{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!

by faith alone

Our small group has been walking through a study called By Faith Alone. Each week, we dig into Hebrews 11 and study one of the characters whose very life was marked by faith.​

Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac - all men and women who, despite what was in front of them - a sacrifice, a flood, unfulfilled promises - walked with the Lord. Y'all, the passage tells us that faith is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" in verse 1.

What an encouragement to know that generations and generations before us have gone through hardships, tests and trials ​and through their faith pleased God. Sometimes God calls us to leave our homes, like Abraham and Sarah. Sometimes God calls us to spend 120 years building a large boat despite not ever having seen rain before, like Noah. Sometimes God calls us to rely upon Him for the physical provision of a child, like Sarah. He might call us to a new job, or old relationship, or different plan than we had in mind.

Whatever the circumstance or situation we may be walking in, He is faithful and we can diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). He may ask to us to offer, obey, dwell, wait, move, give, bless, serve, share. And by faith alone, He'll give us the strength to do it.

{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}

front porch friday

"They say a kitchen is the heart of a house, but I believe the porch is its soul. From the very steps, you knew if you were welcome or not, knew everything you needed to know about the people inside." {Rick Bragg, Southern Living}

Welcome to the first of many front porch Fridays where I'll be posting some of my favorite people, places, ideas, things. Y'all come on over, have a seat, stay awhile. ​

source

Today's favorite: giraffe prints.​ And the girl that designed them. So two favorites!

​Ashleigh Carter, my insanely talented roommate/former coworker buddy, designs, illustrates & sketches these beautiful pieces that remind you how much we serve a God who have given us creativity and art as ways to reflect His glory.

The splendor of the Creator is so evident in her life & I'm truly blessed with a capital B in our late night conversations & early morning talks. Several of her giraffe & other fun illustrations were featured in a reception at old town Alexandria's Revel boutique, styled by our event guru Simply Jolleen.  

The little guys on the left have bow ties on. Bow ties on a giraffe?? Can't get enough.

Hello Spring is on display through May ​29th. Head over to Revel to pick up Ashleigh's illustrations (postcards, pillows and more) plus bright West Coast looks handpicked by shop owner Francesca. 

Happy weekend!​