image from thresca on tumblr
We’re two months into the year of living intentionally. January went well, and now it’s time to see how it went in February. I don’t want to bore you with the whole list of ways I want to be intentional this year, so let’s just talk about where things went right.
Moving into a season of greater spiritual and emotional intimacy with my husband.
This one is still going well, though I think this month that’s more due to effort on A’s part than mine. He’s been really on top of keeping boundaries up during tax season, and making the most of the time we have together at home. We’ve had more dates this month and more time out with friends than I can remember us ever having during a tax season February. February is usually the time in tax season where the end is still so far that there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, but A and his co-workers have been going at it for so long that they’re burned out. February usually brings significant stress and tiredness on A’s part, stress and loneliness on mine, and an epic fight at some point during the month. Not this month! This month we’re comparatively doing well. I’m going to chalk it up to us both being more focused on keeping the intimacy going during the lean times. Dreaming of our post-tax season vacation helps too.
Moving forward with the ministry God’s put in front of me.
I’ve made decisions this month about my time over the next year, and keeping out time sucks so I can focus in the upcoming months. So I’m calling this one a win.
Making the most of the relationships I have, and taking time to nurture them.
This month has seen many spontaneous lunches and get-togethers with girlfriends. I’ve baby-sat for good friends, and started working out with girlfriends, which helps with my next intentional goal:
Finding fun, creative ways to get together with friends that don’t revolve around food.
I joined a gym that three of my girlfriends belong to. Within the first week of joining, my unofficial life coach Dianne called me four times to see if I was going to class. Way to motivate, Deed!
Tackling some of the harder things on The List, especially the ones that scare me.
You know how I said I joined the gym? Yeah, the biggest reason was to take yoga. Twice a week. And I’m doing it. Yay!
Also, I’ve got A on board with my vision to redecorate the bedroom, and he’s even starting to set aside a little bit to help me do it. Double yay!
Having more people over for dinner, and not letting time/stress/money get in the way of my love of being a hostess.
Two dinners this month, one quite a random mix of people, both successful. This recipe is fab, by the way. Easy, tasty, and the leftovers were great thinly sliced over salad with the aoli as dressing the next night.
Finding ways beyond words to show people that I love them.
I’ve sent out several offers of help to friends who are hurting this month. As one who has been loved on in this way when I’ve been down, I know how much it means.
Buying locally as much as possible.
I just bought the first strawberries of the season, from California. I’ve been resisting the blueberries and raspberries and blackberries that have been popping up in the store because they were from Chile or Mexico. But last week, three baskets of California strawberries were $6. Um, done. Plus, did you know that Clover milk is native to Nor Cal? It is, so Clover eggs and butter is all that’s on our table.
Reading challenging, empowering, quality books instead of solely feeding my brain a mental fast food diet of chick-lit.
Unbroken
The Paris Wife
Working on The Time In Between at Katie’s suggestion.
Plus I opened a Goodreads account! Loving the bookish camaraderie.
Putting my health first and making the time to exercise.
Hey, did I mention I joined a gym? With friends? I did? Oh, sorry. Well, joining is only half the battle. Am I making the time to go? Let’s just say I have a standing date for Monday and Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings for the foreseeable future.
If you had a resolution or a word for 2012, how’s it going? I’d love to hear! Leave a comment or link to a blog post you’ve written on this below.
Bigger in Real Life 
I didn’t have adequate time to sit down and reply in a manner worthy of such a thoughtful post. I apologize it took me longer than expected, but now I need to tell you how much I enjoyed reading through this . . .
You and I have so many similarities, and I see our lives parallel, too. It’s comforting to know that I have a friend out there who understands that the Glory of God is a real, attainable thing we can have in our lives — now! It happens when we put our kingdoms aside, and begin putting His first in everything we do.
When I read about how you are working toward your goals with purpose and intentionality, I feel compelled/convicted to do the same. The word “inspire” is overused these days, but truly that is what this post did; it inspired me. In fact, I believe it was your January’s post that propagated the discussion I had with M about figuring out ways to spend quality time with one another. I told him that I had met a woman who was making a point to schedule time with her husband so that excuses could no longer build a rift between them. Busyness and exhaustion are the two strongest competitors in a marriage. They will eat up intimacy and genuine desire to pour into one another. Since that conversation, we made a pact to spend an extra 45 minutes a day together, in which we focus only on the other, allowing no ancillary activity to distract us. It’s been a blessing.
Thank you, Christy, for constantly being a source of Good and Integrity.
Blessings,
Cara