A purposeful 2019

Hey friends, I hope you’re having a great start to 2019. I feel like I’m slowly still wrapping my head around the fact that it’s a new year. I know it’s been a little quiet here this month but for some very good reasons. 

Since last August, I’ve been running around non-stop with so many different responsibilities and projects. This is the first time in a long while that I’ve gotten some respite. During this month, I’ve still been working but at a slower pace. My sister and her family left in early January and we had so much fun together which let me enjoy the holidays a little bit longer. 

The biggest task was getting all my tax documents and receipts ready which my CPA suggested I do. The tax stuff was so overwhelming and I honestly didn’t know where to start. On top of that, I finally got my business license and moved from a sole proprietor to an LLC. I’m feeling so professional! I have learned so much in this whole process and continue to do so. 

Last week, I finally finished all my tax prep and that lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. Jimmy knows this is the part of the business that I really really dislike but can’t ignore. I have a feeling most creatives feel this way. I have a hard time starting tasks like this because it just seems so daunting but he kept encouraging me to do one small thing and then go to the next. If you’re having challenges starting that big monumental task, I also encourage you to take it baby step by baby step. Soon, you’ll see just how far you’ve come!

I love Bob Goff’s quote, “It’s easy to confuse a lot of activity with a purposeful life.”  Oh man, isn’t that good? In a way, I feel like God has given me this month to really reflect on the past year but also look to the new year with fresh eyes. I’m asking the Lord for wisdom in my personal and professional life and faith to trust in his direction. I don’t want to live a life of striving especially for the next best thing but be intentional about the present.  Culture tells us that we ought to be busy and constantly hustle but there is so much value in resting. So I’ve been seeing this time as a gift to realign my focus, refuel my creativity and find rest. 

Honestly, it’s been quite liberating this month as I’ve been listening to some really awesome podcasts and trying to intentionally set my mind on God’s truths. This has been a struggle this past year as it hasn’t always been a priority. But instead of beating myself over it (as I’ve done in years past), I’m giving myself grace and really enjoying the times I spend with Jesus. Here are a few of my favorite things from this past month that my spirit and belly have been soaking up.

Podcast: Jamie Ivey’s, The Happy Hour

Devotional: Life Principles Daily Bible by Charles Stanley

Books: If you only knew by Jamie Ivey and Homebody by Joanna Gaines

Restaurant: Novo Cucina in Atlanta. This is the best Italian restaurant in the city!

 

I looooove to read but I’ve been struggling to find the time. January has been the month to get back into reading and it’s been so good for my soul. Another favorite is the Happy Hour podcast that’s usually on in the background when I’m working, driving, meal prepping, etc. It’s the only thing that got me through all the tax prep!

 

Okay, there was some fun stuff that happened this month because I got to meet another designer friend and shop through the 3 buildings during the Atlanta market. I’ll be sure to share a post on that since there was so much inspiration around every corner. 

And yes, we’re still providing respite care. We will be partnering up with different foster families the next month to provide care for foster kids. I want to be more intentional about this commitment this year as well. 

Starting in January, we have a master bathroom shower renovation happening. Any type of bathroom renovation is expensive but sometimes it’s out of our control. We have not used our shower in over 6 months when we found we had some water damage! We finally found a great local family owned company that will start on our shower renovation either at the end of this month or early Feb. We are so excited to finally use our shower again. I’ll also be making a few cosmetic changes to our bathroom after the renovation is complete to show you some simple ways to update a bathroom space. 

In light of Martin Luther King Day, I will finish my post with this.

 

Thanks for reading, friends!

xoxo

 

 

Let all that you do be done in Love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

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