The End of 2011

This post is basically a retrospective look at my year, so if no one reads on, I'll understand completely. However, I do want to touch on the fact that I have new resolutions for this coming year and not entirely different from past years, I want to write them out so that I can hold myself accountable. However, the main difference this year is that I am only giving myself a couple of resolutions where I normally assign myself at least 10. Each year, I normally attempt to succeed at these resolutions and, unfortunately, having set myself up for failure, I don't always complete everything. I am never disappointed, but I am always looking for ways to better myself. This year, I have made a resolution to not have so many resolutions, thereby promoting an air of success that is within my grasp! See the irony? :)

Here is last year's list:

"~Lose 50 pounds
~Work out 4-5 times a week (Zumba baby! Oh yeah!)
~Try something new/something I haven't done in a really long time once a month (and then try to remember to blog about it. LOL)
~Once a month dinner with 2 important people
~Once a month to the temple
~Bear testimony at least 3 times
~Flowers on someone's grave twice a year (And only limit myself to that. I went way too much this year and it was always just as painful as the last time)
~Read the entire Old Testament
~Stop hanging out and going out so much with people who don't deserve my attention or time
~Be home at least 2 nights a week and follow my schedule better"

How did I do?

Well, I didn't lose any weight, in fact, I may have found a few pounds I saw lying around. They looked so sad and I thought that they might find a good home in my spare tire. :)

I didn't work out 4-5 times a week either because for the first third of the year, I was in so much pain from the wreck that I wasn't doing anything more than being a lump. It got to the point that I couldn't move my left arm, had no feeling in much of the left side of my neck and shoulder blade and tingling on the left side of my head. Trying to work out each week was impossible.

The New and Different each month (then blogging about it) took off like a shot and was, by far, one of the best resolutions that I have ever set for myself! I had such fun and really took this one seriously.

The once a month dinner with my parents went really well the first part of the year, but then I started working for my step mom and birth mom once a week. So, this one went to the wayside due to unforeseen circumstances. However, the alternative has been far better.

Once a month to the temple, sure! It went incredible. In fact, I decided to go on a Temple Run with my YSA ward and thereby knocked out two birds with one stone! It was an amazing trip. And each month I have been to the temple and enjoyed it so much. It has become a permanent fixture in my month. This one will definitely continue in the future.

I am normally so nervous to be in front of other people. Most don't believe me when I say that I don't much like to be the center of attention. The worst for me is when I have to bear my testimony or when I have to speak in church. Somewhere I heard once that if you ever want to be completely honest, you sing. I don't agree. I think that if you ever want to be completely honest, you talk about church related things and what you believe. You can't lie about it. You can't fake it. You have to be completely honest and 100% you. So, to bear my testimony 3 times this year was a very challenging task. However, I can say without any reluctance.... I DID IT! In fact, I did it more than just three times.

Limiting myself to only twice a year to Ty's grave went well. In fact, I appreciated those two times more than I had all the other times I'd gone last year. I went WAY too many times last year and I recognized that I felt so much better going to the temple to pay tribute to him instead. So, I went on Memorial Day and on his birthday. Then, I turned around on his birthday and immediately went to the temple. Much better.

I didn't get to read the entire Old Testament. We were reading scriptures together as a family in the mornings so that my younger sister could complete a Personal Progress goal and she had to read the Book of Mormon. So, we read out of that. Then, I've been really studying and re-reading the Conference talks. It's gone well.

I am doing so much better not hanging out with people who don't deserve my attention! This was a great goal. However, I didn't actually complete it until mid October when I left my old Single's Ward and went to a new branch. It's been an incredible change and I LOVE it!!

I wasn't home 2 nights a week each week like I wanted. This one is something that I'm ashamed of myself for. I wish so much that I could be home more often. I just have a hard time telling people that I can't go out when I really want to go with them, you know? However, I have a sneaking hunch this one is going to be better this year.

All in all, as far as evaluating goes.... I got 5 out of 5. Better than last year!! Haha

This upcoming year, I'm going to give myself some new resolutions, but I'm also going to carry some over.

New:
~Blog once a week (once a month about an important person, once a month Free Writing, and the other weeks will be a fun list of my favorite things)
~No more soda (I have to cut back. I drink soda too much and I'm addicted to it. Not just for the caffeine, but for the burn. I love the stuff. And I have to be done. I'm so tired of being so tired all the time and I think that part of the problem is my soda consumption.)
~Work out (I'm not going to explain this one because it's going to vary a little because of the ongoing problems with my shoulder and the nerve damage there)
~Take Nate and Em on an Aunt Heather Date each month (Maren helped me realize that I really have the best of both worlds by being the Auntie. I never have to deal with the puke and the whining, but I get to spend as little or as much time with them as I want. Best job in the world!!)
~New J (Not going to explain this one either because I don't know who's going to read this and it's a secret for right now)
~New B (See above)

Carry Overs:
~Bear Testimony 3 times (This was a very good resolution for me and I think I need it again this year)
~Flower for Ty only 2 times (Also a good one for me. It keeps things in check for me)
~Temple Once a Month (Umm... see above)

So, here we are again. I sure hope I can accomplish most of them. The are all good for me in different ways and I hope that I will be successful. Guess we'll see.

Things That Keep Me Preoccupied...

I'm not blogging as often as I would like to these days. However, I really do have a good excuse. Also, I'm going to admit it straight out that I will most likely NOT have a new and different activity to share this month. I'd rather not lie to myself anymore. Do you realize that it's almost the middle of December already? Every time I start to contemplate on what I should do for my N&D for this month, my mind quickly fills with all of the other things I am quickly running out of time to do. For example, Christmas presents.

This month, in my frantic attempt at making the majority of Christmas gifts, I am exceptionally preoccupied with crafting. And while some of the gifts are turning out beautifully, I must admit that some are more of a pain than they are worth. Oh, and here's an aside for you, if I NEVER use Mod Podge again for the REST of my life, it will be lifetimes too soon! Grr!

So, in honor of not having a blog post for my N&D (and as a good argument for why I don't have time this month for attempting a N&D), here is a list of things keeping me preoccupied this month:

~Painting Christmas Houses
~Cutting Simon Dewey pictures and Mod Podging them onto 4x4 wood blocks to create a puzzle looking thing
~Hand crafting (and sewing) a church tote bag
~Christmas gift shopping
~Serving Jury Duty
~Attending Maren and Nater's Christmas Choir Concert
~Participating in a Service Auction for church (and then using the accumulated money to purchase and distribute Christmas gifts to needy children and families in the community)
~Jarrica's Birthday
~Dinner at the Branch President's House
~Several nights spent at Buffalo Wild Wings with friends
~Branch Temple Night
~Family Home Evenings
~Robyn's viewing
~Bryan's Funeral
~Going to lunch and catching up with an old roommate from college who I haven't seen since 2007! (yay Bri!!)
~Toddy's Man vs. Wild Party
~Giving a talk in church. Topic: Wise Men Seek Him Still (Oh help! I'm apologizing to everyone I know beforehand. That way I'm covered!)
~Working for Des
~Working for Mom
~Working regular job
~Des' birthday
~Nater's Birthday
~My birthday :)
~Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the 3 houses I have to be present at (no pun intended! Haha)
~Emmie's Birthday
~Tran Siberian Orchestra Concert with Sister and Mr. Dustin
~Trip to Utah for the aforementioned concert and spending time with David, Veancha and the kiddos
~New Year's Eve party
~Psych nights at Brad's
~Smoothie Sunday at Jess'

~And many other activities which have yet to be entered onto the schedule.

The month of December is always a marathon, not a sprint for me. The only thing I can do is keep myself hydrated, try to get sleep and stave off any illnesses that try to creep up because I'm running too much. It's the craziest month of the year and I try so hard to make sure I'm remembering the reason for the Season.

Also, here are pictures of one other thing that has kept me preoccupied, although it's been ongoing for months, but I've just finished it...

The wall before

The wall during

The wall finished

Full wall mural of Mt. Moran and Jackson Lake in Des' home office

So, my opening argument was also my closing. However, I think anyone could see that I shouldn't be held in contempt for not having a N&D for this month. I've barely got time to breathe and am scheduling time to eat and sleep.

Yikes.

I've spent far too long on this post...