The month of January

I'm trying to stay focused on the goals I set for myself for 2014, so at the end of each month I'm going to do a recap.

 

So far so good on my goals.  Of course we are only one month into the year but I am hoping by making myself do a recap each month it will help me stay focused or if I lose focus, it will help me get refocused for the next month.

  

Personal Goals: I completed an unfinished project of cards, mailed out cards of encouragement, organized my night stand, and blessed several ladies that I met from my Lilla Rose business. 

 

Books to Read: I started reading Life Management for Busy Women and then I realized I want to go slower with this book and actually blog as I read so I put it aside and forgot all about it.  I'm going to start reading it again this weekend.

 

Financial Goals: Not doing the greatest job of keeping track of my spending and expenses but I'll try again next month. As for my missions giving, I am excitedly supporting the Kendall family.

 

Food Goals: I'm doing good drinking my water and eating fruits and veggies.  Next month I want to focus more on making wise choices in everything I eat.

 

Crafting Goals:  I used Summer Silhouette stamp set for the first time and made birthday, congratulations, thank you and thinking of you cards.  I also made some masculine thinking of you cards for a customer who special ordered them.  I've been stamping for several years but never really sold many cards.  Already this year God has blessed me with several card orders.  Maybe this year I'll be able to build my card business.  I'm excited to see what God has planned.



 

Spiritual Goals:  I'm happy to report that I stayed on track and followed the reading plan below and it's been fun seeing little things God has been showing me in His word.  I have tried reading through the Bible in a year before and I've never accomplished it.  One of the many things I so admired about Mike is how He accomplished his goals.  I'm praying that God would give me the strength and determination to make it to the finish line.   

JANUARY
1. Gen. 1:1-2:25; Matt. 1:1-2:12; Ps. 1:1-6; Prov. 1:1-6
2. Gen. 3:1-4:26; Matt. 2:13-3:6; Ps. 2:1-12; Prov.1:7-9
3. Gen. 5:1-7:24; Matt. 3:7-4:11; Ps. 3:1-8; Prov. 1:10-19
4. Gen. 8:1-10:32; Matt. 4:12-25; Ps. 4:1-8; Prov. 1:20-23
5. Gen. 11:1-13:4; Matt. 5:1-26; Ps. 5:1-12; Prov. 1:24-28
6. Gen. 13:5-15:21; Matt. 5:27-48; Ps. 6:1-10; Prov. 1:29-33
7. Gen. 16:1-18:19; Matt. 6:1-24; Ps. 7:1-17; Proverb 2:1-5
8. Gen. 18:20-19:38; Matt. 6:25-7:14; Ps. 8:1-9; Prov. 2:6-15
9. Gen. 20:1-22:24; Matt. 7:15:29; Ps. 9:1-12; Prov. 2:16-22
10. Gen. 23:1-24:51; Matt. 8:1-17; Ps. 9:13-20; Prov. 3:1-6
11. Gen. 24:52-26:16; Matt. 8:18-34; Ps. 10:1-15; Prov. 3:7-8
12. Gen. 26:17-27:46; Matt. 9:1-17; Ps. 10:16-18; Prov. 3:9-10
13. Gen. 28:1-29:35; Matt. 9:18-38; Ps. 11:1-7; Prov. 3:11-12
14. Gen. 30:1-31:16; Matt. 10:1-26; Ps. 12:1-8; Prov. 3:13-15
15. Gen. 31:17-32:12; Matt. 10:27-11:6; Ps. 13:1-6; Prov. 3:16-18
16. Gen. 32:13-34:31; Matt. 11:7-30; Ps. 14:1-7; Prov. 3:19-20
17. Gen. 35:1-36:43; Matt. 12:1-21; Ps. 15:1-5; Prov. 3:21-26
18. Gen. 37:1-38:30; Matt. 12:22-45; Ps. 16:1-11; Prov. 3:27-32
19. Gen. 39:1-41:16; Matt. 12:46-13:23; Ps. 17:1-15; Prov. 3:33-35
20. Gen. 41:17-42:17; Matt. 13:24-46; Ps. 18:1-15; Prov. 4:1-6
21. Gen. 42:18-43:34; Matt. 13:47-14:13; Ps. 18:16-34; Prov. 4:7-10
22. Gen. 44:1-45:28; Matt. 14:14-36; Ps. 18:35-50; Prov. 4:11-13
23. Gen. 46:1-47:31; Matt. 15:1-28; Ps. 19:1-14; Prov. 4:14-19
24. Gen. 48:1-49:33; Matt. 15:29-16:12; Ps. 20:1-9; Prov. 4:20-27
25. Gen. 50:1-Ex. 2:10; Matt. 16:13-17:9; Ps. 21:1-13; Prov. 5:1-6
26. Ex. 2:11-3:22; Matt. 17:10-27; Ps. 22: 1-18; Prov. 5:7-14
27. Ex. 4:1-5:21; Matt. 18:1-22; Ps. 22:19-31; Prov. 5:15-21
28. Ex. 5:22-7:24; Matt. 18:23-19:12; Ps. 23:1-6; Prov. 5:22-23
29. Ex. 7:25-9:35; Matt. 19:13-30; Ps. 24:1-10; Prov. 6:1-5
30. Ex. 10:1-12:13; Matt. 20:1-28; Ps. 25:1-11; Prov. 6:6-11
31. Ex. 12:14-13:17; Matt. 20:29-21:22; Ps. 25:12-22; Prov. 6:12-15

January Cruise

Last year Kathy's assistant went on maternity leave in July and decided she wanted to be out thru the end of the year.  When we found this out, Kathy realized she wasn't going to be able to take any time off work until the new year so we booked a cruise for us to take first thing 2014.

 

We went out of Long Beach, California and our two ports were Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta both of which I've been to before so I enjoyed some quiet time on the ship.  I did snap some pictures so I could share with y'all.  Hope you enjoy!

 

 

 



 

Kathy wore my favorite flexi clip during the cruise and I had to snap a picture of how stunning it looks in her dark hair.  Kathy's hair is just gorgeous!

 

The cruise ship we went on was actually the same cruise ship we took on our very first family cruise in 2005.  Walking around and looking at the ship's décor brought back lots of wonderful memories.  This was the first cruise I actually booked a cabin by myself.   

 

These "pods", by the 21 and older pool area, are fabulous to relax in.

 

I loved the grape vine design in the dining room.

 

Our head waiter was fabulous and was always pushing more food on us than what we ordered but this night Paul decided to order three different entrees to try

This picture is for Maureen - evidence that I did eat my Chocolate Melting Cake in remembrance of Mike :-)



Dad's Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Dad's birthday when we went to California to go on our cruise (pictures from the cruise coming in a later post). 

Our first stop was Rancho Cucamonga, California.  Rancho Cucamonga is one of our favorite weekend getaway places.  The drive isn't terribly long and the best part about it is that there is a Chick-Fil-A there for us to enjoy.  My favorite place to stay there is The Hyatt Place, besides being a great hotel, it's in an excellent location. It's right next to a mall, plenty of restaurants and there is even this quaint little scrapbook store (which I am totally amazed is still open since most small scrapbook stores have closed).

For Dad's birthday he wanted to go to Benihana to celebrate.

 

There is also a Dave and Busters near the hotel so one night we went and played a few games.

It was a fun start to our vacation.  Now to get the cruise pictures posted!

Matthew 6:25-7:14

Do Not Be Anxious

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?^{[a] 28} And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
³⁴ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Judging Others

7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. ³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

⁶ “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Ask, and It Will Be Given

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ⁹ Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

The Golden Rule

¹² “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy^[b] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴ For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Bible Gateway

Update:  I have to share in case anyone else wants to use this cool new feature on Bible Gateway.  It's all thanks to this one little button "Add Parallel"

 

 

I stumbled across this really cool feature on Bible Gateway, of course I don't know how I got it to do this for me but I love it so much I wanted to share and see if anyone knows how to do this.

Week ONE in Review

Happy New Year...how great it is to start a fresh new year!

 

My Pastor challenged us to read thru the Bible this year and he gave us a reading schedule.  I was intrigued when I saw that each day I would be reading from 4 different books in the Bible.  I have committed to reading through it and I must say God has already opened my eyes to details in the Bible that I've never noticed before.  I'm excited to continue reading and seeing how God brings His word to light.  Each week I hope to blog my reading accomplishments, it will help keep me accountable and on track.

 

Jan 1 ~ Genesis 1:1-2:25; Matthew 1:1-2:12; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 1:1-6

Jan 2 ~ Genesis 3:1-4:26; Matthew 2:13-3:6; Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 1:7-9

Jan 3 ~ Genesis 5:1-7:24; Matthew 3:7-4:11; Psalm 3:1-8; Proverbs 1:10-19

Jan 4 ~ Genesis 8:1-10:32; Matthew 4:12-25; Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 1:20-23

Jan 5 ~ Genesis 11:1-13:4; Matthew 5:1-26; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 1:24-28

Jan 6 ~ Genesis 13:5-15:21; Matthew 5:27-48; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 1:29-33
Jan 7 ~ Genesis 16:1-18:19; Matthew 6:1-24; Psalm 7:1-17; Proverbs 2:1-5

 

Lots has been accomplished already this first week of 2014.  We were able to have a dear family from church over for dinner.  Well actually there are three families represented here; mother ~ Barbara, daughter ~ Mary, son ~ Jim and daughter in law ~ Missy.  It has been such a joy to watch Mary grow in the Lord this past year.  Please pray that God will draw Barbara, Jim and Missy to Him.  Jim and Missy live right around the corner from us so I look forward to having them over more often and getting to know them more.

Missy, I am happy to announce, is a professional hairdresser, so we all got a hair cut that night.

Kathy and Mom made alfajores for dessert, because of course, we had to introduce them to  Argentine food.  We also made empanadas but I didn't get a picture of those.

 

I've been busy in the craft room; with Dad's birthday being January 3rd, I focused on making masculine birthday cards.



 

I was working in the craft room when I found a drawer full of unfinished projects.  One of my goals this year is to finish projects.  This was my first one.  I remember starting this project back when I was living in Georgia.  I can't believe it, because that has been over 3 years ago.  I'm so glad this project is DONE!  Now onto my next unfinished project.

 

On my last missions trip to New Mexico I met Christine from Texas.  She and I worked together in the kitchen for VBS as well as for feeding the team dinner each night.  We worked well together because she was a take charge kind of person and I was happy to be the helper.  She and her husband planned a trip out here to bring in the new year so we got together for dinner one night.

Kathy is so talented!  She found out that Paul's boss' daughter loved the snowman from the movie Frozen so Kathy sat down and in no time made this adorable snowman hat.

 Kathy also spent Saturday afternoon teaching a friend's daughter how to crochet so she could make hats and donate them to hospitals for children with cancer.

 

Yesterday I had my teeth cleaning at the dentist.  Happy to say, no cavities, however, I do have to go back to have a crown replaced because the dentist noticed a gap that needs to be fixed so I don't end up having to get a root canal in the future.

 

It's been a wonderfully full week.  Lots of fellowshipping, lots of things accomplished.  How was your first week of the year?

Goals for 2014

The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on the past and focus on the future.  Setting goals helps by providing focus.  I want my life to bring God glory!

Spiritual Goals:

• read thru the Bible
• increase my time in prayer and pray more specifically
• develop a more intimate relationship with God

Personal Goals:

• develop healthy personal disciplines 
• complete one unfinished project per month
• organize, de-clutter and decorate my bedroom
• send out cards of encouragement
• bless a different person/family each month

Books to Read:

• Life Management for Busy Women
• Embracing God's Grace
• Loving God with All Your Mind
• Nurturing a Heart of Humility

Financial Goals:

• track spending/expenses for budget
• give more sacrificially to missions

Food Goals:

• drink 90 oz of water each day
• eat 4 fruits and veggies each day

Crafting Goals:

• use a new stamp set each month
• make at least 20 cards per month

How about you?  Have you identified goals for 2014?