goodbye february//hello march

my favorite place to sit and think on days I have a few minutes to leave the clinic and take a walk at the lake
Another month has come and gone, and we are inching our way towards spring! 
.    i         l   o   v   e       s   p   r   i   n   g    .
Really, I do! It is such a symbol of hope and new beginnings. The flowers and plants that the winter frost threatened to snuff out are restored and release their fresh fragrances. The barren branches of trees begin to bear fruit and vibrant leaves. All that was thought to be lost is now being reclaimed. And if you're ever so quiet, you may hear an eager spring bird's song in the early dawn, promising warmer weather approaching ever so soon. Oh, Spring, you really got m

So, on the this first day of March, I want to say goodbye to winter and hello to spring!
hello to new beginnings and a fresh start.
hello to tulips, daffodils, and other spring flowers
hello to jogging on puddle-less traills (oh, right… that is wishful thinking in the PNW!)

. . .  and with a new month comes new goals! I'll start with my February goals and then list March's goals. Overall, February was busy and a bit chaotic. It was, in short, beautifully messy. I took a six-day trip to SoCal to visit my BFF and enjoy some sun and surf and I worked like a mad woman to make up for the aforesaid vacation. This led to a less-focused and not-as-intentional month as I had anticipated a month ago. As I review my goals, I am tempted to see this month as unsuccessful, but then I remember the sweet joys of this month amidst the busyness and spontaneous moments. I think it is ok once in a while to have seasons that don't look as neat or put together as you'd like. These seasons last longer for some. As I transition into this new spring season, I want to be more accepting that life does not fit neatly in a to-do list. Some months may look rather unproductive on paper, but in reality, vital life lessons were learned, precious conversations were had, and beautiful moments will be treasured. 
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February Goals
++ read one book [started Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by James Ford]
Result: YES! LOVED this book! I need to do a book review soon, because it is a must-read!
++ get back to hitting 3 miles 1-2/week by the end of Feb 
Result: Sadly, did not have the opportunity to run very much this month. 
++ organize paperwork and do taxes by the end of Feb
Result: I organized the paperwork but have yet to do the actual taxes with TurboTax
++ hang out with "little sister" that I mentor
Result: Due to my crazy work and vacation schedules this month, it did not happen :(
++ meet with one of my brothers for dinner to get to know him better
Result: I had dinner with a few siblings after seeing Son of God, but not one-on-one
++ spend 1 hour each week reviewing journal articles and notes on nursing-related education
Result: Nope :(
++ wake up earlier than my usual time so that I can start doing morning devotionals instead of leaving them for nighttime. I have been waking up the last 1.5 weeks before my alarm clock and have started doing devotionals in the morning and what a difference that makes!
Result: I think this occurred the first half of the month and I have switched back to leaving them at nighttime most days.
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March Goals
++ Read 1-2 books: I am 2/3 done with Desiring God [by John Piper] and have just started Open Your Eyes [Jake Olson].
++ Finish taxes
++ Meet with my "little sister" that I mentor.
++ Plant flowers on my balcony
++ Take my sewing machine out of the box and actually use it!
++ Learn at least 2 new crock-pot recipes
++ Start a new series on stories behind well-known hymns
++ Get back into posting at least twice a week. I slacked last month.

What are you saying goodbye and hello to as we roll into March? Link-up at Nestful of Love!

Comments

  1. Your description of spring sound wonderful and the photo looks awesome! We're still wistfully thinking under 3 foot drifts of snow! :)

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    1. Thank you, Bethany! I am so very eager for the spring flowers to start blooming. I am not a winter person! We had less than a week of being snowed in and I was begging for some sunshine.

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  2. Thanks for linking up! I can't wait to say hello to spring...currently it is snowing though so I have a while to wait, dang it! And I loved Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet too. Do you have GoodReads?!

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    1. Hi Allison! It was great to link-up, dear! I do not have GoodReads but I have seen it on a few blogger's sites, so I might think about getting it!

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  3. I love your month to month goals--they are inspiring! I also lovvvvve spring, too! I got so excited this weekend when the flowers I planted last began to bloom again! It just makes me so happy. Happy March!

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    1. Thanks, Jenna! I love spring as well! It puts a spring to my step, pun intended :)

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  4. that picture = love.
    and YES way to hit some of those goals! i love your march goals i need to do 2 crockpot recipes! <3
    i love the monthly goals too - they seem much more attainable. i need to refocus on my goals!

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    1. thank you, girly! I learned one crockpot recipe this week --- a three bean mole chili. yum!

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