Weekly Menu

This is also the week our Co-Op begins again so Friday's are long, tiring, but very fun days.  We were given some amazing gift cards for Christmas so I do plan to enjoy them a few times on Fridays for the sole purpose of not having to cook!  

Here's the plan for the coming week.  

Friday - Super simple dinner - Pot Pies.  They taste great, are filling, and all I have to do is pop them in the oven.  

Saturday - We have Darryl's family Christmas party today so that is where we will be for dinner.  

Sunday - Joshua and Nate are heading out on a youth activity after church.  They did this last year as well; we ordered pizza after church to eat lunch before they headed out.  I'm assuming we will do the same thing again this year. 

Monday - Beef and Pasta Soup and rolls

Tuesday - Homemade Spaghetti and Garlic Bread 

Wednesday - Youth Group - Soup and Bread

Thursday - Amish Breakfast Casserole and Banana Bread

2025 Goals - January

 

It's been a year or so since I've shared my monthly goals.  Don't get me wrong, I still had them.  I just didn't share them 😀  This year I worked hard on writing my "25 for 2025" goals for the accountability group that I am part of with some friends and then took that list to create my January plan. 

A couple of things to understand about writing goals - just because you write a goal doesn't mean it will happen.  Why?  Because life and time don't always go as planned.  A goal might seem important at the 1st of the month but then things shift even a week into the month and you realize you need to do something else instead or first.  As a goal oriented person, I am perfectly fine when I don't accomplish all of my goals because what goals do for me is give me direction.  That list helps me focus on specific things instead of wondering what I should be doing.  Of course accomplishing goals feels GREAT!  It is such an awesome feeling to check something off of the list!  I will come back at the beginning of February and let you know how I did. (I bet you can't wait).  

Any, here is my list for January!  

1. Follow the declutter 365 plan for January and do every task that applies to me. 
2. Follow Flylady weekly plan for decluttering then cleaning each room - 15 minutes at a time.
3. Pick a room cleaning - 15 minutes decluttering
1. January's room is the bathroom 
4. Spend 15-20 minutes a day cleaning the basement - this months goal is the laundry room side
5. Finish all of the odds and end in Josh's room (hang things, paint closet) 
6. Finish things in Nate's room (hanging things and fixing a drawer)
7. Replaced burned out lightbulbs inside and outside
8. Go on a date with Darryl
9. Read!  As many books as possible but at least the 2 for my book clubs
10. Do my daily Bible study, prayer journal and word study
11. Scrapbook 
1. Finish 2017 and 2018
2. Upload 2024 photos to Snapfish
3. On January 31st upload to Snapfish, order and then scrapbook 1/2025 by the end of February
4. Order large prints for my wall
5. Do virtual scrapbooking weekend
12. Co-Op
1. Plan Joyful weeks 1-4 and make a sub plan
13. Go through my music books and pick one song to practice
14. Update some seasonal items 
15. Write my blogs each week
16. Finish taxes
17. Plan Darryl's birthday (February)
18. Plan Valentine's Day
19. Plan February goals/activities by the end of January
20. Finances - continue to work on tracking everything and limit spending
21. Computer clean -up - Go through every file on my computer and clean things out.
22. Update Josh's gradebook by January 31st
23. Host Nate's birthday party (1/25)

Weekly Song - Consumed By Fire - What If (Official Lyric Video)

This is another fairly new song.  A friend of mine shared it and I just really enjoyed it.  I love a song that offers encouragement in the lyrics and is just a great song to listen to.  Enjoy! 

Our Weekly Snapshot

 Throughout the summer I usually do a weekly post about our "adventure's" (or lack there of HA!).  As we enter 2025 I'm hoping to spend a little more time with my little blog - it's really just a fun past time for me and after several years of not having extra time to write I feel like I have a little more time.  Hopefully I can be consistent in what I'm posting . .. but life also gets busy sometimes so we shall see!  Anyway, this post is just going to be a snapshot of our week.  

So, here is the first installment of "Our Weekly Snapshot"

Sunday - January 5

The Detroit Lions won their game and are 1st place in their division with a bye for week 1!  yes! 

Tuesday, January 7

We had an awesome field trip to "Our Daily Bread" with our Co-Op.  We were able to tour the whole facility and learn about everything they do beyond just printing "Our Daily Bread" devotionals. 

Then we enjoyed lunch at Chick-Fil-A with my mom.  It was super yummy and we laughed a lot. 

Friday, January 10

We received our first real snow of 2025 and had to shovel the driveway.  It was quick and easy though thankfully. 

Weekly Menu

 All the Christmas decorations are put away and we now settle into the cold, dark days of winter.  I don't really mind them, honestly, as we try to tuck in and get school work and projects done.  It just means making sure meals are planned and groceries are on hand just in case the weather turns nasty! 

Here's the plan for the coming week:

Friday - French Toast Sticks, Bacon and Sausage 

Saturday -We are heading to my mom's for dinner.  

Sunday - Meatballs and French fries 

Monday - Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup and Crescents

Tuesday - Grammy's (not mine HA!) Swiss Steak, Mashed Potatoes and Corn

Wednesday - Youth Group Night! Pot Pies for Darryl and I

Thursday - Shrimp and Grits and Corn Bread

Word of the Year

 Every year for the past several (I don't remember how many) I have picked a word or phrase of the year.  The idea behind this is to find a focus (the word) and then try to shape goals, reading, etc. around that word.  I've picked words in the past such as simplify, discipline, and expectations.  Some years I really struggle with picking a word and other years it just pops into my brain.  This years word did just that - it was mid-November and it just hit me that my word for 2025 should be: 

It's such a simple word yet it has such incredible meaning. To worship something is to prize it above everything else; an expression of reverence or adoration of God. That is where I want my focus to be this coming year.  I want to learn more about the act of Worship; learn about ways I can worship; make the time to worship God through what I read, prayer, and even what I watch.  Basically, I want my main focus to be on God and His word; to grow in my walk with God.  Why?  Simply because it brings peace and joy to my life and it sets an example to my teens.  Hopefully it will also be something that my guys learn from as well and have a desire to increase in their own life. 

I spent some time in December finding some things to help me in this journey.  I have done some searching for books on Worship and have a whole wish list full of options.  The first book I plan to read is by Ruth Chou Simons called "Beholding and Becoming; The Act of Everyday Worship".  (The second one on the list is called "How Great is Our God; Living a Worship Led Life in a Me-Driven World).  I'm excited about both of these books!  I also have several devotional books already lined up because I picked up this past year and barely started them - which is part of my Worship Goal - to spend more time studying God's word.  I have some Bible reading goals.  

A few other things I plan to start the year with is less TV and more WCSG (our local Christian Radio Station).  We actually already listen to WCSG throughout the school day but I am the main TV watcher in our house.  I'm finding that even shows I enjoy on HGTV and Food Network are including more things I don't enjoy or agree with.  We've talked as a family of possibly turning off the cable after the super bowl (we do love our football) and then using the time between Football and Baseball season to figure out a less expensive way to watch TV.  By doing this I hope to have more time for reading and Bible study but also for listening to worship music. Another thing on my list is to work on taking sermon notes so I can review the truths from the message.  I used to take notes on every message but lost that when I had kids who I had to keep busy too.  I found a neat planner that includes a place for sermon notes that I plan to check out.  (I love a multi-use planner!) I plan to start a prayer log/journal.  I want to be able to look back at the end of the year and see the evidence of how God has answered prayers. Finally, I have a short list of Podcasts I am interested in listening too.  I have never gotten into Podcasts but I just feel like it will be another way to learn and to worship.  

Some years I try to build my yearly goals and plans around my word of the year but this word doesn't necessarily lead that direction with a few exceptions.  I would like create a place for my worship - Bible Study and reading - a corner or nook where I can have my things set up and ready to use.  In a small house, those places are hard to find so I might have to get creative!  Another part of this is to attend concerts when we can - we love the free summer concerts.  Beyond that, it is hard to go due to the expense but I'm hoping that maybe we (or Nate and I as we love them most) can attend one or two.  

So how will I measure "success"?  There are tangible ways such as counting the books I read or tracking how many Bible Studies I finish.  Beyond that though I think it will be more looking at growth and what becomes important to me throughout this next year.  I plan to share my journey throughout the year when I can (I don't have as much time to blog as I used to - homeschooling two high schoolers takes a lot of brain power HA!).  

I'll share more in another post but I'm also hoping to get more into my goal planning this year.  I'd like to get back to sharing more of that as well.  

Weekly Song - Casting Crowns - Crazy People (Official Lyric Video)

Welcome to a new year and more music!  Did you know I love music? HA!  Well I do.  I love great Christian music and am so thankful for our local Christian radio station WCSG as they share both new and old songs.  This weeks song is a few years old but I heard it recently and was reminded of how great it really is - because aren't we all a little bit crazy? :-)