I got a new planner this year and so I started a series that I’m titling “A Glimpse Into My Planner”.

Each month* I’m giving you a glimpse of what’s been happening, because I now keep EVERYTHING in this planner since there is a space for EVERYTHING.

Just to recap:

Each day not only has lines for my to do list, it also has 3 sections that I love:  

• The Big 3 – This helps me prioritize.  What 3 things MUST I get done today?
• Wellness – Daily workouts.
• Gratitude – 3 things for which I’m grateful on that given day.

I also make note of things the Lord shows me during my daily quiet time.  

This new planner has reduced my desk by 3 books, and I have it all in one place and I love it.  I also love going back through my month to see what worked, what didn’t, what I got done, what I still need to do and so on.

So let’s get to it.  

July was a busy month.  I can’t believe it’s over!  I feel like there’s something to note almost everyday, but I’ll try to keep it to the highlights.   

Our vacation to Yellowstone

This was our first time going out west.  We flew into Bozeman, Montana and then drove about 2.5 hours to Yellowstone National Park.  We stayed at the antelope lodge in Grant Village. One day we drove down through Grand Teton National Park.  

The sights were gorgeous.  We saw wildlife like buffalo, elk, and prong-horned antelope.  The mountains, rivers, and rushing waterfalls were spectacular.  And then there were the geysers and the sunrise.

We did lots of walking as well as driving.  The temperatures started in the 40s in the morning but some days reached nearly 90.  

I’m a teacher!

I got a job teaching PE at our local Catholic school.   In addition I will be doing counseling as needs are identified.  I’m both excited and nervous about this new adventure.

I participated in 2 book launches 

(Amazon affiliate links)

Leaving a Mom Legacy – “When we love our kids like Jesus loves them, we are great moms.  Even if they don’t eat their veggies.” This is just one quote that will pull you in and let you know you’re not alone in this mom thing.  The 30 day devotional takes us through the lives of 11 women in the Bible and then helps you apply Biblical truth to our life as a mom. But even if you’re not a mom, you can take away so many applicable truths.  As women, we want to leave an impact on those around us…no matter who God puts in our lives.

The Billionaire Love Match  – This is a clean romance written by what I would describe as an up and coming author in this genre.  I’ve never been into shows like The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, but I am a fan of Hallmark movies and inspirational romances.  The book fits my taste. I found this one, and a couple of others by the same author, to be easy reads for my evening wind down time.  The book had me laughing and crying, and between read times I caught myself wondering about what would happen next. Just last week I finished reading the uncut version of another book by Emma St. Clair and it was just as good.   Go search Emma St. Clair now on Amazon and start reading!

Vacation. A new job. Book launches. A lot happened in #july2018 and I use my @kitlifegirls #planner to track it all. #gratitude Click To Tweet

Working on 2 projects

I’ve opened my 4 week accountability group for August.   There are only a few days left to sign up. While I was on vacation I felt God leading me back to the basics.  This space all started when I felt Him calling me to help women find freedom in living a fit and healthy life….essentially how to live fit and free.  And so those who are seeking freedom in their lives, especially as it relates to her health and fitness, can join me for 4 weeks to living fit and free.   

I’m working on a Christmas devotional.  This will be a guide to a happy healthy holiday with tips as well as devotional entries.  I chatted with Dr. Beth Brombosz who helped me put together 40 Days of Faith and Fitness. She helped me get some focus with my Christmas devotional, so I’ll be hard at work to get it ready for you by late October or early November.  

Take a glimpse into my planner to see what happened in July. #July2018 #planner #recap Click To Tweet

Wellness

Running, biking, lifting, and doing yoga continue to fill up my wellness spot.  Everyday I move in some way.   I hit the hotel gym on vacation on the days that we flew, but while we were at the park, I kept it to all the walking.   I did complete a 3.5 mile race on the 4th of July. This was the first race I have run since spring. It was hot that day but I was happy with my 9:27 pace and 1st place age group finish.  

I did plyo lunges in one of the Jillfit workouts that I’m beta testing.  Why is this worth mentioning? Since my knee and toe injuries, I haven’t even tried things like that.  While it’s important to listen to your body, I think that I sometimes default to the easier mode out of fear of injury.  But I don’t want to lose my edge and quit challenging myself. So I tried them. And it didn’t hurt. I’ll be more apt to do less modifications in future workouts.  

How can you challenge yourself today?

Quiet time notes

“When God gives you the opportunity to serve Him, He looks at your heart not your date of birth.”  from Love God Greatly Truth Over Lies Bible study.

“Vision focuses our decisions.  Decisions determine our destiny.”  Father Mike Schmitz podcast.

Recently I have felt the weight of responsibility with things God has entrusted me with.  Not weight in a negative sense, but weight in a truly humbled sense knowing that I can not do this on my own.  The message for women. Being the mother to 2 young men who both need God’s direction in their lives very differently.  A new job to instill healthy habits in young children. I need a fresh dose of His grace daily to fulfill His calling on my life.  

Some things that made my gratitude list in July:

• Pedicure with no wait time
• Call from St. Joe School principal and eventually a new job
• S’mores blizzard
• Father Mike’s one year anniversary at our local parishes
• Vacation and all the beautiful sights
• Sleeping in my own bed after vacation
• Kroger Clicklist
• Birth of baby to a young couple in our running group
• Freshly paved roads in town and out in our county
• Christmas in July fun
• Chat with Beth Brombosz to plan my Christmas devotional
• Chat with Jennifer Hunt to encourage and support one another
• Plyo lunges
• Ethan is home (after a week away with Kent’s mom)

Cheers to August, friend!

*Click on the month to read that month’s recap

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June