A Few Updates

 As we close in on mid- December I just wanted to give a few updates on things from November! 

First up is my November goals.  You can see the updated list HERE if you are really interested. A quick overview is that I accomplished most of the November items :-)  Including round 1 in the basement!  My first goal was to do a quick clean out, clean up, and making space for everything that stayed.  I did not dig deep into things that either take more mental space to decide what to do with them or figuring out how to store certain things.  I did clean out a lot of trash and some donations.  I also made sure I could get to everything now.  Next year, on my 2026 goals, is round 2 of the basement.  :-)  

Second up is a quick recap of my "No!vember"   A couple of key things.  It was successful!  It helped me break some "habits" like using a busy day as an excuse to grab a pizza or something out.  Instead I struck to the menu and/or cooked at home with what was here (meaning - no extra runs to the store!).  It helped reset my mental standpoint on spending money.  I also tracked everything - for real.  I made it a challenge to myself to have some days of zero spending!  This meant planning ahead to ensure that I was ready for things coming up. Now, there were some things I had not planned for including extra spending money for camp, paying for an overnighter, etc. but for the most part I felt it was successful.  I'm now trying to carry over some of my "lessons re-learned" in November into December.  

And, since this all kind of boring (LOL!) I thought I'd add a couple of Christmas poems to enjoy this season. 

Skillet - O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Official Music Video)

Skillet released a new Christmas Song - with an old carol.  I thought it was a good way to start out the listening season!  :-)  

Our weekly Snapsot

 Here’s a look back at our week 

Saturday night we had a snow storm and ended up with about 7 inches of snow.  Church was canceled on Sunday so we had fun in the snow before shoveling. 

A few of our teens ftom our co-op played Christmas music at a local retirement community. 

We started the reading of our Grinch calendar 

We had dinner and played a game with my brother and sister-in-law, Kel and Deb. 

Josh and Nate attended a teen brunch with friends from our co-op on Thursday.  Nate and I then headed downtown Grand Rapids for his semi-annual pulmonary appointment.  After we got home I realized we didn’t take our photo in the sky bridge like we normally do!  

On Friday I attended a funeral for a gentleman that we knew first through his job at Meijer as the manger but later through lots of our friends that were related to him.  He was a great example of Jesus.   

Weekly Menu - The Countdown Continues

Winter is here and it hit hard!  Lots of snow, freezing rain, more snow, and cold.  I enjoy the changing seasons but, even for me, this intense bite of winter is just a bit much.  I keep looking ahead in the weather hoping for a few more days of 40 degrees HA!  

Here's the plan for the coming week: 

Friday - Shrimp and Grits 

Saturday - we are off to get our tree! I'm planning Meatballs and Homemade Mac and Cheese to enjoy with decorating. 

Sunday - Turkey Breast, potatoes, and a veggie

Monday - Chicken Noodle Soup, crackers and bread

Tuesday - Pasta Carbonara 

Wednesday - Youth Group (Chicken Noodle Soup or Tenders) 

Thursday - Josh has his final drum recital this evening which means a quick early dinner.  I think we should have leftover chicken and or turkey breast so I will just make a big pan of fried rice.  It's easy to eat and quick to make! 

December Goals

 

It's really hard to believe that it is already December.  At the end of this month I'll take a look back at my 2026 goals and see if I stayed on track.  It's interesting sometimes to see how my goals have changed since January.  Things that felt important 12 months ago are not such a big deal now.  Anyway, I am really supposed to be talking about December goals!  Listed below are the items I'm hoping to accomplish this month as I wrap up the year.  

1. Have all gifts purchased and wrapped by December 20th.  

2. Plan Nate's birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese.  It's not that much - really just pick the date and reserve the space.  

3. Take a couple boxes of books to Baker Bookhouse to sell.  

4. Continue with my current "habits" - Swish and Swipe, Making my Bed, The "resets" (Monday Morning, a quick walk through at night, and a weekly blessing hour), Taking out the trash from all rooms on Wednesday, and finally sticking to the laundry schedule.  

5. Organize the garage.  I'm not focusing on a deep clean but rather just organizing what is there for now.  The complete clean-out needs to wait for spring when it is a little warmer! 

6. Read my advent Devotional.  

7. Review my 101-1001 goals - I had some that I was hoping to get done this year; so check my progress and see if I can wrap any other goals up by the end of the year

8. Scrapbook - my goal is to be able to scrapbook every single day over Christmas break.  I haven't decided what my main project will be but I'd really like to finish 2011 and 2025.  

9. I have 2-3 bins that hold all kinds of Co-op supplies.  I plan to sort through them all, organize it, get rid of what I will never use, and try to use up supplies this next semester without buying new!  

10. Plan the first 2-3 weeks of both of my co-op classes

11. As I'm writing this at the beginning of December, it makes me a little sad to type this one BUT . . .. undecorate for Christmas inside and outside by December 31st.  The same way I decorated - literally one bin a day.  

12. Write my resume (in case the perfect work from home or super simple part time job happened to drop in my lap that would fit perfectly into my schedule with my guys) 

13. Write my 2026 Goals including picking out my 12 piano songs to learn and 6 songs to sing at church.  I would like to copy them and put them all in a binder so instead of having a bunch of books hanging out on the piano I will just have my binder.  

14. Pick out these three things for January:  1 nonfiction book (I have a bunch saved in my Amazon "book list" to choose from), 1 verse for January - and write it out on an index card to hang in the kitchen and on my bedroom mirror  and the first writing scripture list (I'll explain this more when I write my 2026 goals) 

15. Write a "honey do list" for Darryl :-) LOL  I have a short list of things that are not in my wheelhouse; Darryl is really great at fixing things and putting things together.  I always chalk it up to being left handed - everything is backwards!  (Plus I have no patience for some things ha!) 

My last goal?  Simply to enjoy the season.  Enjoy the traditions, listen to Christmas music, enjoy our Grinch Calendar with the teens, find a few Christmas things to do together.  I want to savor December and not get lost in the rush of commercialism.  The lights, the Joy, the true reason for the season - Jesus. 

JJ Heller - Thanksgiving Song (Official Lyric Video)

Our weekly snapshot

 Here’s a look back at our week. 

We had a great Thanksgiving day (even if the Lions lost!)