2012 One Month Down

Can you believe its February already?! 
We are already one month into the new year of 2012!

So, here is a snap shot as to how my
 New Year’s Resolutions are going:

{Growing deeper}

Well I haven’t been doing daily devos like I want to get in the habit of doing, 
but I just got done reading Heaven is for Real has really been enhancing my faith.
 Now I going to be reading:

 'Kisses from Katie" 
{An 18 year old senior class president and homecoming queen leaves everything to move to Uganda because of her passion to follow Jesus, she is adopting 13 young women and established a ministry!!! Wow, I can't wait to be moved by her courage!}

{Getting Involved in Impact Ministries}
 I am using my pastoral minor and made it official this month! I am now a “minister” ordained through Impact Ministries International. 
The Lord has been laying many things on my heart of what we are to do when we get to Honduras this summer. I AM SO SO EXCITED to have my husband, Dixie (his mama) and Grandma Bonnie come! 
I anticipate much hugs, laughs, and yes tears…
{this will also fulfill our “vacation” new faces and places goal this year, we may stay a few extra days and tour the islands}

{Honduras IMI orphanage with our kids : } HOW I MISS THEM!

Wendy the first orphan<3 the girls just love sparkles!

~

 {Cultivate: be creative every week}
 I got an itch to be productive and creative over this last weekend.
 I am so into the chalk board paint! Its my obsession right now! 
I got some great ideas on Pinterest. So this weekend I worked on my chalk message boards, and painted the side of my fridge with chalkboard paint!

John was surprised when he first saw that I painted the side of the fridge. 
 He really liked it! And said, “When are you going to paint the rest?! 
He didn't mind being that  our fridge is umm… well… vintage ; )

 {Before}

So I painted the rest : )

{After}

I just LOVE it!!


And thats not all...

I even painted the top of my kitchen table 

with chalk board paint! 

Little obsessed I know

~

{Physically active} 
I would say I am doing ok, I go in spurts.  I could step it up (literal) : D

{Recipe}
 I did try a new recipe this month it was a Hot Chicken Dip.

Id take a picture but it has already been devoured! YUMM!! 


{Organize & rid of clutter}
While going through more 'stuff' these last few weeks, 
 I found a tin full of souvenirs from my dads travels, trinkets from places I have been and a perfume bottle from my mom when I was little. 
I love rediscovering treasures like this!

~
{Take a class}
 I signed by for a sewing class the end of Feb!
Watch out world Im takin on the machine! Yep, Im scared too.

{Develop Photography} 
At this moment In Focus Photography an amazing, booming photography biz 
(whom I met through my dad) is looking at my website and doing some critiquing before launch. The owner Mary was SO amazing and helpful. She wants to take me out for a day teach me some tricks of the trade. Wow, Im just so humbled by this.
 I just need to set up a time to go to Milwaukee!

{I have been taking different shots around my house, I LUV vintage cameras!}

I think I have a good head start on my goals this year!

 But I still have a lot of work to do!

Share your ambition!

 What have you accomplished so far in 2012?

Did you accomplish anything on your list yet?

MAKE A GREAT YEAR!

2012 Ambitions and Aspirations...

{More Immediately}

*Photography website up...

Everyday I am getting closer and closer

*Become ordained in ministry...

By next month this should be official! 

*Throughout 2012*

{Grow deeper}

 in my relationship with Jesus

{Every day set aside time}

with the Lord praying and in his word

{Increase my involvement}

In church and Impact Ministries

{Giving my resources}

Tithing faithfully giving to the orphans

{Physically active}

 3 times a week: running and lifting

{Become debt free}

Pay off 1 student loan

{Develop my photography business}

 Perfect my skills

{Be creative every week}

Make time to create whether it be art or photography or writing

{Vacation}

See new places and faces

{Develop more excellence at work}

Learn more skills valuable to the bank

{Buy}

tredmill, house, puppy

{Organize all pictures and papers into books}
Rid of unnecessary junk

{Take a class}

Learn how to use sewing machine!]

{Try a new recipe every month}

I may have exhausted myself in all I want to accomplish but I have high hopes for 2012

2011 was DEFINATELTY a year of learning and maturing.

I want to MAKE 2012 a year of learning also.

Digging deeper into God’s heart and cultivating the passions he has planted in my heart.

What are some of your ambitions for 2012?

How are you going to MAKE A GREAT Year?

What is your definition of success in what you want accomplished in 2012??

 In "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

{AMAZING book everyone should read!} says:

"If you carefully consider what you wanted to be said of you 

-at your funeral- you will find your 

definition of success."

Stephen Covey

WOW. That is powerful. When you are gone from this earth 

{bc everyone will be eventually}

What do you want to be remembered for???

~~~

Here is some great

WISDOM for setting your GOALS:

Statistics say you are more likely to accomplish a goal if it is written down!

1. Take a minute and recruit a friend jot down 10 goals for the year.
2. THEN write down what steps you need to take to achieve that accomplishment.
3. Make each other accountable.
4. Follow up with one another to see what progress is being made.
5. It will help to have your goals up where you can see them as a daily reminder, such as your fridge or message board.
6. Chances are, the simple gesture of reminding, can be an encouragement to stick with it!
7. Just watch as your set dreams become reality!

 MAKE A GREAT YEAR!

God guide you and bless you as you put Him first!

"In all your ways acknowledge Him 

and He will direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:6

2011 Touring New England

2011 Highlights continued...

a childhood dream come true...

Touring New England 

I have dreamed of touring New England since my younger years.

So as soon as I became the bank club director I wasted no time

and planned a visit to this enchanting part of our country.

September 23rd - October 3rd err.. 4th (see explanation later)

New England had near perfect weather for us,
 sunny in the mid- 70's with a cool breeze. 


Though all the trees had not quite turned yet, 
there were a few pops of color for us to enjoy along the way. 


New England was beautiful and we were stuffed almost daily
 with fresh seafood.

We kept very busy in case you didn't see the itinerary! 

Every day we were in a different city and sometimes a new state.

Replica of the Mayflower
{Much smaller than I imagined!!}

We saw an array of sites from New York to Boston up to

 Portland, Maine and Cape Cod and many more.

And on our way to discovering this part of the country

I tacked on four new states to my belt! 

I now have seen 36 United States,

and in my life time I hope to at least peak into each 50. 

This particular tour package was called New England by Train

which featured different antique trains along our journey.  

One of the top sights I wanted to experience

was the majestic rocky east coast of Maine

and to behold one of its lighthouses- I had only seen on calendars.

I did just that!

And it was far more beautiful than I imagined!

 I tasted Portland, Maine’s fresh lobster (a few times) and consequently 


one night while having dinner on a boat,


  I was tearing into a big juicy Lobster and  plucked a piece 
(apparently too vigorously) 


and it that flew right over my shoulder!! 


The ladies at my table erupted with laughter! 


After that night my nickname ‘Princess Kate’ was diminished!

~

Our New England travelers were survivors! I got to know each and everyone! 

I love spending time with people, and I LOVE to hear their stories!!!

 They are all so delightful in their own way : )

  

On our way home we had a delayed flight 
and ended up having to stay in Boston and catch the next flight the following morning.

 Because it was the airlines error, they put us up in the Hilton over night 
and gave us all meal voutures for dinner and breakfast for the next morning.

It was rough it tell ya ; )
~


The next morning,

OUR conecting flight was a mile from our gate!
And by this time my travelers were just exhausted. We were on our 11th day and determined to spend the night no where else but in our own HOMES!

So, in order to make it on time 
we had to rush through the airport
we ordered 8 wheelchairs...
TO GO.

IMAGINE 8 wheelchairs 
flying through the airport!!!!

Let me tell you, it was quite a sight to see! 


A highlight of our trip for sure!

Though it has its moments of stress, like getting stuck in airport for hours and being responsible for a group of people! 

I thank God most every day for the opportunity serve as the club director, 

 meet new people, get paid to 

travel, all expenses paid and to plan events.

I am so very thankful.

Remember,

As you

Live simply…

Care deeply…

Speak kindly…

Love generously…

And leave the rest to God.

MAKE A GREAT NEW YEAR IN 2012!

{NEXT POST: Objectives and Hopes for 2012!}