31 Days: A Month in Review

Wow. The past 31 days have flown by. At the beginning of October I decided to launch this blog that I’ve been sitting on for two years. I choose to focus on health, relationships, home, and heart on my journey of intentional living. Here is a brief update:

Health: I’ve stayed committed to my Body Transformation classes and have chosen to make several small improvements when it comes to what I eat. Simply being mindful of my eating habits can make a big difference.

Relationships: I’ve had such a blast developing relationships with people Downtown (it’s so much easier when you spend five nights a week with them). I’ve also been intentional about spending time with my Christian friends as well. Relationships are such a crucial part of our time here on earth. The most important part of being successful at cultivating them is making them a priority. I got very little house cleaning done this weekend but I invested in people and that pays eternal dividends. No matter how often I clean my house the basset hound will have it covered in drool and hair within the hour. I’d rather spend the bulk of my time investing in things that will last.

Home: Before 31 Days I was spending a lot of time crafting and working on more projects to glorify God in my home. However I’ve done very little crafting this month. (It may have something to do with all those relationships; it’s all about priorities people.) However because crafting is a creative release for me as well as a time to connect with The Creator I want to renew my goal to craft at least once a week.

Heart: I can definitely say that being intentional about keeping my 1000 Gifts list has helped the attitudes of my heart. I’ve committed to linking up every Monday and I bring my journal to work every day. Hopefully this habit will be one I can carry with me my whole life through

69. Evening spent around a fire with hubby and his parents

70. In-laws that I love to spend time with

71. Last minute vacations plans

72. Not failing at my new blog

73. People who’ve joined me on the intentional living journey

Thanks to all of you who have braved the last 31 Days with me. Let's keep pursuing intentional living on this crazy church planting journey.

31 Days: Intentional Information

As a blogger, woman, wife, and Christian there are roughly a billion blogs out there that claim to have something I need. But I have limited time and even if I could amass all the information available to me I would not have time to put it to use. In an effort be a good steward of my time online I have intentionally chosen to limit the blogs I follow. Below is a list (that excludes my friend’s personal blogs that largely include updates on their families) of the blogs I follow:

Blogs I Follow Regularly:

Passionate Homemaking

The Nesting Place

Jones Design Company

A Holy Experience

Blogs I’m Following During the 31 Days:

Creative Kristi

Mom, net Mom

Cajun joie de vivre

Blogs I Follow Occassionally:

The Pioneer Woman

Emily at Jones Design Company also shared her blog list here. Feel free to share your favorite blogs below. Do you have a system for managing your time online and blog reading that you could also share?

31 Days: Intentional in the Fall

Fall is the perfect time to share a meal. Pots of soup, chili, or beans are cost effective and easy to throw into a Crockpot first thing in the morning so that dinner is done at the end of the day. Apples abound for simple and affordable deserts, and a pan of cornbread can be whipped up in no time.

Despite all those simple options I still have mild bouts of panic each time I agree to entertaining folks in our home. Why? I’m a perfectly good hostess but I work a full time job outside of the home. I always worry the house won’t be clean enough or things won’t be perfect…

And that my friends, is the issue. When we ‘entertain’ perfection is an (unattainable) goal. But when we practice true hospitality connection is a goal. When we entertain the food and place settings must be perfect. When we practice hospitality the food is an opportunity to share with others our blessings. Entertaining forces an illusion of perfection. Hospitality frees us to be imperfect.

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I started the absolutely lovely post above earlier today in preparation for our small group coming over for dinner tonight. Then I came home and fought with my husband. After a somewhat stressful afternoon at work I took my bad attitude out on my him. Instead of being thankful for the things he had done to help around the house I only noticed the things that hadn't been done. So while everything I said earlier is what I believe to be true, I still have a long way to go in living those things out.

Tonight I'm exceedingly grateful for a God and a husband that are full of grace towards me even when I don't deserve it.