a blessing?

New years resolution #1-- it's over.
I had made the resolution to NOT eat cheap crappy hamburgers anymore...
just the good stuff- TONY BURGERS
then
on Friday
I met my girls there for lunch with two of their darling friends
(I forgot to take a photo-AARGH)
It was so much fun!!!
We had cheeseburgers & fries & girl talk
and
we decided that I would take them once a month on a Friday to eat somewhere.
It was just that fun to meet them in the middle of the day, and these girls are almost leaving the nest you know!?

then-

it happened.
I had loads of plans for productivity Friday afternoon...
but I didn't feel well.
it got worse
I started Friday night calling frantically for someone to take my Saturday morning work shift--
cause I could feel it coming.
ya
I got the stomach flu
oh man
so bad

Tony burgers- you are dead to me.
it's over between us.

here we go again....

last night was family night.

The first family night of the year is always on GoALs-

but not this year....

Stress- Anxiety and Healthy Coping Skills

was the topic

Goals are on hold until next week.Teens are stressed- adults are stressed- apparently even kids are stressed these days. Dang- that's a lot of stress. Our family is certainly not the exception. We briefly discussed ways all kinds of people cope with stress, then listed healthy ways to cope with stress.

The boys ate cookies...
Brian stuffed one in his mouth- so Jack of course, couldn't be outdone--- and stuffed two.
I love this picture of the girls just watching them. My title for the photo-
"so this is what boys do?"

It was good timing- this family night lesson.
A new year, college, high school, jr. high, work, looking for jobs, play practice, homework, mission... there is a lot going on here! We are certainly not immune from feelings of stress, anxiety & depression. How to cope:
Reading scriptures & prayer
Being around people & not "holing up alone"
Exercise
Self pep talks- positive thoughts
service to others
laughing at yourself & having a sense of humor
relaxation exercises
memorize for times of stress- hymns, primary songs, scriptures
having daily- weekly- monthly- yearly things to look forward to
and setting realistic goals

It's a lot of options not a list of things to do...

just before family night trent & the neighbor kid were playing legos in the family room
trent: mom, can friend stay for dinner?
mom: no we are having a special family night.
trent: darn!
trent to friend: do you have family night tonight?
friend: we almost never have family night.
trent: lucky!

Today Brian & I went shopping & packed up a final load of stuff.
Stuff to take to his new apartment.
-dang-
he took some stuff down yesterday
but school starts tomorrow... he had to go.
It was weird.

Like-
shoot, he's not leaving again is he?
cause, ya- I can't take that...

so...

he's all filled up

food

gas

new sheets

notebooks, pens, paper, cell phone....

more food

class schedule.

~sigh~

Ya it's a good thing we had that lesson last night.

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?

It's A New Day

After a great Christmas break I am putting my necklace back on & getting back to my quest for BALANCE. Today I am trying to balance these things.

1. laundry

2. package off to the missionary

3. working a luncheon

4. clean up from all the fun!?

5. family dinner

6. scripture study

7. walking on the treadmill

8. chloe home with a stomach ache

9. eating healthy before my body gives up on me for good!

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?