Flourish, Flourish in All Seasons, Goals

Making Time for Rest & Adventure: January Recap & February Goals

We had an unexpected snow day this past week. A day where the storm rolled in over night dropping inches of fluffy snow. It was magical to wake up to a Winter wonderland and take a few minutes to pause and savor the scene.

But then, the realities of the snowstorm upended my idealic morning. Messy roads, snow removal, slippery driveways, canceled plans, and delayed celebrations. Yes, my day now held extra margin, but it also meant holding plans loosely and letting go of expectations. A theme I’ve been learning on repeat these days.

Winter reminds us that everyone and everything needs some quiet time.

Katrina Mayer

Winter is a time to rest, be still, and quiet our hearts. For me, that conjures up koselig scenes of snuggling up by the fire with a hot cup of tea, cozy blanket, and an inspiring book or magazine.

And while that is LOVELY and a rhythm I savor extra in the Winter, true rest comes not from a single moment but walking daily in rhythm with our Creator.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

This last month held heartache & hopes deferred. However, the goodness of an easy yoke overflowed in countless mundane moments. When I choose to acknowledge the good gifts alongside the challenging ones, I’m reminded that our Father is at work through every moment of my life.

That is my prayer for you in this season. The you would find rest for your weary soul and recognize the good gifts from your heavenly father.

January 2021 Recap:

Celebrating Epiphany (The Season of Light) by candlelight most mornings.
Skiing for the first time in SO MANY years!
Snowshoe adventures with forever friends
Bundled up walks in the Winter sunshine at Koselig Cottage
Floret 2021 Workshop Launch!
Abundant bowls of honey bells from Tree Ripe Fruit Company
Liv talking over my office…future assistant in the making!

February 2021 Goals:

Monthly Action Items:

Winter Home Declutter (clothes, books, basement, office)

Read: Curated Closet, Beginner’s Pluck, Start with Why, and The Gift of Being Yourself.

Dream day for ECE.com

Plan Home and ZA gardens

Weekly Action Items:

Screen Free Evening

Weekly Examen and Sunday Prep

Yoga/Swim

Salt or Sauna

Floret Workshop Homework

Face to Face with local community

Daily Habits:

Contentment ($ and <3)

Soak up a Psalm

3 Things

Rest/Delight

Flourish, Flourish in All Seasons, Goals

A Year of Grit & Grace – 2021 Goals

2021 Anchor Verses:

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

2021 Yearly Goals:

Embrace the rhythms of the church calendar and spiritual disciplines (daily office, weekly examen, sabbath, rule of life)

I have always been a “planner girl”. Excited to try the newest organization tool and am giddy at the fresh start of a new month, year, or page.

Yet the last few years, I’ve moved to a primarily on-line planner for the ease of having my schedule “on hand at all times.

But this last year with all the uncertainty and change had me craving trying something new. I wanted a planner that was different than I could find at Office Max and cultivated my heart and soul as much as my calendar.

The goal of incorporating the liturgical calendar into my year, lead me to Sacred Ordinary Days. After downloading and LOVING their monthly sample, I took a leap and ordered a hard copy of their yearly planner.

It’s simple, clean, flexible, and centered on what matters most: my relationship with God. I’ve been using it over a month now, and I particularly love the weekly & seasonal examen and Sabbath day page. A consistent reminder each week to check-in with my soul and look back on where I’ve abided in Him or tried to accomplish things on my own.

Nourish my body with whole foods, movement, and soul-care.

I don’t know if you have been feeling it too, but so many of my conversations lately have been centered around feeling the weariness and weight of this world. With everything going on in our country, nation, and community it’s so important to care for our bodies, mind, and soul.

My rhythms have been thrown off track over the last few months and I’m committing to re-establishing healthy habits in 2021.

For me that looks like:

  • simple, nourishing meals packed with plenty of protein
  • enjoying whole, seasonal foods
  • weekly yoga and daily stretching
  • swimming laps at least 2X a week
  • getting outside as much as possible
  • committing to a screen-free evening once a week to journal, read, and rest
Abundant tomato harvest–is it Summer yet?

Courageously speak and write truth.

When I think of a year of grit and grace, I see a year that is full of brave words. That might look like sharing a cup of tea with a friend, taking a walk and asking the hard questions, or sharing what God is teaching me here on this little corner of the web.

This recovering people-pleaser has struggled to find her voice and not just say what others want to hear. However, I’ve learned that with a whole lot of prayer prayer and plenty of God’s grace, it is possible to share words that are brave, true, and full of grace.

A women of gentle grace earns respect.

Proverbs 11:16

Love my family & local community well.

Looking back on my most treasured memories of 2020, they all involved my family and local community. In the year of Safer@Home, I found the joy of local friendships and having my family close.

Time with family at the cottage, gatherings on the deck/porches with friends, Emily’s Safer@Home bake shop, and life group game nights brought a deep joy to my weeks. I tangibly saw a long awaited prayer answered last year and I want to steward this gift well.

Some of the ways I will love my people in 2021 is:

  • continue porch drop off of Emily’s Bakeshop
  • celebrate birthdays and milestones of family and dear friends
  • host outdoor celebrations in each season
  • savor time with family at the cottage
  • send snail mail to friends and family far away

Celebrate and rejoice in each Season.

Working in an agriculture based ministry, I can’t help but see how God wired us for seasons. Winter is a time of Rest, Spring a time of planting, Summer is tending, and Autumn is the harvest.

I’m always learn, process, and grow when I spend time reflecting on God’s creation. This year I want to take it even further to embrace the celebrations/seasons of the church (Advent, Christmastide, Lent, Easter, etc.) AND also the seasons of nature.

One way that I’m walking through the year is joining Lady Farmer’s Almanac. It’s a group of farmer, nature, slow-living, like-hearted ladies with monthly classes, articles, and a book club each season.

This Winter we are focusing on REST and how it looks in our home, closets, use of technology, etc. The class this month shared about creating a “cozy cocoon” space that is full of things you love and a place to just rest and enjoy. To be honest, sometimes my whole house feels this way, but then I see the unwashed dishes or remember that I never sent an e-mail, so my brain clicks into overdrive again. I spent 15 minutes this week to take down my “upstairs Christmas decor” (a small tree and one sign) and refresh for Winter. I cleared off my bedside table and left the fairy lights up for a cozy, restful space.

Updating my bedroom for a cozy, winter cocoon.

Challenge my mind, body, and spirit with new adventures.

“Enockson girls have adventures” is a motto that I share with my sister (and now sweet niece) on a consistent basis. For Christmas I created them each a photo book and short story about how Enockson girl’s have adventures on a daily basis. It’s my biggest hope and prayer for them, to remind them that they are brave, courageous, and kind.

I want to model the adventure-filled life and push myself outside my comfort zone to try hard things. This year it might be cross-country skiing instead of the familiar snowshoe, cooking new recipes, seasonal “bucket list” adventures, reading books outside my usual genre, trying projects, and saying YES even when I’m afraid.

A full life isn’t meant to be lived in our comfort zones. A full and vibrant life is full of mistakes, hard things, joy and LOTS of adventure.

Kicking off 2021 cross country skiing for the 1st time in 10 years!

Grow beautiful blooms at ZA and home.

If you know me even a little bit, you know my love, okay obsession, for flowers. My wardrobe in the Spring consists of 80% floral pieces and a handful of neutrals, my kitchen table always has a bouquet of blooms or potted bulb, and my favorite time of the week at ZA is when we stock the farm cart with blooms for the community.

So, NOBODY was surprised last fall when I decided to participate in Floret Farm Cut-Flower workshop. Erin has been a role model for farmer-florists everywhere and I love how she continues to cultivate beauty and purpose through her IG feed, family and farm.

2021 holds so much possibility for my home gardens and ZA. I can’t wait to see how this goal literally grows over the next 12 months.

A vibrant mid-summer bouquet of blooms.

Cultivate a heart of contentment and give generously.

A heart of generosity and contentment continues to be one of the hardest and humbling goals. I want to be quick to give and be generous with what I’m given, and yet so often I think about my needs before others.

This year I’m joining Nancy Ray for the contentment challenge. Three months of purposely NOT shopping or spending on frivolous things. After the excess of Christmas, it feels refreshing but also reveals how quickly I click “add to cart” or “purchase now” before actually thinking if I need or truly want something. This year I’m joining her again and choosing not to purchase clothing, books, or home decor from January – March.

She recommends having a hobby or habit you want to cultivate and replace the time you would have spent at target or on-line shopping. For me that is watercolor and hiking outside. I want to cut out the habit of pursing the isle of target after a long week and instead go outside and soak up God’s amazing creation.

Flourish, Flourish in All Seasons, Goals

Celebrating the Good of 2020!

This week between Christmas and New Year is one of my favorite times. While we can easily fall into the black hole of not knowing “what day or time it is” and post-christmas sugar high, there is a beauty to a slower pace, with a little of the Christmas sparkle left in it.

I stumbled upon this quote yesterday and it’s the exact sentiment I want to step into the New Year:

“I don’t know exactly what’s next but I’m stepping forward with grit, anchored in grace.”

Julia Graham

When the calendar flips on December 31st at midnight, all the pain and hardship won’t just go away. 2020 has been a year of numerous challenges, growth, and letting go.

Friends, with a little bit of grit, a whole lot of prayer, and big leaps of faith we can step into the fresh start of a new year anchored in His grace.

To me, a life of grace & grit begins by celebrating & marking the challenges, good things, and growth of the previous year.

January

Carlson Lefsefest and Crock Pot Wars! Family Time Pre-COVID
Snowshoe Adventures & Stillness of Winter

February

Snowshoe and Sauna at Koselig Cottage
A Restful Retreat in the Northwoods with Friends

March

Soul-filling time in Sanibel before the world “shut down”. Beach walks, honest prayers, and marvling at God’s amazing creation.

April

First Garden Blooms and last memories with my sweet pup Belle
The Start of “Emily’s Safer@Home Bakeshop” 😉

May

“You Don’t Choose the Lilac Life, The Lilac Life Chooses You.”
An outpouring of love and hope in the form of blooms and beauty.

June

Berry picking and Enockson girl adventures
Enockson trip up to the UP for kayaking, campfires, naps, and “beast” rides.

July

Canning the fruit of the garden!
Kayak Adventures all over WI and The UP!

August

The launch of EmilyCEnockson.com !
Blooms and friends to celebrate 35!

September

Bike rides in the crisp fall air.
The great pumpkin hunt of 2020 at Zachariah’s Acres.

October

Garden blooms, gorgeous weather, and watercolor reminders of truth.
Winterberry harvesting and a Fall getaway with friends.

November

Laughing and playing in the leaves with Livy-Lu. So much joy being an Auntie
The first snow…at Koselig Cottage

December

Powersheet planning and heart to heart chats in the treehouse
Hikes on snowy days and reminders of God’s faithfulness
Goals

A Calm Christmas & December Goals

Happy December my Friends!

This year I’m choosing to simplify my expectations for the holidays, so I can truly be present for the delights of the season. I want this month to be peaceful and cozy, not hurried and harried.

And for me, that begins with choosing less.

Present over perfect. Quality over quantity. Relationship over rushing. People over pressure. Meaning over mania.

Shauna Niequet

It’s the exact sentiment I want to cultivate for Christmas 2020.

It’s with this heart I share my November Goal Update & December Goals with you.

November 2020 Update:


Set My Christmas List and Budget

This Guide from Cultivate was so incredibly helpful in planning for a joyful Holiday!

Decorate for a cozy Christmas

Sneak Peek of my Holiday Home. This Book shed light to decorate your home first for Winter and then Christmas…game changer!

Spiritual Self-Care Series Posts (2)

Well friends, life got the better of me this month and my posts were few and far between. However, I did share my heart on Sabbath here and it was the most beautiful reminder going into the season of REST this Winter. More goodness to come.

Clean Up Leaves and Final Prep Garden for Winter.

This little pumpkin helped me finish up the last of the leaf raking and yard clean up!

Pot up Paperwhites.

Here are my paperwhites in full bloom last year. This year I tried a new variety that doesn’t have as strong of a smell and has double the petals. Beauty in the midst of Winter.

December 2020 Goals

Monthly

  • 2021 Powersheet Prep Day with my Goal Gals.
  • Cultivate a CALM Christmas.
  • Simple and meaningful gifts for family and friends.
  • Host Book Club: Welcome Home by The Nester

Weekly

Goals

November Goals

It’s the last Friday of the month, and I spent the morning reflecting on the past month and working on November goals. It’s been a month full of uncharted territory, change, surrender, and unexpected gifts.

I stumbled upon this quote from William Virgil Davis this past week and it captured my exact sentiments for this month.

As we watch leaves fluttering to the ground in fall, we are reminded of nature’s cycle are mirrored in our lives. Autumn is a time for letting go and releasing things that have been a burden.”

Change has never been my favorite, but one of my core values is growth.

Here is the thing friend, we can’t grow without change. Growth and change go hand in hand, and it all begins with letting go. When we surrender our expectations, fears, and desires we make room for God to work.

Surrender can look like trusting God to care for your loved ones when you are not with them, journaling out your fears and concerns before bed so you can sleep well, or saying no to a wonderful opportunity when your plate is already full. Letting go looks different for everyone, but the foundation is trust. Trust that our God is a good Father who will guide and direct our steps.

When we trust that the Lord has good instore for us, we can step into the unknown with confidence and courage.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

I’m heading into this new month with a surrendered heart and trusting that my Father will continue to direct my steps towards Him and His plans for my life.

October Goals Update

Make elderberry syrup.

Simple Elderberry Syrup Recipe:

  • 2 c. dried elderberries
  • 3 c. filtered water
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tsp. cloves
  • 1/2 c. raw honey

Simmer for 45 minutes (or until reduced by half), strain with a fine mesh sieve, let cool and and add 1/2 c. raw honey. You can also add a few drops of Young Living Thieves Essential oil for an added boost. Store in fridge for 3 months or freezer for 1 year.

Create a “Koselig Cupboard”.

We are entering into the cozy season and I have been dreaming up some fun ways to enjoy this time instead of just live in fear of the dreary gray days. I turned my corner cabinet into a “Koselig Cupboard” complete with favorite magazines, books, tea, cozy socks, note cards to write to friends, knitting projects, and other fun things to keep the winter blues away and embrace all things cozy this year. I can’t wait for the first chilly night to cozy up.

Personal Prayer Retreat (October 23rd, 2020).

I typically plan a 1/2 day retreat each quarter. I block out the morning and head to a coffee shop, local park, or my favorite prayer cottage to journal, read, reflect, and listen to where God is leading me. In years past I’ve been pretty consistent at scheduling time to get away just to pray, but 2020 has been a weird year for so many reasons. This was my first retreat for the year and it came at the perfect time. I’m currently reading “The Deeply Formed Life” by Rich Villodas and it has provided a challenging and truthful perspective to reflect on our current world and political climate. A read I would heartily recommend.

Clean up my home gardens, yard, and porch.

Preparing my home for Winter is one of my Fall goals and that includes cleaning up the garden, planting tulips, mulching leaves and winterizing my home. Sunny October days lent themselves to lots of yard work, and I even snuck away to Little Women Flower Farm for a pop up tulip planting workshop. I can’t wait to see these beauties bloom in Spring.

November Goals

Prepare for Christmas Season

  • Order SRT Advent Study.
  • Pack Operation Christmas Child Box.
  • Prepare my Christmas list and budget.
  • Make garden inspired gifts.

Practice and and share about Grace-Filled Self Care.

  • Monday Soul Care nights.
  • Lap swim and yoga at the Y.
  • Take my vitamins and eat nourishing foods.
  • Grace-filled self care post(s) on ECE.com.

Flourish, Goals

October Goals

Friends!

How is it already October? September is a month of abundance for me and every year I look forward to it with equal parts dread and anticipation. It’s a season of abundance in the gardens, long and good days of hard work, back to school rhythms, and just the adventures of life. It’s also one of the “last” months of Summer here in the Midwest, so I always try to soak up every single second of the gorgeous weather and store it up in my heart for the months to come.

This year, in midst of transition and turmoil in our world, there was something so comforting & renewing in the change of the season and a fresh start of Fall. The beauty of changing leaves have reminded daily that there is beauty in each season, we need eyes to see and time to savor. And that my friends, is exactly what my Fall Goals are all about, creating space in my life to enjoy the abundance and fruit of this season.

So today, I’m sharing my recap on how my good goals are growing and then below my October 2020 Goals. I do my goal planning using Cultivate What Matters Powersheets. I’ve used Powersheets for over seven years and they have been a powerful way for me to prioritize what matters in my life. Cultivate is launching their new collection this month, and I’m so excited to share that a portion of all proceeds benefit Zachariah’s Acres and our mission to connect kids with special needs to the miracles of nature, so they know their Creator.

If you are in need of the hope of a fresh start this Fall, head over to the Cultivate Shop and snag some goodies…the new collections launches October 14th, 2020!

Fall 2020 Goals – Update October 2nd, 2020

  1. Refresh my weekly rhythms (home & work) and complete “Weekly Routines Guide”
Re-Reading “The Best Yes” and working through Lysa’s best decision guide has given me some much needed clarity this month.
Friday mornings are for goal check-ins and making time for priorities. I’m excited for the “slower” season of Late Fall/Winter and time to dream and scheme up new plans!

2. Prioritize mental & physical health with 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week (hike, bike, yoga, swim) .

September is PRIME hiking weather in Wisconsin, I savored every second outside this month!
This reluctant Farm Girl got a LOT of daily movement cleaning up the garden and harvesting our abundance of produce this Fall! Also…worlds cutest pumpkin alert 😉

3. Prepare my home, gardens, & heart for Fall.

Savoring quiet moments with thoughtful reflections in this month’s Eden & Vine.
My porch with touches of Fall…I think I need to add some quirky pumpkins this weekend!

4. Restore a sense of wonder & adventure with local adventures and social distance deck dates.

Saying yes to kayak adventures with friends was such a JOY this month!
Deck dates come in all forms…sometimes it’s soaking up the quiet and painting leaves by the river!

October 2020 Goals

Monthly Action Items

  1. Make elderberry syrup.
  2. Create a “Koselig Cupboard”.
  3. Personal Prayer Retreat (October 23rd, 2020)
  4. Clean up my home gardens, yard, and porch

Weekly Action Items

  1. Fall hike and savor God’s Creation.
  2. Family meal.
  3. Yoga or swim at the YMCA.
  4. 1/2 day to “refresh” my home.

Daily Habits

Surrender

Savor

Simplify