focus

Yesterday was a good day.

*lunch date with Dave
*afternoon nap with the kids
*one-on-one time with Ana
*scrapbooking and a movie in the evening

I finally feel ready to take on this new year. I've thought a lot about my focus for last year "capture the moments." I really feel like I improved in this area. I slipped up here and there, and didn't do quite as well as I had imagined, but I've gotten a lot better about not wasting time and enjoying my kids and life. The last few weeks have been an exception, but its a new year, and I finally feel ready to take it on. Of course I still have my winter goals that I will continue to work on. In addition, my focus for this year is:

"Charity Never Faileth"

I want to focus on being more loving. I want to show more love for my kids, my husband, my neighbor and my God. I want to be less annoyed at my responsibilities, and more anxious to serve, less selfish and more selfless, less frustrated and more friendly, less tense and more tender, less grumpy and more grateful. I want to be more kind, more thoughtful and mostly a more faithful daughter of God. I'm finally ready to take it on.

Yesterday was a good day.

winter goals

Now that summer is gone and we're in our own place, spending more time indoors, I've been thinking of some things I want to accomplish this winter. I've been thinking a lot more about my New Year's resolution to capture the moments and I've realized I've totally slipped out of that. So, I've made a list of things I want to do this winter. Not only projects, but changes I want to make in myself as well. Since my birthday is the end of the Spring, I thought I'd set that as my deadline. I may add more to my list, but for now, here are some things I want to get down before then.

1. Potty train Ana
2. Lose 10 pounds - not quite there. But I've extended the deadline for the end of the summer. I should be there by then.
3. Make my sister's throw pillow - I know, Shari, I'm a slacker
4. Make curtains for my living room
5. Make curtains for the kids' room - I actually just decided not to make a curtain. Maybe in our next place
6. Learn to make bread that turns out like my mom's - didn't even try. But I did learn how to make really good alfredo, potato soup, gravy, paella, and lots of other yummy stuff.
7. Read a book a month (or more)
Books I've read:
Persuasion
The Scarlett Pimpernel
Gathering Blue
Twilight
Bud, Not Buddy
Austenland
Tending Roses
The Tale of Despereaux
8. Make Halloween costumes for the kids
9. Get better about keeping myself under control in frustrating circumstances - I don't know if I'd consider this one "done" but I've gotten better, and that's what I wanted anyway.
10. Get out of my comfort zone more often - I've really made an effort, which is good.
11. Get into better scripture/prayer habits - improved, anyway
12. Set a good routine and stick to it - I'm in a routine, just not a good one...
13. Organize my house just like I like it and keep it that way so housework is not overwhelming - I did this for a while, then I got out of it, and now I'm not living in our own place. Hopefully we'll start out right
14. Get caught up in my scrapbook and figure out a system for next year - I did get some done, but I'm not quite caught up...
15. Make Jack’s Christmas stocking
16. Send out Christmas cards
17. Make a card table house for Ana

That's what I could think of for now. I'll probably add more goals to my list as time goes. I'll keep checking back and marking when I get things done.