Hello Friends, I’ve spent January getting my habits under my feet for this year. Instead of writing, I’ve used that energy to focus on a few things. Sometimes we just try to do too much, and we short out and it kills momentum. For me though, much of what I have been putting in place is habit-stacks, adding to what I already do and using that as leverage to gain traction.

For years my morning routine has been the same, pretty much. I added one more set of exercises to my 3 day -a-week workout routine.

In my study time, this is also part of my regular routine. I started with the book of James, reading a chapter a day and have moved on to 1st and 2nd Peter, and now 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. I’ve chosen to ask the Lord to help me see something, so whatever sticks out to me, I write about it in my journal. I dig into it a bit. Sometimes I end up with 3-6 pages of notes, other days a paragraph.

I love challenges. Nothing like checking the box each day on something and seeing progress. My mom brought up the idea at the end of December to do a No Spend January Challenge. Only spending on necessities. We took some time to look at the January calendar and see what we needed to get, like birthday cards and such, to be ready to cut the flow of cash for the month. That has gone well.

The Lord said to walk 3-5 times per week. I am so thankful to have my mom here to do these things with! Soooo, since I hate the cold and so does she and hospitals have good art and my mom loves art. We walked in the hospitals the first few weeks of January, I prayed a bit too for those who are hurting, sick, and dying. (Did you know that hospital gift shops have some great stuff— we’re looking because we can’t spend lol) We also walked at the mall. The first time we did that – we went against the current of the “mall walkers.” We figured that out real fast. On workdays I walk the loop or the parking lot at church once a week.

(Don’t you just love the great photos you get when you hold your own phone and while you are moving. lol)

Our church is doing 21 days of Fasting and Prayer – The Lord asked for my afternoon time where I was wasting the most time. So, in that space between 2-7 I open it up to whatever the Lord wants to do. I work through the fasting and prayer packet. I’ve been reading The Daniel Dilemma and now The Divine Conspiracy and take book notes. And just being present and open to whatever comes in this time frame. Some of the things that just naturally happened being present and eating dinner together, having long and deep conversations about all kinds of things. Or doing a random project. It’s been really nice.

Also, I have put the Flylady challenges in this time frame. It’s been nice just doing the one challenge a day and getting something things that have been on the back burner for a while done! Some weeks I’ve not been able to do these challenges because I already keep that area tidy.

The other thing that has shifted is Loving Action. The Lord said at the end of last year that for 2026 I was to plan to love. So, each day, I choose some action to love another that day. Helping someone, gift giving (things I pre-prepped to gift) Cards, notes, praying and listening to the Lord what He thinks about others and writing it down and giving it to them. Cleaning up someone else’s messes with a heart of gratefulness that I get to lovingly care instead of being irritated. This one is by far the hardest because when the Lord says to do something, that something I think it is, is usually not exactly what He means. Plan to Love also means suffer the brunt of attitudes, the sideway kicks of hurting souls, and other not so pleasant things we will endure if we will be people who Love.

It has been almost a month since I posted here last, and all these routines are intact. Sometimes you just got to disappear, and getter done.

I did want to share a new favorite – I love me a good dictionary website. This one not only defines but also gives you Bible reference to that word or topic. Websters 1828

Thanks for Listening,

Starla