My Five Year Plan - 2025
Inspiration
After watching Reagan Rose’s Redeeming Productivity video on his five year plan, I wanted to follow his advice and write my own. Nick and I are currently (January 2025) waiting around in Knoxville for our commercial building to sell, and it feels like a really weird season… so many things feel “up in the air,” and it’s hard to imagine anything being settled 5 years from now. I’m so thankful that I can trust in the Lord. As a reminder to myself, I want to include a quote and Scripture reference before diving into my 5 year plan:
“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”
“5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.”
Domains of Stewardship
“What would a faithful life look like in each of these areas five years from now?”
If the Lord wills…
By January 2030, I hope to live a quiet life of faithfulness with my family by the bay. I want Mapped Out Money to be successful enough to support building a long-term house and work/ art studio, while also preparing to adopt children. I want to be walking with the Lord daily, serving in a local church, physically active every day, and doing art for at least an hour a day (but hopefully it’s at least 2-3 hours/ day). I want to have a degree in ceramics, a home pottery and art studio, and a YouTube channel that fosters the WWR community and encourages others in their creativity. I want to spend my days glorifying and enjoying God, working alongside Nick, pouring into the children that God places in our care, and enjoying community (especially with other Christian artists). [This paragraph was revised April 10, 2025 to include more specifics about art/ pottery.]
Spiritual
I begin each day with personal Bible study, followed by time in the Word with Nick.
I’m continually working on a goal to improve my Bible literacy (Scripture memory, memorizing books of the Bible, creating/ studying an overview for every book of the Bible).
Nick and I attend our local church every week and serve faithfully there in some way.
I spend daily time in prayer and keep a list of people I’m specifically praying for.
Nick and I regularly recount and record “memorial stones” - examples of God’s faithfulness in our life.
I always have a Bible verse that I’m memorizing/ meditating on.
Physical
Nick and I have an enjoyable home gym setup, and we workout 5+ days a week for about an hour a day - sometimes it’s Crossfit style, sometimes it’s pure weight lifting, and sometimes it’s a long run.
We do a partner 100 burpee challenge every day after Bible study and before we get ready for the day.
We have great walking opportunities all around our house, and we take advantage of them every day that the weather allows!
Mental
I’m always reading a wide range of books - theology, art history, classics… stuff that makes me think.
I regularly take online classes and watch YouTube videos to learn new skills.
I watch TV very minimally. Instead, I relax by reading or watching something educational/ inspirational/ informative from mine and Nick’s “While We Rest” list.
Relational
Nick and I are growing in our relationship with God and with each other.
I start every day by asking how I can glorify God, specifically through serving Nick and our family.
I’m a faithful steward of our home, and our house feels like a safe resting place for everyone who spends time there.
I foster relationship with mom and dad and love and support them in their interests. Nick and I are thinking ahead and having regular discussions with them about how to maintain their quality of life for the long-term.
Recreational
I have a home art and pottery studio that’s integrated with our Mapped Out Money office… this is where Nick and I spend most of our time.
I spend at least 1 hour doing art every day.
Most of my spending money is dedicated to buying art supplies and online/ in-person workshops.
Nick and I are praying about and discussing the logistics of starting a community art studio (structured similarly to Warehouse 521 in Nashville).
I’ve grown in my confidence and regularly share my creativity with others in small ways (gifting mugs, small crochet projects, or hand-painted cards).
I use my space and what I’ve learned to encourage others who are interested in art. I’m always willing to share my supplies and compliment the work of others.
I prayerfully consider how the Lord wants me to steward the resources he’s entrusted to me (space, equipment, time, etc).
I have a backyard full of Runner Ducks… maybe haha.
Vocational
I’m continuing to help Nick script and record content for Mapped Out Money.
I’m continuing to grow in my graphic design and video editing skills.
Nick and I are prayerfully considering my role in the business and how to balance that with investing in kids and my art practice.
Economical
Nick and I are continually praying about how we can increase our giving.
We are starting to build our long-term home (if we haven’t done so already).
We are on the cusp of adopting (if we haven’t done so already).
We have been diligent to save and invest so that we are prepared to foster/ adopt children, including sibling sets and possibly children with special needs.
The way we have stewarded our business and resources up to this point has put us in a position for Nick to have more schedule flexibility to optimize time with kids.
We are financially prepared to modify our house if children have special needs that require it.
We are financially prepared to send children to Bayshore.
We are setting aside money for Victor and Christian. (Planning to have $20-30k to bless them with when they’re 25-30 years old)
March 2025 Addendum
It’s currently March 24, 2025. Nick and I have been “living” in Fairhope in the RV for about 1.5 months. We’re still waiting for the building in Knoxville to sell, and the timeline for that feels very open ended. We don’t have a lot of things “grounding” us right now, which is such a stark reminder that we have to be rooted in Christ. We can think that other things are “roots” for us… but they’re all sinking sand. I’m thankful for this time of being stripped of false securities (stable family relationships, nice houses, fancy cars, etc.) to be reminded that Christ truly is all we need.
Everything above holds true, but I’ve basically been feeling a stronger calling to art. I wrote above “at least 1 hour/ day”… and now I think I might want 50%+ of my “working” time to go to creative pursuits. That feels crazy to say. It’s just something I want to continue praying about and see where the Lord leads with it. Here are some more detailed 5 year thoughts that are floating around in my head right now:
March 2026 (year 1)
Nick’s completing CFP course work & exam
Out of the RV and into a small house (maybe?)
Have purchased land and are planning to build in 2-3 years
Visit University of South Alabama campus and explore ceramics degree options… answer questions like:
When will I meet residency requirements?
How long would it take to complete coursework?
How much time on campus would be required?
How much would it cost?
Is life at a place where we could put the RV in Mobile, rent a co-working spot, and split time?
Is this even something we’d want to consider?
What are my motivations for this… should I just take classes/ workshops at the Kiln and practice in my home studio?
2027 + 2028 (years 2 & 3)
Completing ceramics degree (if we decide to go this route)
Starting to outsource some of my M.O.M. tasks (like initial editing)
Art YT channel -> going back to school + other artistic endeavors
Emphasis on glorifying God through creativity (especially how God uses our weaknesses… because art feels like a weakness for me!)
Journey of going back to school (if I do that)
“Rah-rah you can do things too!” type channel rather than tutorials
Sharing my path from no art to “artist” and what that even means (identity in Christ… not the label of artist)
Starting to talk to builders/ permitting/ clearing + filling land
2029 (year 4)
Building house
My M.O.M. roles are condensed to scripting/ recording content and final edit approval (main editing has been outsourced)
Pushing my art YT channel forward and increasing “studio time”
Starting to research & prepare for fostering/ adopting
2030 (year 5)
Settling into house
M.O.M has a strong team and Nick’s flexibility has significantly increased
Hanna has a thriving art practice and enjoys contributing and strategizing about M.O.M. with Nick
2031 (year 6)
Actively adopting/ fostering
Business & hobbies are in maintenance mode
