Intentional-2011

Intentional-that is the word I have chosen to define my 2011. How does intentional look for me?

I have often said that I am a check it off the list kind of girl. My quiet time, house work for each day is written on a list, activities I will do with Jake, places we need to go, things we need to buy, and even dates with Jason. However, sometimes I get so wrapped up with what is on my to do list. Sometimes I just want to fly through each thing to mark it off and get the next thing that needs to be done. Only after each item is checked off will I be able to enjoy intentional time with what really matters.

But here is the truth...A LOT of times not everything on that to do list gets checked off. This means a lot of days go by that I am just checking things off and never taking things in. Absorbing the here and now.

So here is how intentional in 2011 looks for me

Still a to do list, but with intentional things. Not time limit, no hurrying to the next thing just to get it off my list. Taking time to make it all meaningful!

Intentional with my quiet time. I have already confessed this, but a lot of times I just hurry and read say a quick prayer and check it off the list. I want to sit in quiet, to read God's word and actually take it in. To know how he is directing me to apply what I just read to my life. Not read it and forget it for the day. After all it is checked off my list. I am planning to spend time intentionally reading and praying and seeking God's word. Jake is usually ready to go down stairs by 6:45. Around 6am he is in our room. So it is difficult for me to get up before Jake to have a quiet time. We have gotten into a routine and once I get Jake his breakfast he will watch about little bit of tv, knowing that mommy is reading her Bible and not to interrupt. I am also going to start giving Jake a few devotional papers he can work on while I am having my quiet time. So he can get into the habit of having a quiet time of his own. Of course he can't read, but he can look at pictures and color.

Intentionally pursuing my husband and our marriage. Not to let the time just casually pass us by. Most nights when Jason gets home(which is late), I am ready for bed. We end up having some conversation and then turning to the tv until I declare I can't keep my eyes open any longer and off to bed I go. Jason usually not to follow for an hour or more. But then after a few days of this I think we really need to work on this. One day it will just be us and I don't want to sit around watching tv. I want to be intentional about making Jason a priority. I want to intentionally plan dates and getaways just for us. Our dates usually come up because Jake is with his grandparents and we figure we might as well go to dinner. But this year I am determined to intentionally plan time for each other. And not just time going out, but when he gets home to turn off the tv and computer. To sit and enjoy each others company.

Being intentional in the time I spend with Jake. Some weeks are days are filled with go go go and I feel like I never really spent time with Jake. Yes, we were together all day, but really is running here and there intentional quality time? We spend a few hours a day doing schoolish activities. (He is only 3...I hesitate to call it school). We read, and play games, and do craft projects. But usually all of these things are planned into our day and once they are done...Oh one more thing to check off my list and I am off to clean. I do feel like it is good for Jake to spend some time playing on his own, but I don't want our time together to be so scheduled and checked off a list. I want to leisurely sit in the play room with him and play being intentionally paying attention to what he wants.

That is how intentional looks in those areas. I have so much more to share, but this post is getting way too long.

Word theme 2011

Resolutions are usually forgotten by the end of January, but a word can be an overall for the whole year.

That is one reason I love the word theme for the year. Every thing I do, each new thing I take on or let go of, the conversations and activities in our home can be tested against the word of the year. I can do this several times a day or even just a few times a week. Reflecting on the word and comparing whether the way I have been living is standing up to the word of the year.

Yes, you can always do these things even without a word. You can reflect on goals or resolutions you have set to see that your actions are leading up to these things. But to be able to think on just one word to know that you are living up to that word seems so simple. ( I do admit that I have never chosen a word theme so I could be mistaken)


Choosing a word to commit for the whole year hasn't been super simple. After reviewing several areas of my life I wrote down words that came to mind. Words that would mean a change in the things I wrote down that I didn't like. But also words that could apply to all areas of my life not just one or a couple. The word has to encompass it all. I had a post written out two post for the word theme one using the word Moments and then this one(intentional). I was torn between what my word should be. But at church this morning our pastor spoke on having a plan for all areas of your life and being intentional (he really used this word). Umm...hello God I hear you. Intentional is supposed to be word.

INTENTIONAL!!!!
Done on purpose, with focus, and meaning.
If you don't lead life intentionally, your life will randomly lead you. (from our Pastor...he may have gotten in somewhere else too, but I don't remember if he said)

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." Proverbs 16:3
" The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty" Proverbs 21:5

I am a total type A with a to do list for each and every thing. Confession time: sometimes I write things on my to do list just so I can mark them off. A lot of times when I am doing one thing I am thinking of other things that need to be done or what I am going to do next. I will never not have a to do list, but I want to be intentional with each thing I am doing. Without thinking of what needs to be done next and being intentional to take the time to focus on what is right here right now. Having an intentional plan will allow me to enjoy each moment and not randomly end up somewhere.

In making my word intentional this doesn't mean I am going to try and control everything. I know that only God knows what the plans are for me. I am just going to be intentional with what I am doing each day.

You might remember I wrote about Ann Voskamp and her book "One Thousand Gifts: A dare to live fully right where you are." The idea of writing down the little gifts that you see throughout the day. By being intentional with my relationships and what I am doing and making a commitment to write down my gifts that I see throughout the day this will help me to be sure that I am being reminded of what my focus is for 2011.

Being INTENTIONAL!!
Intentional in my walk with God, my relationship with Jason,  being a mom to Jake, my health, ministry opportunities, and building friendships and relationships. (thinking I may do a few post about how intentional in these areas looks for me for 2011)
I am so excited about 2011 and seeing where being intentional takes me.

Happy New Year

New Year is so much fun. For the last couple of years we have all gathered at my parent's house for a fun night in. Usually with game playing, conversation, and delicious snack food. It is great to be able to hang out with Jake and all our family and some friends. It is great to not have to worry about getting out and driving with the New Year's Eve drivers.

This year we added a new tradition of a time capsule. I gave everyone the heads up earlier in the week so they could be thinking of what they were going to put in the capsule. It was so fun to see what everyone brought and hear their stories of what each thing was for. It was great to be able to review each person's year through the small things they brought to add to the bucket.

Do you do a time capsule? Do you do one every year? Do you bury it or just have it put up somewhere? Do you look in it every year or set a date for when you will go back and look through it. I would really love to hear your thoughts on this. It was a discussed a lot while we were stuffing our capsule and we aren't for sure what we want to do yet?

 Jake putting in his bitten off paci-he was so excited to put it in

 Not the best picture...putting in my race number from my 1st 5k

 Caleb putting in his John Deere ornament...since he is all about John Deere this year

 Amber putting in pictures of her twin boys

 My step-dad putting in his old business card

 Heather put in her 5k race number too

Jory put in his navy ball coin from this past year

 Mom-putting a picture from her staycation this year. 

We each put in a couple things from the past year. I know that everyone will be thinking of what they are going to put in next years time capsule!

Peaceful December

Did you survive your Christmas? Was it peaceful in your home? I can honestly say that this year I was at peace. I didn't stress about spending money and we really took the time to focus on Jesus this year. It totally made Christmas extremely enjoyable. Not to mention this months challenge lending to a more specified focus on peace.

In just a few short days 2010 will come to an end. I love to spend the time between Christmas and the new year reflecting. Remember all the wonderful moments of that year. Planning for the following year. Making goals & coming up with ways to improve the things I didn't like about that year.

Each new year brings a fresh start.

The final challenge of the December Peace Challenge is this: Find a minute this week to get alone...outside is best. There is something about the big open sky, the trees, and the sounds of nature that help us to see and hear God clearly. Take your Bible with you - visit Matthew 27 and 28, evaluate 2010 and commit 2011 to living your life completely for God.
Courtney at Women Living Well gives you a great check list for evaluating each area of your life. With great questions to reflect over the previous year in each area.

And she also asks you What is your theme word for 2011?  I am working on this now and can't wait to share with all of you my word and little bit about how this final challenge went for me. I should have that up sometime next week.

White Christmas

As I said in my other Christmas post for the first time basically ever(pretty sure no one from 1800 is still living) Georgia experienced a white Christmas. I am sure to those of you in the north this isn't that huge, but for us who hardly ever see snow it was pretty huge. We got about 4 inches total. Just enough to make it look beautiful outside, be fun to play in for a little while and of course in the south to halt just about everything.

Christmas (a long recap)

Come and gone...but I am praying that the spirit of Christmas will live on all year long. In our home, in our life, in the way we act, and in all the moments of every day. The intentional family time, taking the time to play, and making time to focus on Jesus...every day of the year.

I love Christmas. The weeks leading up to the day and of course Christmas Eve & day. We live close to our families so we get to be with almost everyone at some time of Christmas Eve or day.

This year we enjoyed a great lunch with Jason's parents, Uncle and his brother and sister in law were able to be into town Christmas Eve. It is great to be able to spend time with all of them.

From there we headed to Christmas Eve service at church. This year we decided to bring Jake into the service with us. For only being 3 he did great the whole service. We all enjoyed being together worshiping and celebrating the birth of Jesus.

We headed home to put out cookies and milk for santa and sprinkle reindeer food in the grass.

Christmas morning was a bright and early wake up call from Mr. Jake super excited to see what santa had brought him. This year he really got Christmas. He was totally into it way before it was here and it has been so great to wait in anticipation with a three year old. He even really understood that we were actually celebrating the birth of Jesus. We spent a lot of time during Advent focusing on these things and reading Bible verses so that the true meaning of Christmas would be a little overshadowed by the man in the red suit and gifts.

But of course the gifts were a lot of fun too. Jake got the one thing he was hoping santa would bring SKATES! He loves them and was so excited to see them under the tree.

I am writing this post from my new pink lap top from my amazing hubby. He out did himself with my 2 surprises of a lap top and an ipod. I can't wait to get music on my ipod to run to. 

We all snuggled on the couch with a fire burning to read the story of Jesus' birth in Jake's new Bible he recieved. It is so sweet to hear Jake get excited about baby Jesus, Mary(he overheard a lady in the store the other day introduce herself as Mary and was so excited her name was the same as baby Jesus' mom) & Joseph. And that Jesus came to save the world.

After our time at home and enjoying each other & our new gifts. We headed over to my parents house to spend time with all of my siblings. All 5 of us were actually home for Christmas which hasn't happened in several years.

And for the first time since the 1800's we experienced a white Christmas in Georgia.

I think this might be one of my favorite Christmas' EVER!!! Or at least pretty close to the Christmas Eve 8 years ago when Jason proposed to me!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas &  Happy New Year from our family to yours.

Expect it to be quiet around here over the next week or more. I am taking in the time with my family. Rejoicing in our Savior's birth and being in the moment.