July 2018 Family Goals

Since we began dating, Mike and I discuss ways in which we desire to grow and flourish as individuals and together as a couple. At the beginning of every month, we set monthly goals, both big and small, and work together to accomplish them.

Establishing monthly goals allows us to create meaning, intention, and focus each day. We feel much more energetic and motivated as we look forward to growing as individuals and as a family. We want to be the best versions of ourselves for God, for ourselves, and for one another. Setting goals is one way we accomplish this.

June was the first month since starting Finding Philothea (almost two years ago!) that we didn’t post our monthly family goals! Though we didn’t share them, we still made goals together and accomplished many of them! June was such a beautiful month.  Mike went to a conference at Franciscan University, I travelled to Italy for a few days and explored Rome and Assisi, and we slowly moved and settled into our new home.

July is quickly moving along, and we are continuing to make our house into a home. We have spent some days at the beach and on the boat and canoe. This past week we completed our last beekeeping apprenticeship class. During that class we helped harvest some honey. It was fascinating to help with the process and we learned so much. Our own bees are doing really well! Though we don’t have any honey to harvest this month, we are hoping to try a few spoonfuls during the second harvest later this year!

We’ve been cooking and baking a lot this summer. We love to experiment and try new recipes! This summer is the first time we are part of a farm share and we are enjoying the array of food that we receive from our CSA. It’s beautiful to cook with seasonal ingredients – food that we probably wouldn’t normally purchase on our own in a grocery store. This past month our kitchen has been filled with the aromas of sautéed garlic scapes, blueberry muffins being baked, and vegetable soups simmering on the stove! I’ve been trying to make a salad for dinner each night and it’s been so nice to end our day with something so fresh!

Here are the goals we are working on for this month of July. We would love to hear about your dreams and goals for this month, too! Please share! P.S.: We have some exciting news to share next week, a project that I’ve been working on these past few months!

July 2018 Family Goals

• Celebrate Saint Joachim and Saint Anne’s Feast Day on the 26th!
• Make this Pasta With Seared Zucchini and Ricotta by our favorite chef, Melissa Clark.
• Set up our work and study space in our home.
• Continue to visit the library each week with Peter.
• Research and gather supplies for pre-k days with Peter this autumn. We just received the book, ‘Twenty-Six Letters to Heaven‘ in the mail and love it!
• Go on family walks together each evening.
• Bring some household items to the donation center.
• Write some letters and thank you notes.
• Landscape and garden in our yard.
• Go on a date together!