2019 devotionals

Hanging out in the Portland airport book shop was very enjoyable and productive and introduced me to one of the  new  devotions I have picked for myself in 2019.

What if God Wrote your to-do list  has 52 short little chapters which I plan to read one chapter a week, the whole point of this devotion. This one looks pretty light. The first chapter is to make your bed daily, which is usually what I do anyway. 

Something not so light is the other devotion I have for 2019. Its also a weekly devotion, Living the Christian Year. Its not so light reading. Its based on the liturgical year. I'm not quite sure this is the right book for me (a non-catholic) but I’m going to give it a try. It’s also a 52 chapter cook and set up as one chapter a week. 

2019 I'm ready for you

2019 planner has been chosen. 

Getting a new yearly planner is the adult version of getting new school supplies. It was my favorite time of the year! Everything was so crisp and clean and new. That's how I feel now. I love a new planner. I plan to celebrate with some new pens (my favorite ones here).

This is the first year I am going with  a recollection planner from Michaels. I actually went to Michaels to get the happy planner, but liked this one better. Its a knock off of the very pricy and popular Erin Condren planner, but its  $17.99 (not $57),  so it is hard to beat.   An added benefit is I love it and think I will be very very happy with it.

Over the years, I've used a lot of different planners. Some expensive, and some not so much. I've used the happy planner (twice), the Christian planner, The Best is Yet to Come planner, Blue Sky planner from Target, and even created my own with blank notebooks, long before bulletin journals were a thing. This year, I used the She Plans planner. I liked them all to varying degrees, but have a few complaints about each one of them too.

I also picked up a set of the 2019 Powersheets, a goal setting workbook. I've been using these for the past 5 or 6 years. Sometimes, I don't buy the set, I just follow along with the prep on this blog.  I have tried other systems,  last year it was this one (which is free right now), but I always come back to the Powersheets.  They are really the best and are by far, my favorite. But I have to admit, I can do it without the book, but it is a lot easier to keep up with when you actually buy the book and have the exact tools. I'm excited I got it again this year. It was the right choice.

Now, I am picking out my devotional books I'll follow along with in 2019. More on this later.

June Goals

All in all, May was pretty successful in the goal department. Almost every single thing I wanted to get accomplished was done including a few more things. Carpet went in, a photo album  of wedding photos was made and  the back porch got a little attention. Not on the list, but the front porch also got some attention, as well as a few areas in my husband's house that he is trying to sell.

June is hot and its going to be slow going around here. What am I hoping to get accomplished for June? Not very ambitious, but things that need some attention:

1. Organize the makeup area and clean off the sink area (this has already been done! I had to confiscate a drawer that didn't belong to me, but I'm so happy to have the clutter off the countertops).

2. Clean out and organize the nightstand drawers.

3. Throw my husband a nice birthday party and celebrate his birthday well. (This has  happened as well. He had a huge and happy birthday weekend and loved his birthday cake (it was Paula Deen strawberry cake). 

4. Get wedding rings to the jewelry store for insurance inspection.

5. Get to Gym once a week. I went one time last month  :( 

6. Get one or two book shelves in the dining room set up. (this has been done as well).

May Goals

First of all, how is it already May? That just seems impossible...

Second, April goals were not completely met.   I did see some progress and I'm still pretty happy about what did get accomplished.

And now, May goals:

1.  Get the carpet installed in the upstairs. It was on my April list, and did not get accomplished due to finances. Carpet is costly. I'm pretty sure its going to happen this month. Fingers crossed. 

2. Use my time off of work productively and return to work rested and refreshed and ready to go.

3. Get wedding photos printed and a few in frames. Still waiting on the professional pics but there were a couple of ones on cell phones that are frame-worthy.  My friends started me an album from the shower, and I will just continue it through the wedding and honeymoon.

4. Clean off the back porch and get some furniture on it. This sounds easier than it will be. There are currently two sinks, two light fixtures, an old shop vac, an old dog bed the cat sometimes sleeps on and the like. This will all be donated- hopefully to an organization that will come pick it up- The new furniture is actually just old furniture from my new husband's house that is also moving in.

5. Go back to the Gym. I joined a Gym about 3 months ago and started walking on the treadmill for 30-45 minutes watching TV  4-5 times a week. I don't really like it, but I feel better afterwards. In the recent busy-ness, I have not been in about 3 weeks. I want to get back in the habit.

2017 goal planning

Can it be called goal planning if you don't actually make goals?

Like last year (here), and the year before that (here) I did the Lara Casey thing..... But, I'm not really doing much goal setting or making any goals this year.  Instead I made what feels like a to-do list...

This year I am going to:

1. Take two big vacations.

One during my birthday week in February (that conveniently coincides with Mardi Gras and 4 days off work) to Vermont (here), and one later in the year which is still up in the air but will probably involve me and a friend from Boston heading to Maine (here).

2. Attend the Propel Women Conference.

Their third conference and my third trip. They haven't released the events dates and cities yet, and it would be more prudent to pick the one closest to me (last year it was Jackson, MS),  I'm throwing off prudence and hoping for an excuse to see California again this year. (I guess that will be my third big trip of the year).

3. Getting my house completely rebuilt.

Since I can't hang doors, install bathtubs and build cabinets, there is not much I can do to actually rebuild this house, but there is going to come a point in the rebuilding nightmare fiasco ordeal process  when it'll turn into fun. I'm keeping my eye on that prize and vowing, when the time for the fun begins,  I'm going to pick out doorknobs, and put in closet shelves, and pick out a bathtub with joy and fun.  But its not fun right now. My goal is to actually have fun when it comes time for the fun stuff to start.

4. Buy a Michael Kors watch.

I want a Michael Kors watch, but I don't want to pay for a Michael Kors watch. I am willing to pay 1/4 of the price for a slightly used one at a consignment shop. I've got my eyes peeled. One shop in town currently has two of them, but I don't particularly like the style of either. I'm holding out for that special one.