Goals

so, i don't usually use the term "new years resolution" for some reason. 

i tend to stick to the simple word "goals". 

and the way i usually arrive at the ideas for my goals is through

reflection from the previous year, prayer, and having my eyes 

opened to some random things that just plain stink in this home (or more likely this heart!) 

and need to change.  change does not come over night darn it!
i am trying to learn that the fact is that these goals
in life need to be cultivated, practiced and prayed over.  lately i have been asking
God to give me a heart of conviction.  not for any one thing, but for many
things.  that i would be a woman who would stand stronger for Him and trust
Him with everything.
i have to apologize for writing so all over the place.  i am used to journaling for only myself
where it's okay that things are scattered and make no sense to anyone else!
here's a few pics of these sweet people God has given me to serve...

okay, this last one was to make you laugh.


here goes...some of my thoughts and goals for the year

Spiritual:

-Continuing to make my morning quiet/devotion time a priority

-Digging deeper into the Bible with Conviction

-Intercessory prayer

-Praying with more people right there on the spot!  Let's do it not just say we are going to!

-Be about a million times better example of Jesus to my kids 

-Learn more about Him so I can share more about Him

-Love with Christlike love -- deep and perfect and true -- void of my ugly self

-Empty to fill

-There is always so much in this area. i could go on and on!

- Read more good books

Physical:

-Continue working out 5 days a week (i do understand this may sound extreme, but i promise it's not!  i have a very devoted workout partner who works out with me and we just love starting our days super early with a workout. and it helps me stay on a good schedule to just do it all week instead of intermittently throughout the week.)

-Add in the elliptical 2-3 time per week (I saved up for one and it should be here soon!  i have always wanted one!)

-I have gone without sugar since the new year.  wow.  that's all i have to say.

-I have gone without white flour too.

-To not eventually freak out from not having white sugar and flour (it's my life dream to be able to say NO to these two awful things!)

-Get outside more

-Juice once a day

Mothering/Homeschool/Wife:

-Love on them more more more hold tight and soak up every moment

-Softer tones

-More consistant disciplining with love of course

-Take it slow

-Plan better for more fun activities and projects that will be remembered

-Show them Jesus 

-MORE DATES with husband  Shooting for 2 a month! we've gone years at a time without a date so this will be quite a feat but our marriage depends on it!

-Be very attentive to husbands needs and show lots of love  

-Pray and Pray and Pray for the wisdom and strength to care for my family the way they deserve!!!!!

why bother with homemade bread?

bread set to rise!

this seems to be one of the most common question that i am asked about my bread making 

next to "how do you get it to turn out?".  these are both excellent questions actually.  i hope i have some some sort of sensible answers for both, but will just address the "why bother" today.
i've been making my bread consistently for about 4 years now and we never tire of it's goodness.  

we are very fortunate to not struggle with any gluten allergies in our family either! yet, i don't feel like we over do it on bread just because it doesn't bother our system.  I am especially careful not to eat to much! yikes!  i think it's important to understand that flour begins to oxidize immediately after being ground and therefore looses much of it's nutrients by the time you are scooping it out of the bag to make your bread. i know, what a stinkin' bummer right?  i was so sad when i found this out!  that is when i began researching flour mills and grinding fresh grains.  then came the next bummer.  these babies are expensive!  well, i got my husband to agree to buy me one if i made bread for two months straight and showed him i was committed (he kinda thought it might be a fad or something).  we never looked back and i got my mill!  i am so thankful for my sweet mill!  it is well used!  i wish i could buy one for everyone out there, but ya'll might have to go asking your husbands and promising fresh bread forever!  they might just say YES!  anywho, when you grind them beautiful grains up fresh you get yourself bread that is full of nutrients and goodness!  i know a mill might not be a realistic purchase for

some people, which is understandable, i'm just trying to explain my conviction for making the leap to get one myself.  so that is one reason for making bread at home, and the next is that you can make organic bread with only 5 ingredients for WAY less than you could EVER buy in a store EVER. PERIOD!  i haven't done the math for a while but it's something ridiculous!  money saving is always welcome here!  crazy grocery bills up in this home!

we built that counter just for the mill.  hehe.

here's another appliance that helps with massive bread production.  it's the Bosch mixer.  no it's not cute.  or vintage like a kitchen aid, i know.  i have had friends actually tell me they wouldn't want one

because of this.  but i love it anyway and would recommend it to anyone looking into making a mixer purchase.  it outperforms a kitchen aid like you wouldn't believe (no offense super cute-comes in every color of the rainbow kitchen aids out there).  i really look forward to posting more about how i get my bread to turn out (i promise it can for you too!) , my super simple recipe, and how i keep up with bread making!