Win $100 or $50 to SoulMate Dresses!

Major life events impact trying to live a balanced life and balancing your budget.  Today I have partnered up with other bloggers to support a giveaway that can help save you some money on one of those life events that can really set you back if you don't budget appropriately.   

Our friends at MoMoneyMoHouses are hosting the giveaway for Solemates Dresses.  Enter the giveaway below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Redesign

I will be taking a little break from my blog for the next couple months as I work on deciding its future.  I will still update you on my goals since I have committed to that at the beginning of each month, but you may not seem much more action from me.

I am considering a few options with my blog:

• Close it down
• Focus on ones area to help others: Financial Wellness/Fatherhood/Setting Goals/Education 
• Use it as a tool in working toward my own goals in different areas of my life - Post long and short-term goals with action steps and use it to keep myself accountable toward those goals. 
• Talk about principles of books I am reading and applying into my life.

If I decide to keep the blog online I will likely be starting it up again in January with a new name and format.  Thanks for reading my blog and supporting me.  I would be open to any feedback as I look toward changes to make this blog more useful toward others and myself.

You can take my poll on the future of my blog here!

Healthiest State Walk

One of the goals of the state of Iowa is to become the healthiest state in the nation.  In 2010 Iowa ranked 19th, in 2011 Iowa was 16th and then moved up to 9th in 2012.  Check out this video to learn more about the initiative as Iowa strives to move into 1st place.



Today hundreds of thousands of Iowans will join together for the Healthiest State Initiative Walk to promote wellness and movement.  I will be joining over 40 staff members and the hundreds of Goodrell students in walking tomorrow.  You can join our walk and walk from wherever you are by clicking this link.

It is important for each of us no matter where we live to be active and make a difference in our own health and encourage the those around us to do the same.

Stop-Out Bullying!

Tomorrow marks World Day to Prevent Bullying.  Everyone is encouraged to wear blue tomorrow to promote the day.

Checkout these resources for the rest of bullying prevention month.

http://www.stompoutbullying.org/
http://www.nea.org/home/neabullyfree.html
http://www.stopbullyingcampaign.net/

Falling into October

I cannot believe it is already October.  September seemed to fly by and now we are getting ready to conferences and for fall weather.  Along with a new month marks a time to check in with my goals for the year.

Financial Wellness 

By the end of 2013, we would like to pay off over 20% of the current outstanding debt on our house.  To do this Anna and I will continue to work together with our finances find more opportunities to earn and save more money.  We have also considered looking at selling our house, since we probably have a larger house then we really need. 

UPDATE:  During the month of September we were able to knock another month off of our mortgage through saving and cutting expenses.  One of the expenses I am looking forward to shrinking is my cell phone bill starting in November when I switch carriers to save on my monthly fee.  We now will be debt free no later than February 1, 2016 (in 29 months)!

Physical Wellness 

By the end of 2013 I would like to be back at my pre-broken foot weight. 

UPDATE: I barely made my short term goal for September, but still am on track.  In order to stay on track I will need to lose 7.6 more pounds during the month of October.  I know it will be tough, but I am committed to making it happen!  In addition, part of our district wellness program has me tracking the amount of water I consume each day for the month of October.  I hope it helps me focus on staying hydrated and healthy! 

Intellectual Wellness 

My goal for 2013 is to read at least 100.  As Charlie Jones said, "Five years from today, you will be the same person that you are today, except for the books you read and the people you meet."  I want to read some good books, so that I can be a better person five years from now. 

UPDATE:  I have currently read 74 books in 2013 and as always working on several other ones.  I have fallen behind pace by 1 books - but several of the books I am reading are ones that you read throughout the whole year (my devotional/the Bible) so those will help me finish strong at the end.  I still would like to use October's 31 days as an opportunity to get ahead of the ultimate pace again though. 

Emotional Wellness 

I will continue to blog about my throughs and feelings at least once a week throughout 2013. I will also post additional content on my blog's facebook page.  

UPDATE:  I have done this consistently   I will still keep working on two post each week, but realize that if I end up with only one I am still successful. 

Spiritual Wellness 

After finishing reading the Bible again in 2012, I plan on starting over in 2013.  In addition to reading the Bible, I will be using Tony Dungy's The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge for my personal quiet time in 2013.  

UPDATE:  I am doing well for my own quiet time and even have started a new study as a couple through our church, but have not done a good job leading in family devotions.  While I am still committed to doing a better job at this, I am knocking it off of my goals to do 5 times a week for the rest of the year.  It has been a struggle to line up our family schedules 5 times a week.  I think in the end it is more important to live out and talk about Biblical principles throughout your life than the time - but still want to create that habit for William too so will start recommitting to one time of week of intentional family Bible time.