New Year, New Goals

 Hello, 2022.

I've spent a lot of time reflecting on what I want to accomplish this year. I have some goals in mind, so I took the time to write them down as a way to hold myself accountable, and to make sure that I make an active effort into achieving them. Some of my goals are personal goals, whereas other goals pertain to my career. Today I'll tell you about my personal goals!

• Less Screen Time: I spend far more time than I should, mindlessly browsing social media throughout the day. I don't accomplish near as much as I could without the screen time. I'm doing well with this goal so far. I also find that I have much less anxiety since I've started paying less attention to social media and all of the negativity that I see on social apps and websites. I call this one a win!
• Stick to a Daily Routine: I'm not the type of person who can get through the day without one. If I don't have a written list of daily goals, they won't get done. I usually have several thought processes flowing through my mind, so it's hard to keep focused on a specific task if there isn't a written list in front of me. 
• Stay Organized With a Planner: These days, there is always something to remember; doctor appointments; extracurriculars for the kids; family events, etc. With a Planner, it will be much easier to remember what needs to be done and when. 
• Library Once a Week: I love to read. It's something that I don't get to do often enough. I started out strong last year, but then I got into a reading rut. I want to change that this year. My plan is to start going to the library at least once a week. I plan to bring the girls with me to help encourage their reading as well!
• Blog/Write More: I use to spend a lot of time writing, and I feel like I don't write nearly enough anymore. In 2022, I want to aim for at least one blog post a week. 

There are other goals, of course, but these are the important ones for me. There are big things happening behind the scenes, and all of the small goals are a means to get to the big ones. I'm so excited to see what 2022 has in store for me and my family!

Our Adventures In Mississippi

 It's been over a year since my last blog post. As always, life has been busy. Here lately, I feel like I'm always on the go, and never able to truly relax.

It has occurred to me that I've yet to write about our family's relaxing adventure over the summer. In July, we went to Mississippi! We rented an Airbnb, and we got away from it all!

When we started our quest for the perfect Airbnb, we weren't sure yet where we wanted to go. What we did know is that we wanted to go somewhere quiet. We wanted the scenery of the woods and nature; somewhere where we could find peace and serenity.

We've never booked an Airbnb before, so the whole process was new for us. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that the Airbnb app had an Outdoors Destinations category. It's where we found this gem! We browsed several other listings, but this is the one that won us over. Who wouldn't want a quiet secluded getaway on 125 wooded acres!? Let's not forget the lake, also!

In total, we spent a week at the cabin. Much of our time was spent down by the water. The girls and I spent lots of time just swimming, relaxing, and playing. It was a peaceful and carefree time for us all! From the moment the sun came up, my youngest would be asking if it was okay for her to go swimming yet. Of course! To relax was the whole purpose of why we were there! Let's not forget fishing. We did a lot of fishing too that week (although none of us actually caught anything). The weather was overcast and rainy some of the time, but we didn't let it stop us from enjoying our time by the water. 

Our evenings were spent indoors watching movies and eating family meals. We actually stopped at the grocery store on our way in and stocked up on groceries, so that we wouldn't have to spend a whole lot on eating out. This, I believe, helped to enhance our relaxing getaway! It really was peaceful. Also, it was super relaxing on the porch. To wake in the morning, and enjoy a good cup of coffee on the porch along with the beautiful view of the lake? There are no words to describe the experience. 

Closer to the end of our stay, we utilized the firepit, and we let the girls roast marshmallows! It took us a while to get the fire going. Many of the sticks and branches we found were damp from the rain we'd had that week. Once we got the fire going, it was time for the fun. It was nice to be able to give the girls a campfire experience where they could roast their marshmallows and make s'mores. It isn't something we get to do very often, and it was a wonderful way to add good family memories to our collection. It's the little things that mean the most. 

There are plenty of other experiences we had that I haven't written about, but that's okay. Altogether, our trip to Mississippi was a wonderful time for us. It's such a beautiful state! We saw gorgeous scenery, celebrated Richard's birthday, discovered an awesome little ice cream shop, and made unforgettable memories. We all can't wait to go back!