Goals

Month 2 of 12: Why Staying the Course Is Braver Than Starting

“Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.”
— Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

How fitting as we step into month two of twelve.

It’s easy—almost exciting—to write goals down on paper at the start of a new year. Fresh pages. Big intentions. Hope feels abundant. But I recently heard something that stopped me in my tracks: by day nine of the new year, most people have already given up on their goals. Day nine. That’s barely enough time to break in a new planner.

There’s even a name for it.
The second Friday of January is known as Quitter’s Day.
Anyone else not know about this?

Only about 8–9% of people actually stick with their goals all year. That’s less than one out of ten!

Wow! That sounds exactly like the kind of courage Atticus Finch was talking about.

Real courage isn’t loud or flashy. It’s not the perfectly executed plan or the viral success story. It’s choosing to keep going when motivation fades, when progress feels slow, and when you already know this won’t be easy.It’s continuing—not because you’re confident—but because you’re committed.

You don’t have to be in the top 1%.
You just have to begin… and see it through.
Real courage isn’t rooted in confidence—it’s rooted in obedience. Scripture reminds us that perseverance is formed through endurance, not ease. We don’t keep going because we’re certain of the outcome, but because we trust the One who called us to begin.Say that last sentence again ,write it down and remember it❤️

Faithful steps—especially the unseen ones—matter. God honors consistency more than perfection, and He meets us in the quiet decision to stay the course, one ordinary day at a time.

As we step into month 2 of 12, I created a simple Courage Check-In Reflection Sheet to help you pause, reset, and gently refocus—without guilt or pressure.

It’s not about doing more.

It’s about staying the course in what truly matters.

[Download the Printable Reflection Sheet Below]

Still time. Still purpose. Still worth continuing.

Book, coffee, Review, travel

The Sword and Shovel Coffeehouse & Bookstore

The Sword and Shovel Coffeehouse & Bookstore in Moscow , ID is one of my top 10 Bookstores in all of the United States .

It is the New Saint Andrew’s College bookstore and is beautifully appointed. You can find just about any book from literature to law, natural sciences, theology, and rhetoric.



They offer a stunning study area that makes you feel like you just stepped off the streets of London into a cozy bookstore and you can imagine Lewis and Tolkien in deep conversation in the cozy space.


One reviewer says it best.. Walking into Sword & Shovel feels like stepping into a storybook — one where warmth, wisdom, and wonder come together under one roof. This coffee house bookstore isn’t just a place to grab a cup of perfectly brewed coffee or pick up a thought-provoking book — it’s a haven for the soul.-Michael

Check out our video of this amazing Bookstore & Coffeehouse ⬇️

Book, Review

The Mystery of the Love List ~ Children’s Book Review

Here’s another great Valentines Book to add to your collection ❤️
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The Mystery of the Love List is such a cute story with beautifully illustrated pages.
Pippa’s class makes a love list, a list of all the things they love ,that take up room in their hearts. Pippa finds a list that one of her classmates made, that has her name written down, with all of her favorite things! She has a secret admirer, but who? See if she solves the mystery of the love list and finds a new friend❤️

Book, Review

Porcupine Cupid ~ Children’s Book

We are always looking for good books to read for the different seasons and holidays . It’s so hard to find unique ones and so when we found this , I knew I needed to share!
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This is such a cute book! Beautifully illustrated and such a cute story of love ❤️. We will be adding this to our personal collection of Valentine books.