Simple Goals January 2015

01 Thursday Jan 2015

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Happy New Year, 2015!

Over the past couple of years I have learned something about myself, big year long goals really fizzle out over the course of just a few months.  With a hubby working on the road, life seems to take many turns and I find myself flexing and shifting right along.  This past year I found that setting a few simple goals, and maybe a couple short term goals works best.

What I have worked through and found for the first half of 2015 is pretty simple.

*In terms of my health – MOVE, SLEEP, EAT

Be 20 pounds lighter by December 2015

MOVE 10 miles a week, SLEEP (Rest my body)

Eat (Nourish)

I am also adding a change to monitoring my INR and going back to an anticoagulant clinic.

*Education –

A photography course in January, then practice through the spring.

Spiritual Disciplines –

Continue  memorizing James 1

Also, the section a month Scripture Memory Plan and the Salvation Basics Memory plan from Kathy Howard’s Free Discipleship Tools.

I am also very excited to be planning to Read through the Bible with She Reads Truth community.

Monthly Reading across genres.

This month, January, I am planning to read:

#OwnYourLifeBookOwn Your Life (Sally Clarkson), Fringe Hours (Jessica Turner), Mothering From Scratch (Means & Helgemo), The Hobbit (JRR Tolkien)

There are two audiobooks on my iphone right now, The Snow Queen and The Life of Pi.

Life of Pi

One overnight trip with each of my immediate family.  (Hubby and 3 youngest daughters)  I was able to do this in 2014 and what a joy and blessing it was to me personally, and to the relationships.

 

So that’s it.  Just some simple goals  and a lot of joy facing the new year!

How about you?  Are you goal setting?

fyi, I edited this post some after reading this piece by Mary Bacon

Stretching Dollars – Cash Back Programs

30 Tuesday Dec 2014

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One of my financial goals for 2015, to help in stretching dollars, is to eliminate our bimonthly cash “gift” budget and to put that into an account for Christmas gift giving.  Instead of having a cash budget this year, I am working diligently with some cash back and gift card reward opportunities.  In November I shared with you about jingit and swagbucks.

Today I want to share with you another cash back opportunity.

Top CashBack

A Little About TopCashback
“From Electronics to Cosmetics and Cell Phones to Vacations and Clothing we offer a wide range of over 3,200 merchants who offer cashback and discounts on their online purchases including merchants such as GNC, Walmart and Groupon. At TopCashback you will find the best rewards and money back offers. In addition, TopCashback features Free Cashback rewards that do not require a purchase to be made so money for nothing! Simply register with us, select your retailer and shop as you would normally then claim your cashback.”

In 2014 I received $91.00 in cashback rebates, paid to my paypal account. While that doesn’t seem like much, it was very simple to accumulate that little bit. Anytime I am making an online purchase, I check TopCashback to see if they have a cash back offer with the online store or website I am shopping through. If so, I click their link and complete my purchase. The cash back amounts are then paid out according to the site’s timeframe.

There is also a mobile app for iPhone and Android.

 

Now, TopCashback is not my favorite option, but is has put a little padding in the gift giving budget. I like having multiple options, to find the best deal. If you sign up for TopCashback via one of the links in this post I do receive a one time bonus.

So if you do, THANK You.

Winter Break Projects

27 Saturday Dec 2014

Posted by in Craft Projects, Joy, Life Long Learner, Uncategorized

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Winter break projects are something I’ve been really looking forward to.  This fall was a big change, not more or less busy, but more out of the house.  We are much more accustomed to being home, working a little here and there on creative projects than we have been able to do in this season.  And part of our home is still under remodel construction, displaying items and creating some clutter in other parts of the house.  But, over the next nine days I am hoping for the restoration and joy that creative endeavors provide each of us!

Here are a few fun things I found while searching for a couple of quick to knit items.

Travel Mug cozies

Winter cozies

Tardis cozy!

I haven’t really found a pattern that I want to dig into, but I am planning to finally put the finishing touches on a cousin quilt.  Maybe by New Year’s Day it will be ready for gifting it to the precious little, but not so little, one to whom it belongs.  Then I might be able to choose a pattern and pull out my knitting needles.

Cousin Quilt

And then there is the playhouse table cloth that I started for the same little one.  It had to be set aside when my temporary work space exploded with the Christmas tree & packages.

How about you all?  Any exciting or quieting creative endeavors that you want to share?  I do hope there is time for rest, reflection and creative enjoyment for you in the quieter days of this season.

 

WINNER ~ Blogelina 1 Day Giveaway!

26 Friday Dec 2014

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Kortney who blogs over at one deep drawer is the winner of the Blogelina Giveaway today!  Congratulations Kortney.  Please email me A.S.A.P. at byquietwaters at gmail dot com so we can make arrangements with Blogelina!

31 Days of Blogging Giveaways

If You Don’t Have a Joyous God

21 Sunday Dec 2014

Posted by in Celebrations, Gratitude, Joy, Life Long Learner, One Life, Uncategorized

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This week we will be joining with extended family to celebrate the life of a kind, funny, Jesus loving uncle, father, grandfather.  The sharing of this video is so timely for me, so maybe for you too?  My Uncle Paul was one of the funniest and kindest men I’ve ever know.  His ability to correct me without making me feel demeaned is something I remember from my rebellious youth.  Thinking about it now, I imagine that Uncle Paul could see that there was more behind my deviant behavior.  His humor lightened the mood wherever he was.  It is with a grateful heart that I remember Uncle Paul, and the joy he shared so generously, as we head off to celebrate his life.

Please take a brief 5 minutes and reflect with me on Joy.

“If you don’t have a joyous God, you better run for cover.”  Dallas Willard

This Moment, with Daughters

19 Friday Dec 2014

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{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A series of photos – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

chica flower mazy flower petal flower

Happy 12th Birthday!

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

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Twelve years ago this week, this bundle of sweetness and spice entered our lives.IMG_4439  What a surprise and what a delight is she!  We celebrated this past weekend with a very small group of friends (remodel projects continue in this house, limiting space) and then out to breakfast on the actual day with an older sister and a little niece.

A little fun was to be had with treats  She made these raspberry bites for her birthday party, we made  these cupcakes for classroom treats.

My babies are really growing up.  This sweet girl wraps up elementary in the spring and heads into the youth group this summer.  Growing. Up.

 

This Moment

12 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by in Uncategorized, {This Moment}

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This Moment, that represents a hundred others, captured in this photo by a sweet daughter.

20 years, Married LoveTwenty years of love, tears, work, play, parenting, traveling, love.

Another Blogelina Giveaway!

11 Thursday Dec 2014

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31 Days of Blogging Giveaways

As I get things around here ready for the December 26th Blogelina giveaway, I wanted to remind you that Blogelina is giving away something everyday from November 28 to December 28.  Click the picture above, or here, to see what is happening today, and to enter!