{January Goals}

It may be the middle of the month but it's never too late to write out your goals :) After several afternoons of reflecting on & writing all over Lara Casey's #PowerSheets, I've named my fears, written down what I want to be filling my mental mason jar (such a great visual, right?) & the vision I have for these next days, weeks & months. I had 14 goals for December. 11 done! Still would like to bake goodies to share with our neighbors, finish our thank you cards & marshmallow roasting in our fireplace yet. 

January Goals

>> Continue reading through the Bible in a year with Dean. (We chose this plan by Nav Press, available for the You Bible app, too.)
>> Continue serving my spring bride well
>> Wrap up all our wedding thank you cards
>> Fill & drink my water bottle 3x daily
>> Review Scripture memory verses from the past few months & meditate on them
>> Brainstorm a design for a family prayer board in our home
>> Leave encouraging words & love notes to Dean throughout the week
>> Update the LMP website to reflect my heart & mission for this business
>> Sign up for a photography class/conference &research investment for future conference/mentor session
>> Faithfully serve my SG ladies & invest in them

"Your playing small does not serve the world." Marianne Williamson, via Lara Casey

happy 2-0-1-4!

It's here - 2-0-1-4!

And I couldn't be more excited for this. Now. Not just what's up ahead months from now. But Wednesday, another day that the Lord has so gloriously made & given us the opportunity to live it to the fullest for His glory.

How was 2013 for you, friend? Did you set goals & achieve them? Were you making positive changes in your life? Maybe some scary ones like moving, starting a new job or trying something completely foreign to you.

As I sit typing this, I'm reflecting on the highlights of past 12 months which included getting engaged, switching jobs, starting LMP, shooting my first 3 weddings (Fatima & Marlin, Bekah & Steve, Lara & Dan!), planning our rustic barn wedding, marrying my handsome hubby in Winchester, traveling to St. Lucia, moving into a new home & turning 26, to name a few.

Instead of posting my monthly goals for today, I wanted to share about what I'm using to help dream big this year: PowerSheets a la Lara Casey. Y'all, if you haven't visited her site before, go mosey on over there now! She is an incredible source of business, wedding & spiritual inspiration as she challenges so many to make. things. happen.

Lara Casey

And I've still got quite a bit of dreaming, reflecting & praying to do as I walk through the PowerSheets. That I would be led by the Holy Spirit & walk in the Lord's footsteps.

Here's to this new year! 

"May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart  
be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14

{December Goals}

My sweet friend Dara Lynn

Happy winter! Whether it's a balmy 65 or you're wrapped up to your ears in a thick scarf, December still marks this wonderful time of year in my book as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

OK, time for some truuuuth. I was looking back over my past goals & the last time I wrote them down (aka blogged about them) was ... June. Yikes, just a few months have passed since I actively committed to making things happen. You could say these 2 little things called engagement & wedding took up some of that time I would normally have otherwise. So, after a 5 month hiatus, we're back! It's goal time :)

December Goals

>> Cut down & zealously decorate our very own family Christmas tree. This is a lifelong dream, y'all!
>> Pick out a read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year plan. Any suggestions?
>> Serve my spring bride well
>> Shoot a lovely engagement session in Old Town with new LMP equipment
>> Walk/run around our neighborhood lake 3x a week
>> Divide & conquer wedding thank you cards
>> Drink at least 3 refilled water bottles daily (hoping for more)
>> Pull off Operation SS (Secret Service) Christmas, anonymously blessing my assigned Small Group sister this month
>> Celebrate turning 26 by reflecting on 26 ways the Lord has blessed my life
>> Stay faithful to our budget
>> Bake yummy cookies to share with friends & neighbors with our new mixer
>> Watch It's a Wonderful Life (Mr. D has never seen it!)
>> Decorate our mantle into a wintery wonderland & roast marshmallows in our cozy fireplace
>> Listen to as much Christmas music as possible ... and somehow convince my hubby that he likes it, too!

"Present over perfect. Quality over quantity. Relationship over rushing.
People over pressure. Meaning over mania."  Lara Casey, #presentdecember

{June Goals}

Can you believe we're already in June?? What a quick May that was. It might have had something to do with getting engaged at the beginning of last month. Hot dang! ;) Although they're a few days late, here are my goals for this month:

June Goals

>>  Read through the first half of Multiply by Francis Chan. Our church will be going through the study as a campus later this fall. #disciplemakingwhat
>> Aim for 7 hours of sleep each night. Right now, I'm between 5 1/2 - 6 & I can totally feel the difference when I stay up later. So. much. extra. coffee. needed.
>> Review our memory verses from last month & continue memorizing weekly with my SG ladies.
>> Blog weekly about photo shoots, brides-to-be & more LMP fun!
>> Continue adventures in P4M classes & wedding planning without adding crazy stress, or losing sight of what's most important :)

I want a marriage more beautiful than my wedding. 

Happy weekend!

{May Goals}

April showers bring spring flowers, but what do May flowers bring?

Pilgrims!

It's a silly joke and I'm a girl that appreciates a silly joke. Life's too serious already not to have a good laugh every now and then, am I right?

As I was thinking about a new month, and new goals, my mind went right to marathon runners. Specifically my SG pal Sam. She and hundreds of other fierce competitors woke up early on Sunday, willing their minds and bodies for the Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon in DC.

Talk about goal setting! On a very rare occasion does someone just show up on race day, throw on a bib and knock out 13.1 miles. Instead, there have been weeks and months of intense training, perseverance and stick-to-it-ness to log all those practice miles.

And the runners were awesome. hey moved each foot with deliberation, arms propelling them forward and eyes fixed on their goal: the finish line. I just finished reading Jon Acuff's Quitter and y'all, it has so many challenging points in regards to setting goals - whether personal or spiritual or physical. He says:

"I want us to be a generation of finishers. I want us to be a generation of people who follow through and sew the last stitch or give the final keynote or write the last chapter."

So who's with me? Here are things I want to work diligently toward and finish this month:

May Goals

>> Read Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot (OK, finish reading. I'm already a few chapters in!)
>> Have LMP logo designed! (carryover from April; had to reschedule)
>> Continue only checking email 3x a day max (not including sending out emails, communicating back and forth for personal/work).
>> Continue memorizing a Scripture verse weekly with my Small Group, plus review all past verses
>> Faithfully serve and invest in my SG ladies
>> Knock out details in LMP business plan + pricing package
>> Write 3 things I'm thankful in my Gratefulness journal each day
>> Ask the Lord for an opportunity to encourage or serve someone every day

What are your goals this month? What are you aiming for?

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." {Philippians 3:14}