goodbye march // hello april {goals]
HAPPY APRIL!
I am very excited for this month! Spring weather is still inching it's way forward and I am loving the cherry blossoms blooming in the city.
It's time to say "goodbye" to March. Overall, it was a very productive month! February was a bit chaotic and went by too fast, but I seemed to get my feet back on steady ground in March and was able to get through almost all of my goals!
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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].
++ Read 1-2 books: I am 2/3 done with Desiring God [by John Piper] and have just started Open Your Eyes [Jake Olson].
RESULT: YAY! FINISHED WHISPERS OF HOPE [DEVO BY BETH MOORE; SEE HERE FOR REVIEW] AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF HUDSON TAYLOR. I AM NEARLY DONE WITH OPEN YOUR EYES.
++ Finish taxes
RESULT: YES! I HAD TO PAY A PRETTY HEFTY AMOUNT THIS YEAR RATHER THAN GETTING A REFUND, BUT ALAS, IT IS DONE WITH! AND I ENDED UP DOING 3 SIBLINGS' TAXES TOO! FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS A FEAR OF FINANCES, I PUNCHED TAXES IN THE FACE THIS MONTH!
++ Meet with my "little sister" that I mentor.
++ Meet with my "little sister" that I mentor.
RESULT: YES! WE HAD LUNCH AT ONE OF MY FAVORITES, A LEBANESE RESTAURANT CALLED YA HALA
++ Plant flowers on my balcony
RESULT: YES! I PLANTED A HANGING BASKET OF VARIOUS BLOOMS AS WELL AS STARTED A SMALL POT OF BASIL! PHOTOS COMING SOON!
++ Take my sewing machine out of the box and actually use it!
++ Take my sewing machine out of the box and actually use it!
RESULT: NOPE. HOPE TO DO THIS SOON!
++ Learn at least 2 new crock-pot recipes
++ Learn at least 2 new crock-pot recipes
RESULT: YES! I MADE A RED LENTIL CHILI AND A THREE BEAN MOLE CHILI, PLUS I HAVE BEEN MAKING LOTS OF PALEO AND GLUTEN FREE DISHES THAT I WILL BE SHARING SOON [MY FAVORITE: A DELICIOUS KALE/AVOCADO SALAD]
RESULT: YES! SEE HERE FOR THE SERIES! AND STAY TUNED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS FOR THE NEXT POST!
++ Get back into posting at least twice a week. I slacked last month.
++ Get back into posting at least twice a week. I slacked last month.
RESULT: YES! I HAVE BEEN POSTING 2-3X/WEEK. #BOOMSHAKALAKA!
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April Goals
++ spend 1/2 hour each week reviewing journal articles and notes on nursing-related education
++ learn 3 new recipes this month
++ finish Open Your Eyes, start (and finish??) a new book (thinking of The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler), and read 2 chapters of Desiring God by John Piper
++ Take my sewing machine out of the box and actually use it!
++ memorize 3 verses in the next month using this plan {5 down, 19 to go}
++ get off phone and computer by 11pm & no electronics in bed
++ journal at least 3 gifts/blessings every night
++ meet with the "little sister" I mentor
++ choose a day each week to pray for the clinic I work at.
I love your goals (and the flower by your bookshelf!) Way to go on achieving these things that you have set for yourself! :) i love the no electronics in bed rule. it's a good thing to think about that I can do as well. just last night I set a goal that I have to *force* myself to sleep before 12md no matter what. lol :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a good goal! I need to be more persistent too! Some months are better than others, but my body definitely feels it when I am not sleeping well!
DeleteI have the book Desiring God, but I haven't read it yet. Right now I'm reading Eat the Yolks, Anne of Green Gables, and the new book that's out called Mrs. Poe. It's a rough life when you can't choose which book to read, huh? haha!
ReplyDeleteOooh, I haven't heard of Eat the Yolks and Mrs. Poe. Do you recommend them?
Deletecan't wait to read about these paleo/gluten free dishes! and LOVING the april goals! i need to make "monthly goals"
ReplyDeleteThanks dear! I need to start a series on paleo. I have been cooking and baking lots of paleo and GF dishes but I am always so intense in trying to follow the recipe, that I forget to take photos along the way for blogging later on. I'll do it soon hopefully because I have stumbled upon some yummy things!
DeleteI just made goals for April and I have to say, yours are inspiring! I could definitely keep adding to mine, but I don't want to be too overwhelmed or disappointed when I don't accomplish them. ha!
ReplyDeleteThat Three Bean Mole Chili sounds really good! Hope you will share some more of those recipes. They sound great!
I have the book Desiring God and started it a long, long time ago and still haven't finished it! I really need to get on that. Read at least 2 books AND finish them is on my list for April, that needs to be one of them.
I would definitely love to add scripture memorization to my list. I remember seeing about that plan before and thought about joining in. I might use those same verses, but start now!
Great list! :)
Jess, you brighten my day with your sweet and heartfelt comments!
DeleteI agree about not adding too many goals to not be overwhelmed and disappointed. I need to remember to pray before setting my goals because I tend to overreach and expect too much and then get disheartened when I was not able to meet all the goals.
Yes, the chili was good! it was my first time cooking with mole! I was hesitant to trust anything with the name "mole" but it was a success :-)
Yes, Desiring God is a great read, but very heavy so I can only read a few chapters every month or so.
Memorizing scripture has been a big encouragement for me! It makes such a difference in the peace in my heart to have different verses pop in my head when I am stressed.
This is a great list & I love how you followed up on your goals! Great way to keep yourself in check :)
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Resolution for Women right now and it's AMAZING. Definitely should check it out!
Thanks, Amanda! I'll have to look into that book!! Thanks for the recommendation!
DeleteI'll have to send you one of my all-time favorite summer recipes here soon that's loaded with Basel! Hope you're enjoying Piper's "Desiring God!" It's a favorite of mine =)
ReplyDelete