My April 2025 Habits, Goals + Journal Updates (Lots of Photos)

This month I’ve been busy with garden prep, home projects, and a few simple habits I’m trying to stay consistent with.

April got off to a great start, and honestly, I’ve felt more energized this month than I have in a while. We kicked things off with a leadership (ministry) retreat that left me spiritually refreshed and ready to refocus. My husband is a pastor and this retreat was for pastors and church elders/leaders. It was held at our church camp – Indian Creek Camp in Tennessee. It’s one of my favorite places and Indian Creek Camp is very special to our family. I got to spend some time with pastor friends of mine and the conversations were good for my soul.

Back at home, I’ve spent the month putting that renewed energy to good use in the garden and around the house. It’s been a busy month, but a good one!

And even though I had hoped to be home more this month, I still ended up going out of town three times in April – the weekend at Indian Creek Camp in Smithville, Tennessee – and a weekend split between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Sharpsburg, Georgia.

We spent Easter weekend visiting my mom and dad in Georgia, just south of Atlanta. Laura brought her new beau for Easter dinner. It was our first time meeting him in person! Sarah and Hannah didn’t bring their husbands – they both had work so that was too bad. And the rest of the family and my kids couldn’t make it this year. I’m telling you, the older the kids get, the harder it is to get everyone together at the same time! They were missed!

I also attended the Sonrise Pageant at Southern Adventist University with three of my daughters in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area. My daughter Laura got to play a Roman Soldier this year in the Sonrise Pageant. 🙂 We didn’t have tickets to see the final part of the pageant – the resurrection – but everything was wonderful. It’s such a powerful event to attend if you’re able. They do it every year!

You can watch a previous Sonrise Pageant here.

After Easter dinner at my mom and dad’s house I drove back home to Harlan, Kentucky with my daughter Hannah. She had decided to come home for a visit for a few days. She got married in November and it was so nice to have her home for a few days.

I’m currently back in Chattnooga, Tennessee visiting one of my daughters and her husband for the next few days. She had a major surgery yesterday morning and I came down to help and spend some time with her while she recovers.

My Goals for April 2025

1. Cook fresh, healthy meals at home.
I’m continuing to focus on whole foods, lots of vegetables, and meals made from scratch. I want dinner to feel nourishing, not stressful, so I’m sticking to food that makes home feel like home while also prioritizing nutrition. We eat so much fresh produce in our house!

Here is some of the food I’ve cooked so far in April:

2. Spend more time in the garden.
I’ll be honest, it’s been a number of years since I’ve felt like working in the yard much. Maybe 10 years! Years ago I did a lot of yard work, I had a raised bed garden for several years and I enjoyed it. But life got really busy and our family went through some hard times and gardening just felt like more work than I could mentally or physically handle.

But this year has been different. I’ve been working 4–5 hours outside several days a week getting the raised beds ready. It’s physical work, but I’ve started thinking of it as strength training. I want to be strong enough to do these things myself—and the progress is encouraging.

3. Continue toward my 1,000 hours outside in 2025 goal.
Spending time in the sun and fresh air has been so good for my mindset. I feel calmer and more productive when I make time to be outside and I have more energy!

4. Prep the backyard for fencing.
We’re planning to enclose the backyard, so I’m chipping away at what needs to get done to make that happen. It’ll be a big step forward in terms of how we use our outdoor space. I’ve been working hard to get the backyard ready – it’s overgrown and there’s so much poison ivy back there. Ugh. We’re going to have some landscapers come in and help too.

5. Read for enjoyment.
I’m currently reading The Leaving by Tara Altebrando. I’m trying to get back to reading regularly instead of reaching for my phone in the evenings – it’s one of my goals for 2025 and I’m doing good but I could do better with this one!

6. Send at least one handwritten card a week.
This habit has been hit or miss, but I’ve sent out two cards this week, and I’d like to keep it going. It’s a small but meaningful way to stay connected. And I’m still doing way better with sending out notecards than I have in the past so that’s a win!

Habits I’m Continuing

These are a few habits that I’m continuing this year:

Daily walks (3 miles most days)
Evening journaling (trying haha)
One load of laundry a day, start to finish

This month has felt full—in a good way. I’m sooo tired in the evenings, but it’s the kind of tired that comes from hard work that I’m excited about. Whether it’s cooking dinner, weeding the garden, or sending a card to a friend, I want to keep doing things that make my house feel like a home.

If you’re feeling behind, overwhelmed, or just a little scattered, you’re not alone. Start with something small. One habit. One drawer. One meal. It all adds up!