the 2012 outlook.

**before I really get into this post, I have to say that the information in italics  is all in fun, just a joke, not serious, playful in fashion, not in any way sincere, totally in jest.  I am not full of myself nor do I think I am awesome (all the time).  it was just a funny story, and a great lead-off into the things I would like to do in the year to come.  okay?  so don’t go reading on and get all huffy and call me a snob.  I am only kidding.**

(imagine that this picture is in italics, kay?)

it was suggested in our sacrament meeting on sunday, to write your goals (or resolutions, if you prefer) on a 3x5 card, and tape them to the mirror as a way to help you to remember them everyday.  I just happened to be sitting next to my best friend (who appreciates my sense of humor) and suggested to her that we had nothing to resolve this year, nothing that needed improving. 

“we might as well go home and write, ‘continue being awesome’ on our 3x5 card.”

that earned a giggle.

we listened to this particular speaker end the meeting and I said, “okay, let’s go home and write our resolution on our card!”

right after that, the opening chords of our closing hymn were played by the organist.

you’ll never guess what our closing hymn was.

“be thou humble”.

“is this a sign?”  I was sincerely worried.  but only a little.

so I am not one to necessarily believe in “resolutions”.  I prefer the word “goals” and I also prefer this “self-improvement” process to be an on-going one, not one that happens once a year.

(apparently I prefer quotation marks as well.)

there are many things I find that I need to improve upon throughout the course of the year, and as I discover those things, I readjust as needed.  but there are things I would like to accomplish within the course of that same year, and make those my goals. 

I prefer not to set outlandish goals, things that will set me up to fail, things that will be entirely out of my control, like “win the lottery”.  yeah, cause I have all power there.

I set realistic goals, things that I am truly interested and personally invested in, things I know I can do, and things in which I will have the support of my family and friends.

for example: I will never set a goal to not eat sugar.  that is too unrealistic for me.  I will also be lacking in the “support of my best friend” area, because that is something we enjoy doing together.  dude, I am so not sacrificing good times with my best friend, oh, and I don’t wanna quit sugar.  do I look that crazy?  I so wouldn’t last a day.  nope.  not a single day.

instead, I set a goal to eat sugar every day.  that way, I win.  every day.  and if I don’t, well, I really don’t feel like a failure.

so this year, for the very beginning of the year, I have two things (because small is so manageable) that I have set out to accomplish.

- crochet school.

- get better acquainted with my new camera friend.

okay, so somebody might look at me and say I already know something about both of those things.  yup, I do.  and I enjoy them, and I can get better at both!

see, they are things I like.  so there’s my motivation.  and like I said earlier, there is always room for improvement (no matter how awesome you are).  and they are totally realistic. 

I will most likely add to this list as time goes on.  so the fun is guaranteed to continue. 

I decided long ago that I was done looking at everything I hadn’t accomplished the year before, almost taking inventory of my failures, and starting the year trying to be something that I obviously really didn’t want to be, and hating every second of it, feeling every inch of failuredom (totally invented a word, should have put “invent a new word” on that list) and feeling like a sucky horrible person every day I didn’t do what I thought I might just pull off.

I also learned to not make those lists too long.  crazy long lists are also motivation killers. 

last thing I want on my hands is a murder.

so there you have it.  I have picked the things that I am genuinely interested in, have motivation to further my skills and knowledge, and I am excited!  so they won’t take a year to do, but I am guaranteed to grow during the process.

so go ahead, give yourself permission to go and be awesome this year.

(and if you are interested in crochet school, you should do it with me.  I dare you!)

2010..

What will it bring?
I can think of many possibilities but I am mostly thinking about what I can do to make this another great year in my life and for my family.
I have been letting the goals in my head percolate for a while now, deciding which are truly important enough, worth the time and energy..
Here's just a smattering:
- Read more.  I have already started compiling a list of books for myself, and books to read with the girls.
- Run a 5k..  sometime this year.  It was going to be a goal before 30, but that is not going to happen at this point!
- Read the Old Testament this year..  Genesis always gets me.  "Begat..  begat..  begat.."  (Snore....)
- Be more consistent with my Yoga.  That might just help my shoulders to not feel the way they do now after shoveling two tons of snow.
- Read the Book of Mormon..  again. :)
- Actually have a calendar this year.  I survived 2009 without one..  barely.  I got to a point where I really should have had one, but thought I should just keep on going.  I made it this far, eh?  Why screw up a good thing? ;)  Actually, it will be a series of calendars..  one wherever I may need it, and I will keep them all correlated.
- Using said calendars, I will plan a month-to-month routine, getting ahead of myself so life is a little bit easier come Christmas 2010.
- I rocked it on my layout goal last year..  I really did.  I still haven't counted the final tally, I stopped when I hit the magical number.  This year, I will keep that same goal, but add to it in that, when I design a digital layout, I will have to do one traditionally as well.  So that is 144 + ?  Yikes.  Let's see if I can brag it up next year at this time.
- Dates.  Merrill and I have no excuses now.  We need to have more dates.  We just started late night soaks after we get the kiddos down and they are AWESOME!!  The adult talk time is priceless..  interruptions non-existent.  There is something about the day after those soaks that make me feel so much more connected to him.   Getting all dressed-up and going out together will probably have a similar outcome.
- Last year, I set a goal to be a better friend, and I am setting that goal again, as there is always room for improvement.  Birthday cards were sent off late and that should not happen when someone is trying to be a better friend!
I will also be continuing my photo a day project.  That was fun!
I have also been thinking awhile on my word for the year..  there were many prospects.  I got serious on two of them but it goes to enjoy.
I learned a lesson on Facebook from my uncle when I posted my status update during the busy last two weeks of December.  I posted that I was praying that I would get all the wrapping done, and that Peyton would stop the unwrapping.  My uncle commented that he "prayed that I would enjoy this most wonderful time of my life."
Then and there I knew that was to be the word of the year. 
I need to sit back and relax a bit.  So what if that certain project doesn't turn out the way I intended?  And what am I going to do if I didn't get to do as many fun things this break/summer/weekend/day as I wanted to with the girls?  I should just enjoy what we did get to do and not fret about the details.
Ahhhhh...  there.
And so it begins.....
Happy new year everyone!!!!

A New Year...

2009..
It's here.. 2008 is officially gone, in the past. So many things have happened in this last year, some I am not ready to let go of, but I am excited to see what the future has in store for my little family.. for my extended family too!
I have bee thinking long and hard about my goals, for the past year and things I want to accomplish this new year. I have been doing this since October. I busted out my little notebook, the trusty one I keep where I will always see it, in my craft room. I like to evaluate where I am. I did alright last year. Most of my goals hit a hard spot, that was when Peyton was born, and most of my goals have to do with getting back on track..
Just a few examples:
-EXCERCISE!! Fitted black skirt, need I say more? (Go here if you have a similar goal.. :) I think every woman does..)
-Read B.O.M., again.
-Get back to Monday being cleaning day..
-Scrapbook 144 layouts this year (I'll keep track of my progress on the other blog..)
-SAVE more $.. better..
-Be a better friend!!
I have also been thinking about my word for the year.. Jaclyn challenged us all last year; Ali Edwards has had some reminders too.. I've been thinking for a while now. I am still not settled on one.. can I have a word for each room in my home?..
We did nothing of too much excitement this year for New Year's Eve.. no nursing = my "Great (not so great really) Aunt Scarlet" coming for a visit that has been on again, off again for two weeks now.. I wasn't feeling too good. Am starting to feel it again right.. now.. We stayed in, made homemade pizza, we think we have Zucca figured out (very yummy, order the mahgahrita..) and watched a couple of movies, let the kids do some noise makers, at 9 pm, and sent them to bed. I crocheted a new hat for Peyton and we stayed up long enough to greet the new year at midnight, then we crashed. I have to say that I am thankful it wasn't spent the way it was last new year's eve.. in the InstaCare, with a three year old who stuck a popcorn kernel up her right nostril.. not so fun.
We let our celebration get going today, when all of Mer's family could be together. We played Rock Band, Family Guy trivia, and Catch Phrase. Yummy food was involved, and some good laughs, as usual.Me singing and Joe on the drums... yes, a pic of Joe on a blog, mine, because I can!
Sophie during her crazy awesome drum solo.. this lefty rocked it!
Even Dixon got in on the rockin' action.. no pic of Darlene?!Hottie-Body Merrill..
And Jaclyn said she sucked...
Peyton even got in on some vocals...
We are now enjoying a little slumber party with cute little Bubba-Gos (aka Sophie).
Oh, yeah, I am doing "a picture a day" too this year.. it looked like so much fun when Jacks did it last year, I didn't want to start a month late, so I decided that I'll just start this year. :)
I guess I'll aim for taking my tree down sometime this weekend.. I am having a hard time giving in to the fact that Christmas is really done and gone.. it makes me sad! I miss it. I knew for sure I was a hormonal woman yesterday when I was watching "Elf", and at the very end, when James Caan finally starts singing, and Santa's sleigh flies over the crowd, I dang near cried!! Sheesh! I really am hormonal, aren't I?!