contentment
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In Defense of Setting Annual Goals
Now that I’ve sufficiently checked in and thoroughly reflected upon 2025, it’s time to turn my focus to 2026. I know goal-setting isn’t for everyone, and there have certainly been years that, for a variety of reasons, it just hasn’t felt right to set goals. I always think about a huge vision-board crafting night I Continue reading
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2025 Year in Review
Well, the time has come to sit down with my thoughts and process some of the highs, lows, key moments, and lasting impressions of 2025. Leading up to this, I’ve taken my 25 for 2025 goals and written the following check-in posts: Check-in #1 Check-in #2 Check-in #3 Check-in #4 Check-in #5 Those posts went Continue reading
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2025 Goal Check-in #5
As we begin to wind down 2025, I wanted to spread out my 25 for 2025 goal check-ins and address five at a time in five different posts, ahead of late December when I’ll turn my attention to new inspiration for a new year. Here are updates on the last five of my goals: Prepare for 25th Continue reading
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Christmas, Consumerism, and Conflict
As we are squarely in the middle of this Christmas season, I cannot help but find myself in a bit of a uncomfortable situation. I love Christmas. As a Christian, I embrace the longing and waiting brought on by the season of Advent. Secularly, I love the sights, sounds, smells, and overall cheerfulness and expectation Continue reading
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2025 Goal Check-in #4
As we begin to wind down 2025, I wanted to spread out my 25 for 2025 goal check-ins and address five at a time in five different posts, ahead of late December when I’ll turn my attention to new inspiration for a new year. Here are updates on five of my goals: Read Status: Ongoing 25 Minutes Continue reading
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How I Stay Close to My College Kids
As I continue to show up here and process some of the new-ish rhythms of this middle stage of life, I want to be clear that my intent isn’t prescriptive, but rather to show the ways I am working through many of these new milestones in real time, through trial and error, and with honesty. Continue reading
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How a Cabin in North Carolina Became Part of Our Empty Nest Plans
During our entire time in military ministry, we have known from the day we drove away from our hometown, that we would one day return. Southeast Tennessee is the place we consider home, no matter where the Army takes us. It’s where our parents are. It’s where we have deep roots. It’s where we believe Continue reading
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2025 Goal Check-in #2
As we begin to wind down 2025, I wanted to spread out my 25 for 2025 goal check-ins and address five at a time in five different posts, ahead of late December when I’ll turn my attention to new inspiration for a new year. Here are updates on five of my goals: Be A Word-Nerd Status: Ongoing Continue reading
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Pills, Powders, & Potions
By now, you may have realized after a few of my recent posts, that I am transitioning this blog space into a place where I am reflecting on the current season of life I’m in: midlife and all of the changes that come with that. I’ll still be writing about marriage, motherhood, and general life Continue reading
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How to Change Your Mindset by Changing Your Soundtrack
As a Day 1 fan of author Jon Acuff, I have read nearly all of his books and regularly listen to his podcast, All It Takes Is a Goal. A few years ago I came across his book, Soundtracks, and I’ve honestly not stopped thinking about it since. He gives readers a word picture for Continue reading
elizabeth Claire Wood 