new year

Does the beginning of a new school year feel like a new start to you? It really does to me & I love it. This school year I have two children in school--- not the typical school but still--- school.

FIRST - Jack
Jack is 27 & is in his second year at the University of Virginia Law School. He started this past Wednesday & says he can already tell that the second year is going to be great! None of the 1L jitters or newness-- and he has his internship for the summer of 2019 already set up. Lots of stress off the shoulders for that.
He has applied for a chance to enter the Masters in History program which would be congruent with the law degree & he is hoping to hear if he got in by January. He has such a deep love of History & where else is better to learn History than UVA?! What an opportunity- I'm hoping he gets accepted.

SECOND- Trent
Trent is 19 & although he "walked" at his High School graduation - he did not receive his diploma. This was on purpose, because he qualified for a wonderful opportunity in our school district for special ed. students. He will be going to school (on the bus- which picks him up AND drops him off in front of our house each day!) five days a week. Three days a week he goes into the community & learns life skills- Two days a week he is in class type instruction where he also learns practical life skills. This program is set up so that each individual student has an individual plan. They are in groups of 10 with one teacher & one aid. This is a fantastic opportunity for Trent and he LOVES it, especially the bus.

I have had a couple people ask me- what i do all day? HAHAHAHAHAHA oh i love that question! Because really? What would there be to do?

So- some goals for me:

1. I am working on my YW Medallion  I earned mine when i was 17, but this one is a little different so I want to earn it before the program changes in 2020
2. Blogging twice a week at least
3. I volunteer as a Hosting Missionary at the RSB on Fridays
4. YW calling
5. Starting a new scripture study program. More on that later---

........ and you know-- the same things everyone does everyday!

all done... a week ago even!

I finished my new quilt last week.

About 9:00 Wednesday night...

I started binding it before we left for New York.

It has been so busy since we got home--

I couldn't take it anymore!

I had to finish,

I was compelled to finish

even before I started getting ready

for two days away at Women's Conference.

I'm so glad I did.

Thanks V & company for the inspiration!

I love it

** update**

no I did not quilt it- just pieced it

my sweet neighbor who invented this did it for me

spt- I resolve to take more pictures WITH those I love

{ I never said they would be "good" pictures...}

Here we are -Trent & I- reading in the

comfy cozy

aka: the red living room couch

We have been rearranging the pillows & settling in here 5 days a week now- for the past two weeks. It's not easy getting here - as you know he tends to get distracted

(that's putting it lightly)

-but we are doing it!

And, enjoying it!

In my quest for a more meaningful life-

I resolve to be in photos with those I love.

new year... new goals?

Oh boy... I thought I had done okay on my goals for 2008.

I did really well on the list I made on my side bar!

~make a quilt - did it x 2
~organize the basement- again - did it with the help of the whole family!
~paint the inside of my kitchen pantries - did it- thanks for helping brett!
~go to a BYU football game - didn't do it... I just couldn't bear to take one of the kid's chances to go. I've been before-
~Send at least a card to each family member on their birthday - did it mostly... I miss some great nephews.
~send a package at least once a month to the missionary- did it!
~100% Visiting Teaching - almost did it- (I think I missed two visits, not bad!!)
~blog regularly & get my blog bound near my 1 year blogaversary my goals this past year- didn't do it or even attempt to. I am way too overwhelmed by the thought.

But then... just to check...

I read my last year's spt on goals.

maybe I shouldn't have done that?

(read the post or made the goals in the first place?)

both

so my goal for now is to put some REAListic goals on my side bar. where I can see them everyday. so I can check in on how I am doing on a regular basis. I guess I work better that way.
Don't get me wrong. I know I need to take better care of myself. In some ways I really have made progress in that area. I spend more time doing the things I really want to do, I have more friends in my life... what can I say?

some habits die hard

*did you make resolutions last year? How did it go?

game day

Yesterday Brett & Jack went to their first of many big football games of the season- it was a great one too. Last spring brett bought two season tickets to BYU football. Talk about excited! I think I was just as excited they were going as they were to be going...

After the events of this past summer I feel consumed with wanting to live a more purpose filled life. I feel like buying these tickets back then was inspiration. We are huge fans- Brett & Jack going to the games together- the year before he leaves for college= great times/great timing. Why not use this time- this time on this earth to do what we really want to do & what we really need to do. A couple of weeks ago while reading Jill- I was inspired to buy this book. I've mentioned before. I'm on my second time reading it (this time with a highlighter) this is one reason why:

"Acquiring some understanding of why we do things is often a prerequisite to change. This is especially true when talking about repetitive patterns of behavior that do not serve us well. This is what Socrates meant when he said, 'The unexamined life is not worth living.' That more of us do not take his advice is testimony to the hard work and potential embarrassment that self-examination implies." I only wish that we would've bought the tickets when Brian was here. But hey- Brett will have opportunity to do with him things alone when jack is away and he will use it...
So- what did I do yesterday, besides the obvious work below? I went on an errand to pick up something I ordered at the mall. On my way I realized I had ran out & didn't have any make-up on... even though I am severely fashion challenged (I have been trying to look more presentable therefore feel more put together) I decided to take a risk & do something completely out of my comfort zone. I walked up to the make up counter & asked the lady at lancome to do my make-up. It may sound silly to you but this was huge for me. guess what? it was fun, I tried something new- I liked it- it was different & ya- I did it.
This week I had a meaningful conversation with my lovely sister who is visiting, threw a birthday party, canned produce from my own garden & my neighbors garden, worked on a service project, read a book, played games with my kids, spent quality time with my sweet heart, created with friends, read a book with my son, sent a package & a letter, cried, laughed, went out to lunch, ate dessert, went for 3 walks, told several people I love them...
LIFE- I'M LIVING IT

SPT- New You Resolution

Well- this is it.

I'm going to do it... I can't believe I'm going to do it...

Here they are, my very well thought out- New Me Resolutions

1. READ my scriptures & PRAY everyday.

2. WALK at least 30 minutes - at least 5 days a week.

3. CREATE something everyday.

4. Take better CARE of me everyday!

My word for last year was BALANCE.

I got married when I was 18 (almost 19). Had my first baby at 20- second at 21. By 32 I had all of my six beautiful children- and I meant to. Every single one of them . I did it. We did it. It was my goal, my dream to be a mother of a large family & I have LOVED (almost) every minute of it. Statistically I feel like a miracle- I'm still in love with my husband- and I have great kids- so far... Don't get me wrong I know it's not over, I know I have just begun in many ways to live the life I have chosen for myself. But- through it all - somehow I lost a part of me. I lost myself in my husband & children. I would do it all over again, over & over... but now I don't know how to take care of me. In the past two years my oldest left for college, my youngest went to school, & my son left on a mission. In that time I have gained almost 40 lbs. My world completely changed. I have felt totally out of balance. I think I forgot- what makes mom happy?

What do I do now?

2007 was a very hard year for me for many reasons- but 2008- this is my year.

I want to be healthy & I want to be productive. I want to be happy. My love language is acts of service so I love to take care of others & I intend to do a lot of that - but now I am going to really try to take care of me too.

This past week I have been doing all of my goals

I wanted to give them a trial run before I committed myself here in the blogasphere, and I am so happy to say I did it!! I did them all.

I am excited for this year-

I am excited to read, pray, move, create, & take care.

I am happy- right now I have- BALANCE.

Now if I could only get rid of the dark circles under my eyes everything would be wonderful!

*are you going to/did you wait until 40 to learn to take care of you?
*are you laughing at my feet?- I know they are funny- my family is shocked I'm sure that I put them on my blog- but hey- I painted my toenails today!

FHE - GOALS

For family night we worked on our goals for the new year & our 100 lists of things we want to do in our life times. Apparently one of my goals needs to be to remember to take pictures.

2008 Goals

Jack- eat a whole watermelon in one sitting this summer. (no comment from mom...?)

Hailey- earn & put at least $300 in my bank account.

Chloe- finish reading the Book of Mormon.

Trent- beat up some bad guys & learn to play the ukulele.

Hmmmmm

*what are your goals this year?

*do your kids make goals?

New Year's Eve

I have a really hard time making New Year's Resolutions.

I tend to make too many & too big of goals. Then I have to live with the shame of dumping the whole lot of them.

Every year for family night about this time of year we write down our individual goals, family goals, & update our list of 100 things we want to do in our lifetime- we made those lists years ago. I am so glad we did.

It's really fun to check off something on your 100 list. Especially watching the kids realize they have accomplished a life time goal. My husband is way into setting and achieving his goals. He's really good at it. He has set up a system on spreadsheet to track his goals & progress. Once in a while he makes a spreadsheet for me...

It's not that I'm lazy, or too busy-(my favorite excuse of the past), I just have little motivation for change I guess. I like me- I accept most of my faults- although I beat myself up regularly about not taking care of myself. I am not a perfectionist- the real problem I guess. I learned a long time ago that having six children (accept for the really big stuff)I needed to be flexible & not too picky about things, or I would just go crazy.

So I am thinking of what goals I really feel like tackling.

I would love some feedback.

Any thoughts?

There Is A Lot Going On Around Here

My house now...

My house growning up!

This is such a fun time of year. Football has started for Jack, ballet starts today for Chloe-her 7th year, the fall piano schedule just came out, plus Trent's first "club" scout den meeting is tomorrow. All the school supplies in the stores etc. just put an excitement in the air. Today they are even repainting the school crossing zones on the street-you know when that happens it must be getting close. Something about the start of the school year makes me want to make goals- it's like new year's but much better weather!

This year I purposely signed myself up for many things in anticipation of Brian leaving- and my heart aching. But now that he doesn't leave until November 14 I may be really regretting it. I will definately have to be organized because it is going to get crazy!