August Goals Update + New Goals for September {Plus My Reading List}

July & August Goals

At the end of July I set three personal goals:

• Start Couch to 5K
• Read for 1 hour every day.
• Write for 30-45 minutes daily.

During the month of August, I continued with those same goals and added a fourth:

•  Give my undivided attention to each child for 10 minutes every day 

Here's how I've done thus far:

• I am finishing Week 8 of Couch to 5K and have averaged about 2.4 miles during the last three days of running. I am not at the 5K (3.1 miles) mark yet in terms of distance, but hopefully within the next two to three weeks I will be. 

• Most days I have done a fair job of reading for one hour. In August, I read the following books {reviews of my favorites to come!}:

• Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life by Emily P. Freeman

• Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

• Growing Grateful Kids: Teaching Them to Appreciate an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Places by Susie Larson

• Rules of Civility: A Novel by Amor Towles

• A Homemade Life: Stories & Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenburg

• The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer
  

• You are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins

• As for writing, aside from taking notes from some of the aforementioned books and a few blog posts, I don't feel like I adequately met my goal of 30-45 minutes per day. I really need to work on time management because when I'm engrossed in a book, I tend to read during any free moments and completely neglect my writing.

• Ten minute one-on-one time with the kids each day worked out pretty well this month. Between early morning wake-ups and different nap times, I had a chance to spend a few quality minutes chatting or playing with all three girls by themselves, and I must admit we all have benefited. There's just something special about having Mommy's undivided attention that makes my little girls' faces light up and mine too!

September Goals  

1.) I plan to finish the Couch to 5K program. My goal is to run the entire 5K in 30 minutes. 
 
2.) I intend to continue reading for an hour daily. On my reading list for September are the following:  

• Beyond Bath Time: Embracing Motherhood as a Sacred Role by Erin Davis

• A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: How I Learned to Live a Better Story by Donald Miller

• Your People Shall Be My People: How Israel, the Jews, & the Christian Church Will Come Together in the Last Days by Don Finto

• Homeschooling the Early Years by Linda Dobson

• In Spite of Thunder: A Dr. Fell Detective Novel by John Dickson Carr

3.) I plan to set aside 30 minutes every day--whether during nap time or after the kids go to bed--just for writing. I will have to be strict on myself if I hope to accomplish this goal. However, I know that the only way to become a more adept writer is to write!
 
4.) I will continue spending at least 10 minutes with each child per day and aim for a little longer if possible. 


A new goal for September:

*To write at least one card per week to someone in need. I used to do a fairly good job of sending notes to people who were sick, bereaving, or in need of encouragement, but after having kids, I totally let that area of service fall by the wayside. I personally appreciate receiving a thoughtful note in the mail and want to get back into the habit of encouraging others who may need a kind word sent their way. It's one act of service that I can do even with small children to take care of. 

{These are affiliate links.}


How did you do do with your goals in August, and do you have any personal goals for the month of September?

Other links of interest:
Personal Goals for July
July Goals Update

Blessings to you in this new month,

Keri

For comments or questions, contact me at: growinginhisglory@gmail.com

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