from our mission trip, a Christmas tree I had to move in there because our wobbly cat kept knocking it over, and a pile of laundry I need to iron, not to mention TOO MUCH FABRIC.) I've wanted to sew today but don't want to dodge the things. This is a problem, which makes it a priority. I don't want to be overwhelmed by stuff anymore. 

Actually stick to a home cleaning program | This has been on my list for years. And maybe I don't actually need it. I feel like the house is usually in an okay-ish state and, honestly, that's enough for me. But I wouldn't mind it being in a more okay state. I created a document today that is a cleaning program I used years ago. Now I just gotta give it a shot!

Paint the living room | The living room paint is worse for wear. AND it's gray. It's a rental, but we're here longterm and we're allowed to paint. I want to go with a light pink/beige color. I'm honestly intimidated to get the wrong color, but I need to just go for it and refresh the living room. So this year... we paint the room pink! (And also probably repaint the trim because it NEEDS it.)

Add one more thing to my grocery list | I've got someone in my life who has fallen on rough times and has been relying on the food pantry. I'm so glad there are programs designed to help people in need. I want to help, but we live on a small budget. I wondered, "How can I help people when my budget is already stretched thin?" And I decided that I can buy one thing each week to put into a local blessing box. It's not much, but perhaps over the year it will add up to help others. It will also be my personal reminder that God has blessed me, and I will bless others. Even when I don't feel like I have a lot, I have more than enough, and I want to share that with others. 

Crafting | I'd like to finish the Works in Progress as a way to fulfill my "decluttering." And make 12 NICU quilts.

Reading | Let's start with a goal of 50 and see how things go.

Adoption | Raise enough funds to officially start the adoption progress (we were told we need to have $10,000 before we get started so we can do the first steps of the process). And, well, hopefully even more so we can really get the ball rolling. Once we get our home study done, I'd like to apply for grants to help with funding.

Marriage | Implement date night again. We used to be so good at this and I'm not sure when we fell off the bandwagon. Life's been so busy and, with a tight budget, we're not really able to go do "fun" stuff. I guess I lost my momentum. We need to get the ball rolling again, though.

Spiritual | Continue my study through the Bible and have grace with myself when it feels like I'm going slowly. Strengthen my prayer life. Write SALT lessons (I think about praying using The Lord's Prayer as a template). As for Sabbath, I do like not getting on social media once I'm home from church. 

Other things I'd like to do more of but will have to make a plan for implementing:

- spend more time outside 
- spend more time OFF phone (listen to that book)

Goodbye 2023

Well, obviously blogging was not a priority this year. But that's fine.

I've realized that I really like coming back to read my end and beginning of the year posts. The other day I was reading one and realized that I've actually made progress in several areas in my life over the past few years. In the day-to-day, I don't necessarily see the progress--it sometimes takes reflecting over the years. 

So I want to continue the tradition. Here's some of the areas I wanted to focus on in 2023 and how it's going.

Budgeting | I feel like I'm in a pretty good spot here. Once I got my systems in place, things run pretty smoothly. I made a few changes this year to make things run even more smoothly, and I know there's room for improvement, but I think that slow changes are just fine as long as it's working for me. 

Meal Planning/Grocery Shopping | I think this is inevitable because we live on a pretty tight budget. Again, I've got a system that works for me, so this has been pretty smooth as well. I'm really proud of that, because a few years ago, it was more difficult. I know we're in a season where it doesn't actually require much planning--I only cook a few times a week and we eat on leftovers a lot. I think it will become more important to meal plan and will require some adjustments once we have kids, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Reading my Bible | I started out the year strong with the plan to read my Bible AND a commentary in one year. About halfway through the year, I realized I felt burnt out on so much deep reading. Some days I'd spend three hours doing my Bible studying, and my brain felt like mush afterwards. I asked myself: What's more important? Reading my Bible in a year again? Or to enjoy my time studying the Word? It's more important to me to continue studying, so I took off the time limit. I now only read about a chapter a day, but I get more out of it and don't find myself dreading it. I have no idea how long it will take me to complete the entire Bible, and that's okay. I've learned SO MUCH this year and have a much better understanding of the Word of God (particularly the history of Israel). I'm excited about my Bible reading now! 

Reading | I'm SO PROUD of myself. I read 100 books. Again. It was a bucket list item for me when I did it in 2021 and I figured I'd never do it again, but I've been reading a ton. I realized I was reading a lot on my 10-year-old iPad that could bite the dust at any moment, so I decided to splurge on a Kindle. I love it so much. It travels so well and I love reading one-handed when I'm sleepy at night. I haven't yet thought about my 2024 reading goal, but I will probably start with a smaller one like I did last year.

Move More | lol. I've gone for a 30 minutes walk the last two days. Does that count? We did get bikes but don't use them as much as I was hoping we would.

Turn Sunday into Sabbath | Also lol. I honestly usually spend my Sunday afternoon taking a three-hour nap and I do love that habit. I was recently reminded about my "no social media once I'm home" idea and did implement that a little.

Home | Wow, my specific 2023 goals were a bust. That being said, I've been reworking a cleaning program I used many years ago and I'd like to start it up again.

Decluttering | This was not on my 2023 list (but will be on my 2024 list), but I started decluttering a few months ago. I did a massive kitchen reset by moving EVERYTHING in my kitchen into my guest room and only bringing things back in the kitchen when I needed to use it. Honestly, my guest room still has a lot of kitchen things, and I need to go in there and decide what I'm keeping and getting rid of. I've made a great start, but there's still a long way to go.

Bread Making | I think it was January or February when I decided I wanted to start making our sandwich bread. I found a recipe I like and it's been going really well! I bought a few loaves of bread but I think they were all for the kids at church. I'd like to eventually make all my own bread products, but I'm okay if it takes a while to get there. I gave a shot at flour tortillas (they were good) and took a croissant class this year! I always make my own biscuits but the thing I feel like is hardest to give up is crescent rolls, especially for quick and easy meals. Maybe one day I'll get there, but for now, I'm really happy with my breadmaking!

Crafting Goals
- I completed finished my Fresh as a Daisy quilt and love it so much.
- I finished the blocks for Picnic in the Park and assembled the top.
- t-shirt quilt - I've had Casey pull my shirts out of storage several times only to put them back
- Started and finished the top for Summer Pop
- I quilted the Happy Quilt
- I made two quilts that I raffled off to raise funds for our mission trip (strawberry quilt and Harvest Days)
- I completed four quilts that I donated to the local NICU. (I just received a photo the other day of one of them on an iso unit.) I love making these and am so glad a lady in my church told me about it! They are quick, fun, and I can try new things. And it allows me to "give back" my gift to bless others, which is something I asked God to open doors for.
-I made several ties through the year and sold some to raise funds for our mission trip.

Adoption process | We spent this year researching adoption agencies and having online meetings to learn more about them. We've got an agency picked! So in 2024 we begin the fundraising so we can officially begin the process!

Foster Kittens | We've been fostering kittens for a local rescue since 2020 and this year we fostered 55 kittens and one dog (twice). We might have also adopted another cat. 

Wrap up | 2023 has been better than 2022 was, but I still find myself worrying more than I should about things. At the beginning of the year, I decided "joy" would be my word of the year. I think I still have more to learn in that category, so I'll be going forth with it in 2024 as well. 

Reflecting on 2022 and Embracing 2023

In some ways 2022 felt awesome and in some it felt like a bust. So I've been trying to think on the things I'm proud about 2022.

• Budgeting | After getting ourselves into a major financial pickle, I decided to change how we handle finances. Now I do weekly budgeting and bills. I cried a lot at first, but it's gotten easier. (But no more enjoyable, let me tell you what.) We're finally out of the red and in the process of rebuilding our emergency fund. We also worked really hard to fund our mission trip to Singapore and Malaysia, and God truly provided. I will continue weekly budgeting, building our emergency fund, and working on some new financial goals, along with raising funds for another Singapore/Malaysia trip in December.
• Meal Planning and Grocery Shopping | This is still a work in progress, but I feel like I've come a long way this year. Due to having a grocery budget, I have to be more mindful in my grocery purchases, which means I have to plan more. I'm not a natural planner, so this isn't the easiest thing for me, but it's getting easier. I'm realizing I need to handle things the way they work for me... not how someone else does it. This has given me freedom. I don't meal plan or shop perfectly, but it works for me, and that's good enough. 
• Reading my Bible | I found a plan that works for me, so that's what I do every year. (The one year I tried to do something different was awful! ha!) I was very happy to read my Bible through in 2022.
• Crafting | This year I started and completed four quilts for friends and family: Julianne and Sarah got wedding quilts and my grandparents got quilts for Christmas. I know I made some dresses, too, but the only one on the top of my head is the yellow one I made before we went to North Carolina. I did a lot of sewing and I really enjoyed it.
• Reading | I read 43 books this year. In 2021 I read 100 (a bucket list item for me). While it was doable, it was difficult and cut into time for other things. I averaged my books read per year for the last 10 years (I've been on Goodreads keeping up with my books read for that long) and the average was 40, so that was my 2022 goal. Super doable without having to try too hard.

This year I want to focus more on habits and less on goals. 

Habits I want to continue in 2023:

• Budgeting
• Grocery planning
• Daily Bible reading, devotion, and Jesus time - I purchased a new Bible! It's the same daily reading Bible I've used for 15 years (my copy is a little worse for wear) but it has room for journaling! It should come in today!
• Reading - This year's goal is 45 books. I also got some new earbuds so I'd like to listen to more audiobooks while I sew (if this bodes well, I'll raise my goal to 50)

Habits I want to create in 2023:

• Move more: Be it walking or yoga, I want to incorporate moving 3x per week. I've realized it's less about an end goal and more about reminding myself today why I should move today. I always feel better after stretching or walking. 
• Turn Sunday into Sabbath by incorporating these things:
• Weekly devotion and prayer time with Casey
• review Wednesday night kids' lesson
• choose a Christian book for Sunday reading
• Gather verses for a "take what you need" instagram story to encourage others
• No social media once I return home from church
• Home: I'd like to work on some house cleaning habits, but I don't know what that looks like yet, so I'm still thinking on it.

I know I've been talking habits, but I do have some crafting goals for the year. This year, I plan to make some quilts for others, but also finish some I'm making for myself. I only have one quilt I've made and I often wish I had a few more. I plan to finish and/or start:

• Fresh as a Daisy (I think I'm about halfway through the blocks)
• Picnic in the park (also probably about halfway)
• t-shirt quilt (haven't started, but want to finish in time to take to SALT in June)
• Summer Pop by Lo and Behold (I purchased the kit when it went on sale--would also love to have this one for summer)
• The tops for the following are done so they just need to be quilted:
• Eye Spy
• Scrappy Summer Quilt Along
• Vintage top I thrifted
• the Happy quilt (pink and yellow patchwork)
• bed quilt (which I accidentally made too big so some of it needs to be removed)

Another exciting thing for 2023: We are starting the adoption process! We've always known we wanted to adopt children, and it feels like the right time to start the process. I'll be looking into enrolling us into an orientation class for foster to adopt soon. I know this process will likely be a long one, but we are excited to start this journey.

Joy - My Word for 2023

It's already 2023. Goodness. We are living in the future.

I've been reflecting on the past year, as one does come new year.

Honestly, 2022 had a lot of suckiness. I dealt with a lot of personal stuff that felt crippling at times. And honestly... a lot of it is still there. Which kind of sucks going into a new year. Sometimes it's hard to see the bright side of things. But the word God has been impressing upon my heart again and again since June is "joy." The irony. Joy is my name.

The other day I was reflecting on this word. Why joy? I also realized that the last six months have been some of my hardest. Maybe God was reminding me that having joy isn't reliant upon my situation.

Just a few months ago, a friend told me, "Joy is knowing you're secure in His hands when everything is going haywire."

Maybe this is the message God was trying to get across to me. Things may be haywire. I may cry more than I wish I did. But I can still find joy in Christ because He's still with me and He will never forsake me. 

This year I want to focus more on God and less on my problems. To remember I can still find joy in the trials. To remember my situation doesn't determine how big my God is.

2020 Goals Recap

It's been so long since I've written a new post that Blogger has changed on me! I spend a lot of my free time sewing (and thus not blogging) and I'm okay with that. That being said, I really enjoy going back and reading my end/beginning of the year posts so I wanted to pop in and do that today.

As it turns out, NO ONE had 2020 vision and this year turned out completely unexpected. But not all bad! I do still try to block out March and April where I spent six weeks making masks. Shockingly, I didn't lose my sewjo. I was just so. sick. of masks. But I've sewed some fun stuff since, and I'll try to do a recap on that. (We'll see. ha!)

I honestly didn't even remember the things I wrote down at the beginning of 2020. It's been a long year and I decided to give myself grace on all the things I didn't do. But let's see how I did. 

Marriage

• Make sure to have one six-second kiss every day | I feel terrible saying we don't do this every day! Guess that just means it needs to be on the 2021 goals list...
• Two planned date nights every month | After a few months, we decided to bump this up to a date night every week and I'm so glad we did! We have date night every Tuesday and always look forward to it. Sometimes we go to a local restaurant and sometimes we stay in and do a puzzle or something low-key, but I love having the time to connect with Casey. Sometimes we plan something together and sometimes one of us does the planning. It's always fun to come up with something new and fun, and Casey always plans fun dates!
• Express my expectations | Unfortunately there's no real way to measure this, but I have definitely been trying to communicate better and more, even about tiny things. Opening up a conversation is actually what led to us doing date night every week, so there are definitely benefits to expressing my expectations.

Going Green

• Continue using reusable shopping bags, coffee mugs, water bottle, real china and silverware, limiting paper towel use, and refusing plastic straws. | 2020 has made this one a little more difficult. At the beginning of Covid, we stopped using reusable shopping bags because we weren't sure if it was a good idea to continue using them. Reusable bags aren't the norm here--I've literally never seen a single other person in town use them--so our town doesn't have any rules about them, but we didn't want to make any grocery workers feel uncomfortable. We have since started using them again and haven't had a problem (other than grocery workers being confused, but that's normal). I HATE using grocery pick up (which was our only option when we had to quarantine a few times) because they put every single item in its own plastic bag. I could rant, but I'll refrain. We use these plastic bags as trash bags, so at least they've been getting used.

We're still rocking the real china and silverware, but I need to do better at speaking up against using a plastic straw. We limit the paper towel use to pet messes which has increased this year because we are now kitten foster parents! Though technically our paper towel usage has increased a little because of this, I still am proud of us for being mindful of when we use them.

• Figure out what to do about recycling. I didn't do this and I'm not sure if I just lost vision or if it was a 2020 thing that I didn't feel like bothering with. Either way, I've decided we'll just pay the fee to have recycling pick up this year. The only packaging I've truly tried to be mindful about is egg cartons, and I try to get ones made of paper that I can throw in the compost pile. However, I met a neighbor via Facebook who raises chickens, and she said she'd be happy to take empty egg cartons, so I'm going to try to remember to give them to her instead! 
• Shop the farmers market regularly. We've tried our best to support the farmers market this year, especially through Covid. Our favorite booth is a lady who bakes all kinds of delicious pastries. We get some almost every week! I was thrilled that there were extra booths before Christmas, so we did some of our Christmas shopping there. I love to support local entrepreneurs! 

Personal

• Be a better friend | That lunch date with myself in March never happened because I was too busy making masks to eat lunch. (Apparently I'm still not over the mask-making trauma, ha!) We did have a friend move in with us a few months ago and she will be here until she gets married in April. It's been so fun having her here. We've also been able to have some friends over for small dinner parties (which sounds far more fancy than it is--usually I make spaghetti or breakfast for dinner then we hang out).
• Read at least one non-fiction book a month | Oops. I just checked my Goodreads and I only read (listened to) two non-fic books this year. I prefer to listen instead of read non-fic, and I discovered podcasts this year, so I've listened to podcasts and forgone the books. That being said, I've been listening to my Bible. (See below)
• Create a cleaning schedule for my home | Oops again. Okay, to give myself some credit, during November I decided to create what I considered to be my ideal daily schedule. Part of this includes cleaning time throughout the day, like doing dishes after breakfast and lunch, and spending time in the afternoon picking up around the house. On the days I follow this schedule, I've rocked it!
• Complete at least one sewing project per month. I just now looked back and made a list of everything I made this year. I'm SHOCKED at how much I accomplished! In addition to about 350 masks (which took me six solid weeks of sewing while Casey did most of the cutting), I also made 6 skirts, 2 dresses, 2 pinafores, 3 purses, a stuffed bunny, 8 (I think) neckties, and a Princess Anna costume for myself! I'm currently working on 2 more purses, another pinafore, and a quilt top.

Spiritual

• Read a new Bible plan | I'm 21 days behind and have 4 days to catch up (I'm going to listen to it while I do some cleaning). I HATED the Bible reading program we chose and was already regretting it in March. I'm going back to my One Year Bible next year and really looking forward to it. I did like that Casey and I did it together though!
• Grand Finale | Our church couldn't have our annual kids camp this year, so we weren't able to do this. But we have some great ideas that maybe we can use next year!
• Play more worship music at home | We have ROCKED THIS. Every morning when I get up I tell Alexa to play worship music and we play it throughout the day. We even got another Echo Dot so I could have it playing in my office, too. 

This took far longer than I expected it to, but I'm glad I sat down to do this. It made me realize that, even during a global pandemic, I was able to move forward and make changes that help me become the person I want to become. I believe that every small step contributes to a bigger goal, and I'm glad I kept stepping. Now it's time to work on a list of goals for 2021! 

2019 Goals Recap

New year, new goals! I had some lofty ones for 2019, and ultimately I'm pretty pleased with how 2019 went!

Last year I wrote a post with my goals for the year, so I decided to share how that went. Carly does this every year and I always love to read her recaps!

Marriage

• Make marriage goals | Some of my "highlights" of 2019 were special things that Casey and I did, such as hiking and camping. We also learned this year that we LOVE doing puzzles together! We pick them up for super cheap at Goodwill.  One thing I've been really pleased with is that we are working to implement "Tech Guidelines" and we have done great at keeping our phones out of the bedroom! We've realized we didn't do a super great job at being intentional about dates and such. I think this is because we didn't know about how to create a SMART goal. We've fixed that for 2020! 
• Follow Dave Ramsey Program | We have been doing Dave Ramsey! Woo hoo! We still are learning how to do it and we both hate budgeting, but it makes me feel more secure. (We are on schedule to reach some of our financial goals this year!)

Going Green

• Continue finding new natural products | I actually had some success in this area this year! (Is it bad I didn't really expect it? lol) I found a shampoo and conditioner that I love at Trader Joe's. Which means--bonus!--it's soooo affordable. About $7 for both! I think this year is also when I started using Tom's toothpaste, which I really like. I also started using Schmidt Cedarwood+Juniper soap. It smells so good. I'm still struggling on the natural deodorant front. I've tried a few kinds and none work super well, but one thing I learned this year is I absolutely can't do deo with baking soda. It breaks me out and itches so bad! So I'm currently using Tom's peach deodorant which is okay. I feel like I stink after not a long time, but honestly that's been a common result I've had with all deodorants--even traditional ones--since switching to natural options. So I'm sticking with it for now since it's okay and affordable. But I hope to find one I really love in the future!
• Switch up my skincare routine | I did indeed switch up my skincare and shared about it here. I still have some uneven patches on my skin, but I think that might have to do with food sensitivities. I'm currently doing an elimination diet to see if I can figure that out for sure.
• Work on Going Green Goals | Still feeling good about going green! We are rocking the reusable bags and water bottles, and doing pretty good about reusable coffee cups too! At home, we only use real plates, utensils, and napkins instead of disposable. We do still keep paper towels at home because that is what I prefer for cleaning pet messes (which happens more than I like, but we have three pets), but we use them super sparingly. I didn't get a laundry line up, but would love to look into it this year! (Just not now... because it's coming a storm outside!) Oh! Also we started using a loofah scrubber instead of a traditional sponge to do dishes. I really like it!

Personal

• Be a better friend | Again, an area in which I needed a SMART goal! However, I was so grateful to cultivate some friendships. A good friend of mine stayed at our home every Tuesday evening (to avoid an early-morning commute) and we loved having her here! I also got to connect more with a friend I went to Singapore with. We actually celebrated New Years at her house. Also, I made NEW friends! That was my favorite part about working at the library!
• Read more. I documented 51 read books on Goodreads this year! Granted, some of them were kids books (oops) but I was super proud of myself. I also did a good job at my six-month reading challenge. I'm proud that I stepped outside my comfort zone and read more non-fiction this year.
• Create a cleaning schedule for my home | LOL! This is on my list for 2020 and I will turn it into a SMART goal and make a plan!

Spiritual

• Read my Bible through | Okay, I didn't finish. I got wayyy behind. But I plan to finish it in the next month or two, along with starting a new Bible reading program. I think it will be so encouraging to be reading alongside Casey this year, and we're doing a new-to-me reading program!
• Increase my prayer life | Yet another area I didn't do as well as I would have liked, so Casey and I are working on this together this year!
• Special project | We're still excited for this project, but have realized that it is not yet the right timing for this. And that's totally okay! We will use the time we have to continue growing where we are!

I'm so glad I did this reflection because it made me realize that I didn't give myself enough credit in some areas. That's one thing I love about "goals"--every baby step is worth celebrating! Even if you don't hit the final mark, every step towards that end goal is amazing. So excited to see where this year's baby steps will take us!

2020 Vision

jumping into 2020 like... 

I may not have 2020 vision, but I definitely see myself making 2020 vision jokes for the next year.

Happy 2020! I hope 2019 treated you well and I hope 2020 treats you better. 

2019 was a good and kinda weird year. I kicked off the year being sick for over a month, which meant the year could only get better from there! Casey and I had some fun adventures, like camping and hiking. I learned to sew (I made seven skirts last year and started on my eighth). We adopted two cats. (Click here to meet Tigger. Below is a pic of Sushi and I'll do a post about him soon!) I started working at the local library, quit working at the local library, and started editing again for a company I love!

Casey and I sat down the other day over tea and coffee and laid out some goals for 2020. (I'll do a 2019 goals recap in a few days! You can see those goals here.) These are some of the things we are working on, but we have a few more things that I'd rather not share on the internet, ha! 

One thing I learned this year was about SMART goals. My bestie is a life coach helps people make and reach goals that are attainable and reasonable. Here's what SMART stands for:

• Specific (simple, sensible, significant).
• Measurable (meaningful, motivating).
• Achievable (agreed, attainable).
• Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based).
• Time bound (time-based, time limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive).

Using this criteria has helped us to make clearer goals, such as "Plan two date nights a month" instead of "Go on more dates." I highly recommend Googling SMART goals to learn more!

Marriage

• Make sure to have at least one six-second kiss every day. (Science says that it takes six seconds of kissing for the brain to release oxytocin, which is the hormone responsible for connection. We got this info from @dearyoungmarriedcouple, which is a must-follow Instagram account!)
• Two planned date nights each month. We're the worst at planning date nights, so we decided to do better about it! Each of us will plan one date a month.
• I'm making a personal goal to do better at expressing my expectations. I realize I get most upset in our marriage when my expectations aren't met, but how is Casey even supposed to know what I expect when I don't explain it to him? This one will take some work to remember, but I know will be worth it!

Going Green

• Continue using reusable shopping bags, coffee mugs, water bottle, real china and silverware, limiting paper towel use, and refusing plastic straws. Maybe I ought to do a post on this!
• Figure out what to do about recycling. Our recycling pick up has been discontinued in Hammond and I absolutely refuse to pay for pick up, especially considering how awful the pick up was before. We will try to take our recycling to the center on the two available days each month. If you can't tell, I'm super bitter about this. However, maybe it will give me the push to rethink what I was recycling in the first place. Is it something I can do without? Can I purchase eggs in a paper carton that can be composted instead of recycled? This may take some creativity but I know we can do it!
• Shop at the farmers market regularly. We love doing this and want to do even better!

Personal

• Be a better friend. Yes, again! I am so grateful for the friendships I cultivated last year and want to be more purposeful in this. I know I have a lot on my plate right now, so I've made a date with myself in March to sit down and figure out ways I can better connect with my friends, like monthly coffee or lunch dates.
• Read at least one non-fiction book per month. I might make my yearly book goal around 30. Haven't decided yet.
• Create a cleaning schedule for the year. Yeah, this was on my list last year and didn't happen. Oops.
• Complete at least one sewing project per month. I'm already working on my first one! I want to tackle making a dress. I tried last year but ran into some complications and want to try again!

Spiritual

• Read a new Bible plan! Casey and I are doing this together! We are also going to make a habit of praying together daily.
• We are also excited to work on the Grand Finale together. The Grand Finale is a blacklight performance at our annual VBS. Casey has created and directed the Grand Finale for several years now, and I got to help him last year! We hope to have the creative side done by May and are making a schedule to keep us on time.
• Play more worship music at home. We got an Echo Dot for Christmas which is making this way easy! 

I may not have 2020 vision, but I can definitely see that 2020 is going to be a great year!

2 0 1 9 | Goals and Intentions

When I wrote my 2019 post, I was really expecting it to be more along the lines of goals and intentions I have for the new year, but it turned into an entirely different thing. No problem, it was all good stuff. But I do have some things I want to implement in this new year. Nothing is finalized or set in stone, but here are some things I've been thinking about working on this year.

Marriage

• Make 2019 marriage goals. Casey and I discussed some ideas a few months ago about ways we can be more intentional in our marriage, and I'd love to implement those ideas this year. We wrote down our family priorities and would love to make an actual game plan on how to actively work on those priorities.
• Work with Casey to create a family budget. I used to do Dave Ramsey and loved it, but have never done it with someone else, so I know it will take some getting used to! However, I know it's totally worth it and look forward to it.

Going Green

• I've had some setbacks with trying some natural products. In the last few months I've struggled with finding natural shampoo and deodorant that meet my needs, so I'm using conventional products until I do more research and try to find something else that will really work for me. Instead of getting discouraged, I want to keep moving forward, even if more slowly than I anticipated. 
• Switch up my skin care. I've been using natural skin care on my face for a few years now, but I want to switch it up. However I'm a cheapskate and the things I want to try are pretty pricey. So... maybe wait until 2020? haha.
• I wrote a post with some of my Going Green goals and I'd love to mark some more off my list this year! I think some easy to implement ones are to make more of an effort to not use straws (and bring my own reusable stainless steel ones... which I still need to get) or plastic one-use cutlery. I also want to put a few of my reusable grocery bags in Casey's car so I'll have them on hand if we're making an unplanned grocery stop. Oh! And I want to figure out how to use a laundry line outside to hang dry our white towels. 

Personal

• Make more of an effort to be a friend. Since moving, I've found out a lot of my friends from working camps every summer live super close to me! I've gone out with several of them for lunch, but would like to do a better job at maintaining those relationships.
• Read more. I used to be such a reader, but not so much in the last few years. I probably just need to make a goal and stick to it!
• Create a cleaning schedule for my home. I did this years ago and it worked wonders for me! I don't really like cleaning, but FlyLady's methods were very helpful to me. I usually keep a nice house (don't look now--I've been stuck on the couch sick for 2.5 weeks and the house is baaaaad) but a schedule would help me with the "deep cleaning" that I tend to put aside until absolutely necessary.

Spiritual

• Read the Bible through. It's been a few years since I've read the Bible through in a year, and I want to do it this year because I do well with daily structured reading. Otherwise I have a bad tendency to slack on Bible reading. I'm using my One Year Bible. I've read the One Year NLT version through multiple times, but this year I'm using the ESV version. God has already been opening my eyes and speaking to me through the daily readings!
• Increase my prayer life. Let's be honest, this is on my list every year. Some days I do great, other days... not so much. But it's important and oh so worth it! 
• Work with Casey on a special project for the youth of our church. We've had this idea for a while but the implementation is difficult and we don't exactly know how to start. But I believe it is an idea from God, and I know He will bless our efforts if we step out in faith to launch this new ministry!

So those are the things that have been on my mind! We will see how they go. I do love new beginnings like the new year. However, the beautiful thing is that each day is an opportunity for a fresh start! Whether I accomplish all these things this year or maybe just a few of them, I know this will be a year to grow and bloom!

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It's 2019! How crazy is that? Like, wasn't it 2000 just a few years ago? No? Almost two decades now? Time flies.

Unfortunately my 2019 has been eventful already and not in a good way. I've been to the ER twice, had my first and second (and hopefully last) IVs, been diagnosed with strep throat, had an allergic reaction to the medication that made my face swell (I've refused to look in a mirror for three days), got more medication and a shot in the butt, and now I hope I'm FINALLY on the mend. Oh, this is also taking place after having a cold for three weeks.

Needless to say, I'm ready to be better so I can really get my 2019 started! I've spent the last 2.5 weeks on the couch trying to let my body heal, but I guess it was enjoying streaming Netflix a lot and decided to make me sick a few more days. So in the meantime, our house is a mess and we still have stuff in suitcases from our trip to Singapore/Malaysia. I keep having to remind myself that life goes on, even with a dirty house and the Christmas decor still out, and I'll get everything back in order "one day".

Casey has been the greatest blessing during these last few weeks, attending to my every need, holding my hand in the ER as I freaked out about the needles and IVs, making me food so I don't have to get up, attempting to handle the laundry (ya'll know that's a JOB), staying up with me all night as I fight fevers and sleeplessness, taking care of (and spoiling) Oxford. The list goes on and on.

The last few weeks haven't been fun, but it has forced me to work on focusing on my blessings instead of my temporary problems. That's a tough one for me to do sometimes. Most people don't believe it because I try to be positive, but I'm naturally pretty melancholy, a glass-half-empty type of person. This can be mentally unhealthy, so focusing on the good helps me turn my mindset around! Over the last few years I've learned that I am the one who chooses my attitude, and gratitude helps me get my attitude in check!

So here are some things I'm thankful for.

• That I have a husband who treats me like a queen, even when I'm a royal pain in the butt.
• That I didn't get strep (or have an allergic reaction) while in Asia. 
• That I get to enjoy our beautiful home and our lovely green velvet vintage couch and comfy papasan all day every day.
• That, even though it's not Christmas anymore, I still get to enjoy our Christmas decor (which is great since we were gone for two weeks of December).
• That I have a lot of friends all over the world who have been covering me in prayer the last few weeks.

See? So much to be thankful for! And today, the sun is streaming through the windows, which puts an extra smile on my (still swollen) face.

When I sat down to write this post I had no idea where I was going, but as words poured out of my brain, I'm realizing that a good word for this year for me would be gratitude or thankfulness. To be intentional about finding the good every single day, even on the bad days and the sick days and the rainy days. There is always good to be found.

Sometimes the good is obvious, like on a day when you're hanging out with your friends in Singapore enjoying milk tea at Selfie Coffee, bubble tea at Gong Cha, Kaya Toast and a Milo Dinosaur at Toast Box (I promise we do things besides eat, but food is one of my favorite things), walking around Chinatown searching for souvenirs, participating in Vacation Bible School with a talented team of young adults and teenagers who've become your second family over the years. Ah yes, those days are good.

Sometimes the good is less noticeable, but it's there. The happy squirrel you spot playing outside the window while you wash dishes. Having a cup of tea in your favorite tea cup. Cuddling with your puppy. Your cute reusable grocery bag. Sunshine streaming through the window. A walk downtown to your favorite coffee shop. All small, simple things, but these small things have great power to remind me of beauty, love, and hope.

So now that this post has gone down a road I never expected it to go down (I guess that's what happens when I don't have a plan), let's end it with some scriptures about thankfulness!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

Here's to having an attitude of gratitude in 2019!

Closing a Chapter

It's the last day of 2015.

2015 has been the worst year of my life. So many unforeseen things have happened. So many things beyond my control. But through it all, I've relied on and trusted in God, and I have faith that He has an incredible 2016 in store for me.

Last night, my youth pastor said, "In 2016, don't be afraid to dream big dreams and pray big prayers." And I realized that I had to let go of my fear. Sure, I've got some big dreams for 2016, but there's a little voice in the back of my head saying, but what if it doesn't happen? And it's kind of scary to think you might put yourself out there and have your plans fail.

Bro. Alan, basically my life mentor, has told me many many times: "Make mistakes. Don't be afraid of failure." I teach this every summer to the high school students I work with at SALT (Student Action Leadership Team). But have I really applied that to my own life?

I'm finally at a place in life where I can go after some of my biggest dreams. To get here, I had to go through some tough stuff. But I'm tougher than the tough stuff. I've come out stronger and wiser. And now there are possibilities to do great things with my life. To be a part of things that are bigger than me. And I don't want to be afraid to go after those things.

I have chosen two words to be my theme for 2016. The first is peace, because I've truly learned to experience the peace that God gives during the hard times. I want to continue to live in His peace. The second word is adventure. This one kind of came by accident. When it came time for me to find a 2016 planner, I decided to splurge on a Erin Condren calendar, but my splurging only goes so far so I got the cheapest one I could find. This is the cover:

At first I figured I'd replace it after a while, since the covers are interchangeable, but then I realized that it's the perfect phrase for this new stage in my life. It is time for adventure. It's time for new things. It's time for big dreams and big prayers. It's time to expect more. It's time to stop being afraid.

I had a favorite book series when I was in middle school, and the main character always quoted the verse "What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee" (Psalms 56:3). I find myself repeating this when I'm scared. Now, however, I have a few more verses I like to quote when I'm unsure of where life will take me.

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?
Luke 12:25-26 NLT  

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT

The Bible is clear: don't worry; trust God. He is always with me (Psalms 16:8) and with Him, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

So this year, I dare to dream big. I dare to pray big. I will go on adventures, and I will trust God. I will allow His peace to overtake me and defeat my worries.

Ultimately, I pray that His will will be done in my life. Proverbs 19:21 says, "You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail." I want his purpose for my life. I want him to make beautiful things from the ashes. I refuse to allow my past and my downfalls to define me. Instead, I will allow God to make me into who and what He wants me to be.