Resolutions

Things That Went right Today:

1) Got a lizard for my 9 year old son. This could be interesting. Crickets!!! hmmm
2) Fun time shopping with my daughter and sons
3) Making apple cake for dessert later. Yum!

It's almost a New year which means it's time for New Year's resolutions of course. But what exactly is a resolution? The dictionary offers a rather lengthy explanation, but I found a few points particularly interesting

 From The Webster's online dictionary (excerpts):Definition of RESOLUTION

 - the act or process of resolving - the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones - the act of solving - the act of determining

 - something that is resolved resolution to mend my ways> - firmness of resolve

1. Synonyms: award, call, conclusion, deliverance,determination, diagnosis, judgment (or judgement),opinion, decision, verdict, courage

I had always thought of resolutions simply as goals for the new year. I suppose they are that at their base, but I think we can make them a richer experience by using the above definitions. It's important not only to set goals, but to understand WHY we are setting them. To solve a problem? Improve a skill? Help others? Until we understand and internalize the long term affects we are striving for, it is difficult to figure out where to start and how to arrive at the ultimate destinations. We need vibrant visions out ahead of us to generate the energy and excitement we need to follow through. "I want to lose ten pounds" is good...but "I want to lose ten pounds so I can fit into my sexy red dress for a Valentine's dance, improve my cholesterol count, and have more energy to play with my 4 year old son"...that's better. More complete. Focused on positive benefits rather than the difficulty of the weight loss process. Take it even further in your mind and really picture yourself dancing at the dance and getting down on the floor playing with the children. The more clear and vital that vision becomes, the more power it will have to change behavior and break through old patterns and habits. We might even set different goals altogether if we take the time to understand what is truly motivating our hearts and spirits currently. What we deeply want and need out of life. Who we most desire to become. It's also very important to make our resolutions realistic and attainable in baby steps. When goals are too long term or gigantic in scope, we are more likely to burn out in the first lap rather than finish the race. So it is wise to break broader outcomes into smaller achievable pieces that we can tackle one at a time. I love checking off the boxes and congratulating myself for many small successes along the way. It helps me keep pressing forward and feeling proud of how far I have come, as opposed to becoming discouraged by the work I still have ahead of me. Ponder the above ideas and how they could apply to your resolutions for the coming year. See if anything new makes sense when considered in a different context. I'm still working on my goals list. Trying to make it manageable. I have a tendency to want to charge in and do everything at once so I have to pace myself.

I'm grateful today for the lessons I have learned from the joys and trials of 2010, and for the hope and anticipation I feel for all the upcoming year could bring for my family. Each new year feels like a bit of a rebirth. An opportunity to start over, reflect on our strengths and blessings and determine where our lives could use some fine tuning. It's a beautiful gift this life we have been given to live.  I believe that we should never stop dreaming and reaching to make the next year even more fulfilling and wonderful than the last. 

Story Book

Things that went Right Today:

1) Snow flakes falling on Christmas weekend! Beautiful
2) My new watch with Rhinestones from my girls. So glam
3) Bought some domain names. I feel so official.


My three year old son loves to tell stories. They all begin with "Once Upon A time" and are short and oh so sweet. He keeps us all laughing with his crazy tales, complete with priceless inflections and dramatizations. He's quite a little character. One of the favorite gifts I found waiting for me under the Christmas tree yesterday morning didn't cost a thing. It was a handmade book of stories...told by my darling little son and compiled and illustrated by his 12 year old sister as a surprise for me.
A few excerpts:

"Once Upon A Time there were three little Batmans and they still flying."

"Once Upon a Time there was three little chocolates and they went to a game."

"Once Upon a time an apple tree was flying to a bat. The End."

Now to most of you these stories may not sound like much. Certainly not the obvious manifestations of brilliance that I find them to be. But that's only because you did not see the face of the little boy who shared them with me. Countenance all lit up with excitement as he blurted out "Mommy, do you like my stories? I love you!" And you didn't see the pride on that innocent face when I told him they were the most wonderful stories I had ever read. And indeed they were. Because they were straight from his heart with no other purpose than to bring joy to someone else. What better gift could a mother ever receive than that?

I'm thankful today for the storybook that will help me relive these moments years from now when they otherwise would have faded from my memory. This really is the good stuff.

HGTV

Things That went right today:

1) Got moved over to the new/old house
2) Daughters sweet 16 birthday party tonight
3) Missionary son having success


I am a big fan of HGTV. Candace Olsen is my favorite but I really like them all. I have been known on occasion to watch lengthy marathons of color splash and house hunters.  It's fun to take a peek into other people's homes. Get some ideas for decorating. See how creative the designers are, often on a shoestring budget. Most of the things they do I know I could never actually recreate in my own home, but its fun to dream. To see how completely a space can be transformed with some imagination and muscle grease. For the most part it is really a lot of fun.

There is one danger I have discovered though. If I am not careful I can begin to feel discontent. As I see the wonderful features of other people's homes, sometimes mine doesn't look as good by comparison. Things that I don't have begin to seem standard as I see them over and over. Higher ceilings sure are nice. And giant picture windows. New furniture with no pen marks on it. Gorgeous tile back splashes. Granite around the fireplace and on every counter surface. sigh. How come my house doesn't look like that? I begin to want to keep with the Joneses and feel like what I have is not good enough. So I have to be careful about watching too much. If those thoughts creep in I turn it off. Because the truth is I am extraordinarily blessed.

I've moved several times this past year into some kind of odd circumstances. A rental home that had an paltry assortment of furniture and a home that was quite small for the size of my family. We had 6 children sharing one bathroom. It was 'interesting". We just moved a few days ago back into our old home. We have only moved a few of our belongings so far, so we have very little furniture and a small collection of dishes and other amenities. No TV service yet. But yet I am at peace and it feels like home. Why? Because I have everything that matters right here. My family is healthy. We have plenty of food to eat. A roof over our heads. Clothes on our backs. That is more than so many others worldwide can say. We are very fortunate. I have learned over these past few years how little a person actually NEEDS to have a happy life. The basics and a lot of love. That is the secret to happiness. Granite countertops are a nice bonus but certainly not mandatory. So I still plan to watch HGTV. I am learning to keep my home cleaner and more organized and what a difference that makes to the environment here. I am learning how to arrange furniture to make spaces flow better. How to choose more modern colors of paint. How to make old things seem new again with very little money. How to make my home a more beautiful place for my family. And whenever we do have some extra money, I have lots of wonderful ideas for home improvement. But all in due time. My life is full and complete just as it is and I am so thankful to be home again.

Remodeling

Things That went Right Today:

1) Daughter finished the last of the year's homeschool work...now finals
2) son graduating from high school on the 21st
3) missionary son arrived safely in New York City


In the process of trying to get our home sold we've ended up having to do some remodeling. We had a lot of dated ugly linoleum flooring that no one seemed to want...shocker!!! So this past week the house was all torn up as they removed the old stained flooring and put in pretty new tile in the kitchen and two bathrooms. It was messy, loud and inconvenient. Nothing was in it's place. Kitchen appliances were in the family room. A layer of dust was everywhere.  Keeping the little kids out of the workers' way was challenging. It was not too fun going through it. But wow what a difference now that they are done. It looks like a whole new house. We wish we had done it when we first moved in and feel it was well worth the trouble to have such a fantastic result. I hope it helps us get this house sold!

Life is a lot like remodeling. Sometimes we have tough times and challenges that tear through our world. Make us stressed. It gets messy and loud and inconvenient at times. And we don't love going through those experiences. But almost always once we get to the other side of them we can see some measure of benefit. The hard work of school leads to a diploma. Sweat and soreness lead to weight loss and fitness. Heartbreak and pain can make us stronger more compassionate people. Life will tear all of us up sometimes. There is no escaping it. It's just the nature of living. It is up to us how we respond. We can allow ourselves to stay broken or stuck in trials or we can bend and work through them.  Use them for our good. Like the bionic man our characters can be rebuilt stronger and faster than before.

I'm grateful for our beautiful new tile floors. And for the challenges of life and the new and improved person they help me to become.

LOST

Things that went right today:

1) Gorgeous sun shining today
2) Lab tests back on Jake's tick...no lymes!
3) getting new tile to replace the linoleum in the main floor bath


Our family really enjoyed the TV show LOST. Ok who am I kidding here? We were obsessed. Every Tuesday night we gathered around together to revel in the latest drama on the mysterious island. We laughed and cried last week when the saga came to an end with the series finale. So in tribute to all the fun we had, today I will ask this question...if you knew in advance you were going to be stranded on a deserted island for the rest of your days, what five things would you choose to take with you? At first glance it's kind of a flippant question. I mean that would never really happen right? But I think in pondering the answer you can reveal a lot to yourself about what you value most. When it comes right down to it, what things you are most grateful for. Here's what I would choose to take:

1) Family Photo Album: I would rather have my family with me of course, but would hate to doom them even in theory to life on the island forever. But they are my greatest joys. I would not want the memory of their faces to fade. Would open the pages and relive our good times together when I felt lonely. Their love would be my strength no matter where I was in the world or in what circumstance.
2) Hand Weights: Fitness is very important to me. I would not want to lose my physical strength, but also workouts make me feel confident and happy. Gotta love endorphins. And I'd want to be sure if ever rescued that I still looked hot right?
3) Scriptures: I know I could always turn to God in prayer in my darkest hours, but to have his word with me would fill up my soul. Keep me full of faith and hope.
4) Rubiks cube: Life would get really boring sometimes I'm sure, so I would need entertainment and activity to keep my mind sharp. Plus I know that being stranded for years with absolutely nothing else to do is the only way in this lifetime I would have a chance of solving the crazy thing.
5) Gigantic chocolate bar: No explanation needed here.

There are many things I would miss, but at the core what am I grateful for? Family, Fitness, Faith, Fun and yes...chocolate. If I could have those things with me in some measure, the island could still be a joyful place in spite of it's challenges. So what's on your list? And can someone please tell me what the heck we're supposed to do on Tuesday nights now?