Tag: planning

Consider: “Memory Making Mom”

Published on by Kim

In Memory Making Mom: Building Traditions That Breathe Life Into Your Home, Jessica Smartt gives encouragement and practical ideas for creating and maintaining traditions in the home. The book deals with a wide variety of occasions and possibilities, in addition to discussing why traditions have value and what they can do in our homes.

Here are a few brief excerpts:

There is something innate in us humans that craves routine. We are made in the image of the One who created the hours and rhythmic seasons and makes the sun rise every blessed day. We find comfort in the repetition and the counted-ons.

At any given point — isn’t it amazing? — we can create a new narrative. We are not victims of our days. It doesn’t matter where we’ve come from or what we think we’ve missed out on, we can change the story through traditions. We just have to keep our memory-making eyes open.

I believe that there is a good and a better. With our limited time, we must be strategic in celebrating. There are so many super-fun traditions for holidays, and I’m going to share lots of these ideas. Yet the traditions and rituals that strengthen our faith and our families are the ones that deserve the bulk of our time and energy.

 

These books are set here as possibilities for you to explore. Posts and links are not endorsements or paid publicity.

Planning and Zoning

Published on by Kim

My husband loves to look at Planning & Zoning agendas and maps. He enjoys studying road maps and railroad maps to see the plan and reasoning behind it. He likes looking at a machine and figuring out how to make it work.

However, he does not enjoy planning his day. What looked good an hour ago is not where he’s headed now. So many projects, so little time.

As you may have picked up, I find planning my day a key to success! How does this work?

Well, planning is key, whether for the month, week, day, or next few hours. Re-planning is just as important, though. A change in my plans happens on a daily (or more) basis, but making the change is still planning.

How does this look?

My meal plan is usually about 2-3 days out. It also usually contains a meal needing more prep and a dish that is quick and easy. So, when he decides one morning to work late that evening, I don’t know how late that will be so I opt for the quick meal. If he gets home at 8, we don’t have to wait until 9 to eat. If I planned a productive day at home and a from-scratch dinner, but he wakes up with a list of errands, then I switch to the slow cooker recipe that will be ready whenever we are.

The meal plan for each day is not important, but the flexibility is. Meals lined up that can be quickly switched around is planning. Switching around meals at any point in the day is re-planning and flexibility. They work together.

And, yes, I have had meals in the oven that went straight to leftovers because of last-minute changes. It happens. Still a new plan.

Meals are just one example of planning and flexibility working together, but the principle applies in other areas. Plans are important, but they are not necessarily effective as first planned. How does that look in your life?