Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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Achievable Goals

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Everybody is making resolutions and choosing their one word for the new year.

I’m inside, trying to stay warm with temps in the single digits. Sure, the last couple years have been pretty hard-hitting.

Overall, I felt like I was pretty successful in the personal growth department.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with resolutions that seem great now, but aren’t very achievable, then getting discouraged as it all fizzles out.

It’s important to make small goals that are actually attainable.

Instead of doing less of something, let’s discuss what we can do more.

Achievable Goals

  1. Get more sleep.

    Go to bed earlier. Turn off the electronic devices an hour before bedtime. Don’t lie in bed and use your devices (at least turn the blu light off). It helps with overall better health. I’ve been going to bed along with the kids and I feel better lately.

  2. Be adventurous.

    Go on a trip. Be more spontaneous. Try a new dish at the restaurant. Meet someone new. Call up someone you haven’t talked to in ages. Adventure means something different for everyone.

  3. Manage money wisely.

    Pay off debt, but don’t go broke doing that. Start adding a little into savings or put change in a jar. Make coffee and lunches at home instead of grabbing on the go. Start investing and planning for retirement or kids’ educations. Do you know how to budget?

  4. Minimize your closet.

    Donate what you haven’t worn in a year. Don’t keep what you don’t love. Find your style and color scheme. Update with some new classic accessories or timeless pieces. Minimizing reduces anxiety.

  5. Positive talk

    Reframe negative situations. Look for the positive details in your experiences and conversations and focus on those positive details. Also, focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t do.

  6. Use sunscreen.

    Protect your skin. Use a good natural sunscreen and cover up or go into shade during the prime sun times of the day.

  7. Purge

    Who needs more printables? Decluttering is good for the soul. Minimize your stuff. If you need containers to organize your stuff, you have too much stuff.

  8. Eating healthier

    Eat balanced and in moderation, mostly plants.
    Diets are so restrictive. Use smaller plates. Stock up on new seasonal veggies. Try new recipes every week. Drink green tea. Drink more water.

  9. Fitness

    You don’t have to waste time and money on a gym membership. Baby steps. There’s always room for improvement. Lift some small weights. Do some sit-ups. Do some pilates on the floor. Walk around the block. There are oodles of free YouTube videos to help get started with at home fitness routines.

  10. Read.

    There are so many books and so little time.
    Need some ideas?

  11. Respect

    Seriously, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
    This goes for parenting too. Respect your kids. Have empathy. Don’t give ultimatums. Don’t use force. Don’t raise your voice or your hands.

  12. Get angry.

    There’s so much wrong in the world.
    So many -isms. All these government issues. So many hurting people. Poverty. Hatred. War.
    What are you doing to help?

What are your achievable goals?

Linking up: Life of Faith, Blogghetti, Our Holiday Journey, Barbie Swihart, Inspiration for Moms, Create with Joy, Holley Gerth, God-Sized Dreams, Blessed But Stressed, Squishable Baby, A Woman in Her Prime, The Quiet Homemaker, Trekking Thru, Confessions of a New Mummy, Sweet Parrish Place, MaryAndering Creatively, Modest Mom, Timeless Mama, Meghan Weyerbacher, Purposeful Faith, Home Stories A to Z, LouLou Girls, Teaching What is Good, April Harris, Simple life of a Fire Wife, Jessi’s Design, Our Three Peas, Raven Would, Breakthrough Homeschooling, Gingersnap Crafts, Ducks in a Row, Oh My Heartsie Girl w, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Sincerely Paula, Quietly Reminded, Soaring with Him, Imparting Grace, Mommynificent, Penny’s Passion, Katherine’s Corner, Flourishing Today, Debbie Kitterman, Brenda Bradford Dottinger, Organized 31, A Bountiful Love, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Creative K Kids T, Simply Sweet Home, Missional Women, Creative K Kids F, Nancy on the Home Front, The Charm of Home, Counting My Blessings, Create with Joy, Coffee With Us3, Overwhelmed to Fulfilled, Easy Peasy Pleasy, Happy and Blessed Home, Anna Nuttall, The Answer is Chocolate, Being a Wordsmith, Momfessionals, Bright on a Budget, The Blended Blog, Susan Mead, Arabah Joy, Becoming Press, Journeys in Grace, Life with Lorelai, Lyli Dunbar, Our Mini Family,

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No Resolutions 2017

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I’m really not into making New Year’s resolutions.

I felt in the past that I just set myself up for failure.

I don’t feel I need to make any drastic changes for improvement. Of course, there is always room for improvement, but I don’t need an overhaul or anything.

I don’t need any challenges for my health, weight, reading, happiness, or faith.

I don’t need a one word to live by. I’m a Christian and I don’t need any Eastern mysticism or New Age mantra.

I don’t need a gimmick to post online, to show anyone that I’m anything.

I don’t need a fancy expensive planner with stickers and colored pens. I don’t need a Bible coloring book. I would never use those.

I don’t need affirmation from strangers that I’m on the right track.

I just carry on.

I frequently set small goals that are attainable – all throughout the year.

What I do year-round:

I already read at least one book each week, in addition to multiple read alouds with my children. We don’t read fluff or self-deprecating pseudo-Christian self-help garbage. We read classic literature, the Bible, well-written non-fiction on a variety of subjects, and occasionally popular contemporary fiction.

We enjoy music and art, visiting museums often. We create and learn, listen and observe.

I read the Bible, write scripture, and pray every day. My children do a Bible study together every morning. We as a family have devotions every evening before bed.

I exercise almost daily for 30 minutes or more.

We all eat mostly natural whole foods. We all cook together and it’s fun to try new recipes. We’re incorporating more plant-based recipes into our repertoire.

We take vitamins, use a happy lamp, and try to go outside daily to stave off depression and winter blues.

We’re well on our way to being debt-free! Our only debt is a car payment and one low-interest loan.

What I’m not doing:

I realize I can’t change the world. While there are probably many great charitable organizations, we choose not to support any at this time. I realize this is an unpopular view and makes me seem callous, but I can’t justify spending time and money where I see so little change or good. I won’t share hearts on Facebook or dump ice water on myself. I’m not going to throw out all my clothes that might not be sustainable and only wear whatever the trend is this week to support whomever. Too many people have the “look at me!” addiction for all they do for whatever cause.

I focus on respecting my children. “Even if we fight against racial injustice, even if we fight for world peace, even if we fight for a sustainable world, if we are using our power over the children in our lives, we are perpetuating injustice and oppression. We are setting children up to accept a world that is based on the more powerful controlling the less powerful.” Teresa Graham Brett

Worrying what others think. I just don’t have any time for this. Moderators may delete my comments and posts from online groups. I may get hateful comments on my blog posts. I may be ridiculed by family or at church or in our local homeschool community for my personal views and parenting style. I’m secure in myself and I don’t need the approval of others. People may be rude or thoughtless, but I am responsible for my reactions.

I limit my screentime and social media use because of how negative it makes me feel. I don’t need any comparisons to feel less-than. I won’t shame or embarrass my children or cats or husband online or in public. I ask their permission before posting anything about them online. I watched Broken Mirror on Netflix recently. Technology is a tool. Social media should not be a way of life. It’s artificial and I prefer reality.


What are you doing this year?

Linking up: Our Holiday Journey, Being a Wordsmith, Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Proverbs 31 Wife, Donna Reidland, Marilyns Treats, A Fresh Start, Written Reality, The Modest Mom, Inspiration for Moms, The Mrs. Tee, Curly Crafty Mom, Practical Mom, Life of Faith, Blogghetti,Maryandering Creatively, Tell Me a True Story, Saving 4 Six, Pat and Candy Wise Woman, Teaching What Is Good, Rich Faith Rising, 3D Lessons 4Life, Holley Gerth, Messy Marriage, Sarah Frazer, Holly Barrett, A Bountiful Love, Oh My Heartsie Girl, Live Laugh Rowe, Katherine’s Corner, Jamiffer, Women with Intention, VMG206, Simple Life of a Fire Wife, Classical Homemaking, Susan B Mead, Missional Women, Sincerely Paula, Create with Joy, RCH Reviews, Life with Lorelai, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Happy and Blessed Home, Creative K Kids, Feeding Big, Being a Wordsmith

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Bible Studies for the New Year

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I love the Advent and Lent Bible studies we read through each and every year. I feel so close to God and my family as we snuggle on the sofa and read these stories and Scripture.

What do we do for Bible studies the rest of the year?

I’m at a loss.

I Googled and searched for studies recommended for the rest of the church year.

I guess there’s a reason the liturgy is called “Ordinary Time.”

It can be pretty disappointing and boring after Christmas and Easter Bible studies.

But God is never ordinary. He is extraordinary!

I plan to use this ordinary time to focus on Bible stories, Scripture memorization, and worldview studies.

Here are some of our family’s favorite Bible studies and resources.

Some great Bible reading plans:

Some great Scriptures series, devotionals, and worldview curricula:



We don’t do Bible journaling or draw all over our Bibles. We read them and learn Scripture. We’re not into coloring book Bibles. The Word of God is sacred. It’s not entertainment. I have a scripture copywork and prayer journal.

And we don’t feel the need to post every little thing we do online to receive praise from other people. Our faith is private.

What do you study during this time between Advent and Lent?

 

Here’s a funny:

Linking up: Timeless Mama, Jaime Wiebel, The Modest Mom, Our Holiday Journey, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Trekking Thru, Godsized Dream, Holley Gerth, Create with Joy, Blessed but Stressed, LouLou Girls, The Mrs. Tee, A Fresh Start, Inspiration for Moms, Creative K Kids, Jessi’s Design, Sincerely Paula, Mommynificent, Our Three Peas, Gingersnap Crafts, Raven Would, Ducks N a Row, Organized 31, Penny’s Passion, Breakthrough Homeschooling, Debbie Kitterman, Blessed Transgressions, Becoming Press, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Brenda BradfordDottinger, Imparting Grace, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Blessed But Stressed, Lyli Dunbar, Missional Women, The Answer is Chocolate, Homecrafts by Ali, Coffee with Us3, Easy Peasy Pleasy, Overwhelmed to Fulfilled, Chic on a Shoestring, Happy and Blessed Home, Create with Joy, My Learning Table, Momfessionals, Katherine’s Corner, The Blended Blog, Susan Mead, Arabah Joy, Being a Wordsmith, Our Mini Family,

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Setting and Keeping Goals

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With the new year, come all these resolutions that seem almost impossible to keep for more than a week or month or so.

It’s overwhelming and frustrating.

Like we need another reminder of failure, right?

We all have room for improvement.

Whether it’s more exercise, eating healthier, to stop saying bad words, eating at home more, stopping smoking, losing weight, reading our Bibles regularly, or budgeting better, whatever {your goal is here}.

Don’t go crazy and set like thirty goals. Don’t set yourself up to fail. Start with one, or five, or ten. Go slowly and complete one goal at a time.

No matter what your goals might be, here is an action plan to keep those resolutions through to completion.

1. Set a realistic, specific, measurable goal.

Instead of just saying “eating healthier,” state your goal very specifically.

“I will:

  • limit my sugar intake
  • get up earlier to make and eat a protein-rich breakfast
  • eat an extra serving or fruits and vegetables each day”

This is absolutely achievable. It is specific. It can be measured.

2. Write your goal down.

For real. You need to think it, read it, say it, learn it. Internalize that goal. Make it your own.

Write your goal down:

  • in your planner or calendar
  • on your dream board
  • in your prayer journal
  • on the bathroom mirror.

Write your goal down and place it somewhere you will see it regularly and often to remind you.

3. Tell a friend.

We all need accountability.

Ask someone to help you stay on track lovingly. Ask her to pray for you and help you during those times when you want to quit. Text her when you’ve reached a milestone or have her set up a reminder to check up on you weekly.

4. Set reasonable milestones.

Remember, goals should be measurable. But be realistic with your abilities to change. It’s difficult to stay motivated and harder to get out of a rut of bad habits.

Don’t expect to lose 50 pounds in a month. That’s not healthy or actionable.

Just like all the experts say not to weigh yourself every day so you don’t get discouraged.

Set reasonable stepping stones. Take each day at a time. Set weekly or monthly check-ins.

5. Celebrate and don’t beat yourself up.

We all have bad days. We forget. We get distracted. We lose hope. We get busy.

We eat that double chip mocha fudge almond ice cream sundae with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, sprinkles, chopped nuts, and a raspberry on top. And we love it. Until the tummyache later.

Tomorrow is another day. Start over the next morning. Clean slate. Forgive yourself and move on.

But when you hit a milestone? Celebrate like crazy! Praise God! Call your friends and family to rejoice with you.

Send me a message and I will squeal like a teenage fangirl.

We set personal goals. I set goals for our family and homeschool to achieve each year.

What are your goals this year?


Linking up: Happy and Blessed Home, The Jenny Evolution

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How We Celebrate New Years Eve

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Our family’s tradition for New Years Eve is simple and frugal. We rarely stay up to ring in the New Year since we have four kids and are exhausted parents.

We try to make New Year’s Eve special for the kids.

We like to stay in together as a family and discuss the years past – with all of God’s blessings, and the new year to come – all the exciting things God has planned for us.

It’s a fun day to do crafts together and reminisce and plan.

How We Celebrate New Years Eve

Food

We have fun making “snackies” – as the kids call tapas or appetizers that we lay out on TV trays for all to share.

Some of our go-to NYE party foods:

  • pigs in blankets
  • BBQ mini meatballs
  • cheese and salami platter
  • mini pizzas or tortilla pizzas
  • spinach artichoke dip
  • veggie and fruit trays
  • sweet and spicy chicken nuggets
  • chicken wings
  • sushi or smoked salmon
  • a variety of crackers and chips

Having a variety means everyone is happy with picking and choosing and sometimes finding a new favorite!

Mocktails

We make a yummy frothy punch out of pineapple juice, ginger ale, and sherbet. The kids like to have fizzy grape juice. We also make our own sweet and sour mix and add that to lemon lime soda or ginger ale with fruit for a fun sangria. Pretty glasses are a must-have to make this special.

Memories

We discuss our favorite memories from the last year. I have these fun memories cards that help prompt the kids as we remember. We also discuss our goals for the next year as a family and homeschool. The kids love this and it offers me insight into what’s important to them.

Movie

We always watch a Muppet movie. I never realized it had become a tradition until my eldest daughter reminded me we had to make sure we had the new Muppets Most Wanted movie for NYE.

We don’t venture out because the fireworks are scary, loud, and dangerous. They’re illegal in Germany except for a few days a year and everyone thinks they’re a pro and it can get a little rowdy. It’s safer indoors.

How do you ring in the New Year?


Check out my New Year Pinterest board:
Follow Jennifer Lambert’s board New Year on Pinterest.

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Chinese New Year Dragon Puppets

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So thrilled about how these Dragon Puppets turned out for Chinese New Year!
Fun Chinese New Year Dragon Puppets

What you need:

  • Paper bag
  • Construction paper for head
  • Construction paper for eyes and nostrils
  • Streamers for the tail
  • Glitter and Sequins (optional)

Drawing Dragon Faces for Puppets

What to do:

  1. Fold sheet of construction paper in half and glue to top of paper bag (where it folds up) to make the head of the puppet
  2. Attach streamers under the back of construction paper head for the tail
  3. Cut out eyes and nostrils in desired shapes – semi-circles for eyes and teardrops for nostrils
  4. Draw lines for mouth and nose with dark marker
  5. Glue eyes and nostrils
  6. Draw on eyeballs in dragon shape
  7. Draw on eyebrows and facial expression (optional)
  8. Glue on glitter and/or sequins to make pretty patterns (optional)

(I think it would be fun to attach an accordion tongue with a strip of red construction paper so it pops out of the fold…)

Dragon Girl

Kate preferred to make hers look like a lizard. She’s special like that. My crazy third child who dances to her own tune.

Dragon Puppets

Tori asked me to draw cool eyebrows on her dragon. Love her. She always follows directions to a T and is so careful.
Dragon Puppets with paper bags

Alex used TONS of glue stick. Then he asked me draw his dragon face and I really like how it turned out and his compliments made my day. Then he pretended to fly around with it. Of course. He’s a boy. What do you think?

We’re preparing to celebrate Chinese New Year with lots of red and gold, horse pictures and crafts, yummy food…and I searched my files and found pictures of the Chinese New Year celebration we attended when we lived in Hawaii.

And I get a clean house out of it after I told the kids that tradition. Score!

We cleaned out the library of all the Chinese New Year storybooks. Liz really likes having Big Sister Storytime. Karen Katz is a favorite author. Love her illustrations!

Chinese New Year Storytime with Sister

Our plans:

  • Read more books about Chinese New Year…
  • Eat Chinese Food: We’ll explore flavors, colors, shapes, and the aesthetic beauty of Cantonese cooking. My kids love Chinese food and we like to try new recipes and techniques. Our Asian turkey wraps are always a hit! I need to break out my bamboo steamer and try to make some steamed dumplings…

Chinese Feast

I will try my hardest not to watch Mulan. Seriously.

Linking up: Crystal and Company, Makeovers and Motherhood, We Made That, The Life of Jennifer Dawn, Weekly Kids Coop, Happy and Blessed Home, 123Homeschool4Me, Sun Scholars, Frugal Homeschool Family, The Jenny Evolution, Peaklepie
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New Year Memories Cards

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The New Year is a great time to reflect on the past year and plan for the next.

I made these for you!

New Year Memories Cards

New Year Resolutions Cards

FREE printable download!

I want to make holidays meaningful for my kids. The new year is a time of reflection and goal-setting.

Lots of people make resolutions. We prefer to set goals. We love to celebrate the year as a family with snacks and mocktails and discuss our favorite memories over the last year.

This is a great time for my husband and I to reflect and discuss changes for the next year as we raise servant leaders.

Happy New Year

Our family has some fun NYE traditions. We make lots of healthy snacks and mocktails and always watch a Muppet movie.

I made these New Year Memory Cards for my kids – and yours.

Now that they’re older, they enjoy ringing in the new year and playing games and talking about our favorite memories from the last year. It’s fun to remember and contemplate our experiences over last year together.

And I’m sharing them with you! I’ve included a blank one so you can write in your own idea too. They’re in duplicate for however you wish to use them – for two kids or print a set and share with a friend! I know you can get creative.

Enjoy!

Click below to subscribe by email and download your

{UPDATED to welcome 2019!} memories cards FREE:

Happy New Year!

May it be even more abundant than the last.

May God shower you with more goodness than you can imagine.

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New Year Resolutions 2012

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My New Year Resolutions

I’m keeping it simple.

  1. I vow to eat healthier, starting…today. I need to lose that baby weight! Seriously, my kid is almost 2! I have about 15 pounds or so that need to get gone. The kids only want peanut butter, chicken nuggets, and corn…that’s not working out so well for me. I’ll have to eat something better, separately from the kids, maybe during Alex’s naptime. (btw, I do provide fruits and veggies for the kids and not always chicken nuggets and corn!)
  2. I vow to drink lots more water. Not that big into soda, so that’s not a temptation, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE sweet tea. All that sugar is killing me, y’all. I also put way too much sugar in my morning coffee. Baby steps, people, baby steps.
  3. I should eat breakfast. Sugary coffee doesn’t quite count, I’m told.
  4. I need to exercise. I actually went to the gym last week {gasp!} I seriously would use an elliptical machine if we had one and somewhere to put the thing, like in front of the TV. When is Wii Fit coming out with one? I’ve been trying to do some yoga, ballet, Pilates stuff in the mornings.
  5. Intentional homeschooling and intentional blogging to keep me accountable. I have organized so much! I’m also using more Montessori materials with Alex, Katie, and Tori. I need to file papers more efficiently and promptly.

So, how’s it going so far, you ask?

Breakfast, nah. 2ish cuppas of coffee with less sugar than usual. I did pretty well with the breakfast thing last week. Not so much this morning. The Bubba didn’t help so much, getting up at 5 (%#&*@) AM. That’s at least an hour TOO EARLY. With the aforementioned 0530 wakeup call, the Bubba witnessed said attempts at exercise, and giggled at me! The nerve of that boy! Homeschooling and organizing: It’s always a process. I’ve done well to work closely with Alex and the girls in the mornings this last week…and not get as easily distracted by unimportant stuff like laundry and cooking and the cat puking on the front door rug.

So here is lunch.

I drank 2 glasses of water .
Berry walnut spinach salad:

Guilty pleasure of Brianna’s dressing. I could just drink this stuff, but I was good and just drizzled a tiny bit…
Found some leftover steamed veggies and pasta in the fridge…
Sautéed some onions, peppers, and mushrooms in olive oil.
Added some pesto sauce and parmesan cheese. Oh my!
Voilà!
Snacktime! (with more water.)
Dinner will be baked ginger rice and balsamic chicken thighs.

It’s a recipe from Not Your Mother’s Casseroles (NYM Series). yummy! And more water. yay.

Baby steps…

What are your New Year Resolutions?

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