1st Quarter In The Rearview

Hey, Hey, Hey! How is it already April? The beginning of 2018 has absolutely flown by. Just for me?

I’ve definitely not been near as productive as I hoped to be these first 3 months of the year. Since I’ve been so lackluster in my approach to getting things done and staying focused, I figured I should sit back down and evaluate what wins I’ve had recently and some wins I’m hopeful to have this month.

What wins have I had so far in 2018?

• Home:
  • Decorated and organized our home office/homework room.
  • Baby step progress on the master closet.
  • Filed warranty claims on various house maintenance issues.
  • Installed curtains on 2 windows in place of makeshift window coverings.
  • Completed a few small space decorating projects.
  • Minor de-cluttering in girls’ closet.
• Personal:
  • Reincorporated running into my exercise routine.
  • Back to tracking points the Weight Watchers way.
  • Visited the doctor and had prescriptions refilled.
  • Made decision to step away from my part time job.
  • Finished 1 book. Started 3 more.
• Blog:
  • Gradually growing Social Media following.
  • $16 income from Amazon Affiliate Marketing links.
  • Developing relationships with other bloggers.
  • Completed over half of a 30 day blogging course.
  • Participating in Raising World Changers in a Changing World launch group.

Seeing those bullet points gives me a little encouragement that I have accomplished more in the past 3 months than I remember. Thankfully, by the end of the 2nd Quarter of this year, I’ll be free from this geographical single parenting once and for all. Praise Jesus! I took a pilgrimage to visit Kansas over spring break and am convinced we made the right decision for our family. The area wasn’t near as bad as I imagined, but it’s April 2nd and there’s snow on the ground. No thank you! If anyone ever offers to take you to Nebraska Furniture Mart, do not say no! I may have sent Maj W back to Nebraska Furniture Mart with a list of items to purchase and bring home the next time he makes the trip. I already have my 2nd list started! There are definite disadvantages to traveling with one suitcase and needing to carry it on.

He’s a good man and  has spoken lots of wisdom into my life via text recently. It seems he has more confidence in my abilities than I have in myself. He’s also the voice of reason when I shoot off a text letting him know I’m not so sure I was cut out for this whole mom gig. We’re counting down the days to his return. I think we’re at 75 days left. I think I can, I think I can! He knows I need some serious expectation management and has reminded me that I have obvious shortages of time in my current circumstances, which totally impact my ability to do all these things I think that I can, or should be able to, do.

You know the drill. Kids gotta eat. Kids gotta have clean ‘drawls.’ Kids gotta get to swim. Kids gotta be picked up from school….Just so you know, I did 3 separate pick ups from school today – 2:15, 4:30 and 4:50! This 5th grade Space Camp Rite of Passage that one of mine is experiencing this week has already wreaked havoc on my afternoon game and today was only the first day. Our school district couldn’t get a bus on time to an extra curricular activity if someone’s life depended on it. I’m gonna need some miracles in that department this week. I digress…

Wins I’m Hoping For In April.

Baby steps.

Eat the elephant one bite at a time.

Keep moving forward.

Progress, not perfection.

• Home:
  • Finish Master Closet Clean Out.
  • Donate a large load of junk to the Care Center.
  • Perk up the porches.
  • Keep flowers alive.
• Personal:
  • Consistently make good food choices.
  • Shed 6 pounds.
  • Run 10 plus miles a week. (I’m half way to this goal already this week. Boom!)
  • Finish at least 1 of the books I’ve started.
  • Schedule an OB/GYN appointment.
  • Utilize my planner to stay on task.
• Blog:
  • Post once a week, at a minimum.
  • Continue to grow Social Media followings.
  • Complete the rest of the 30 day blogging course.

Totally doable, right? I’m not trying to win a Nobel Prize or anything! I just want my pants to fit and for my blog to not sit idle for weeks at a time. Notice these goals do not include floors so clean you can eat off of them (germs are good for you), or kids who move to action before my Mommy Dearest voice kicks in (I’m a total realist), or exercising before the sun comes up (no exercise before coffee) or no chocolate for 30 days (Ha! All things in moderation)…

Now you know. I really am trying to set the bar fairly low so that I can feel good about accomplishing something, anything, in the next now 28 days in the month of April!

Got any monthly goals? Set the bar low! Make one teeny, tiny step forward! We’ve got this.

And maybe by the end of the year I’ll be able to fit my big toe back in my size 6 jeans.

Fingers crossed.

Mouth sewn shut!