2012 Goals Update {August}

I thought it might be time to do a little update...just to see how on track I am on my 2012 goals.  Here is my update for August:

Financial

Start putting money into savings. (Not this month.  We were notified that our renter was moving out as of August.  And the rental market on the island isn't moving as quick as we'd hope.  I hope to have someone in our place in September, but for sure October.  All this to say, that money that would have went to savings went to a mortgage payment instead.)

Starting a Christmas fund. (I continued to check out the Target 70% toy clearance and only need to buy 1 more gift for Jax.  Julie is all set to go!)

Vacation fund  (None right now.  It's going to be going to a mortgage payment)

School

Plan out the year with Tot School.  (Update:  Took the rest of August off from Tot School.  Jax and Julie spent time with family.  During this time, I planned out the rest of the year and plan to include Julie in more stuff.)

Home Management

Make a cleaning schedule and stick to it weekly. (Update:  My own cleaning list was too ambitious.  So now I am trying a modified cleaning list from Little Green Notebook.  It is working great!)

Personal

Books

Here is the list I want to read.  Again, I'm shooting under the table because if I finish this list, I can ADD MORE.

The Hole in the Gospel by Richard Sterns  (Finished in April.  I felt that the Part 1, 2, and 3 were too long.  And Parts 4 and 5 were too short!  But overall a good read.  Some great principles and ideas discussed in here.)

Real Marriage by Mark Driscoll  (Finished in February.  It took me almost all month to read this.  It was not interesting.)

Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson  (Finished in August.  It had some great advice in some places, in other places it dragged.  I give it a B.)

The Hunger Games by Suzane Collins  (Finished in July.  Oh my.  That was a fun read.  Looking forward to the DVD release in August so I can watch it!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett  (Finished in January.  Fantastic book!  But after reading the book, the movie was very disappointing.)

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen  (Finished in February.  Love, love, love it!  I watched the movie and loved it!  I think I had lowered my expectations of books turned into books after watching The Help.)

The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher  (Finished in August.  Also didn't realize that this was book 1 in a series.  Guess I'll have to add more books onto my list!  I liked it a lot.)

More Lost Than Found by Jared Herd  (Finished in July.  Eh.  It was ok.  I couldn't figure out who the author was writing to.  Is it for Christians that have left the church and want to come back?  Is it for Christians who want to bring back Christians who left?  I'm honestly not sure.)

Kisses from Katie by Katie J. Davis  (Finished in January.  A great read about an amazing young lady following Jesus to Africa.  Highly reccomend!)

Radical by David Platt  (Very good read!)

Book read with YA Book Club at church:

1000 Gifts by Ann Voskmap (Finished in March.  Highly recommend!)

Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton  (Finished June.  Hardest book I ever read.  Period.  But I'm so glad I read it.  Lots of great things to think about.)

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant  (Eh.  I'm still not sure what I thought about it.  It wasn't bad, but maybe wasn't my type of book.)

Books I've added on:

Bossypants by Tina Fey  (Finished in August.  I thought it would be more about show business and also funnier.  The beginning dragged, but the ending left you wanting more.)

Too Small to Ignore:  Why the Least of These Matter the Most by Dr. Wess Stafford  (Finished in July.  LOVED this book!  It wasn't what I expected to be which I loved.  Highly recommend!)

Radical Together by David Platt (Finished in July.  It was a short read, but basically was a condensed version of the original book, Radical.  I thought there would be some new stuff in there, but there wasn't.)

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins  (Finished in August.  Out of the three books, I thought this one was the best.  It was so unpredictable.)

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Finished in August.  Loved this series!)

Bible Study time

Memorize the book of James  (Memorized to verse 2:22.)

Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore (Finished.  So good!)

Study Ephesians with Good Morning Girls.  (Done!)

31 Days to Pray for your Children from Keep it Personal  (Done.)

Proverbs 31 Woman from Good Morning Girls. (Finished this in August.)

Bible in 90 Days Class at church coming in September!  So excited for this!

Whew...in just a month, I've accomplished a lot!